“We can probably arrange that,” Dad says, smacking her butt as they go.
I groan, but Natalie giggles.
“Where were you during the movie?”
She purses her lips and shakes her head.
“You can't tell me?”
“Nope.”
I squint at her, trying to determine if she'll break. She stares right back at me, and it's clear she's going to keep the secret.
“Fine.” I hold up my open palms, showing her I'm giving up. “Do you want to play Catan with my parents?”
“And Shawn?”
I nod.
“Is he staying here too?”
“Probably.”
“I'm surprised he's not dating anybody.”
“Why?” I lean against the backside of the front door. “Do you want to date him?”
“No.” She rolls her eyes. “I was thinking maybe your new girlfriend could set him up. That seems to be her favorite pastime.”
I bark a laugh. “Don't ask her to. She probably would. And she's not my girlfriend.”
“Try telling her that.” Natalie turns on one foot and walks through the entryway. “Come on.” She turns back to me, and now she's walking backward. She motions with a curled pointer finger, switching out between her left and right hands. It almost looks like she's dancing.
“I’m coming, I'm coming,” I tell her, grinning at her antics. Flashes of my earlier daydream pop into my head, and as hard as I try to push them away, they just won't budge.
14
Natalie
“Aidan,”I whisper, half of my body peering around the open door to his bedroom. It's 12:46 AM. The perfect time for pie.
Aidan doesn't respond. I walk farther into the room until my knees meet the side of his bed. Reaching out, I gently shake his shoulder. “Aidan,” I whisper, louder this time.
“Mmmm…” Aidan moans, rolling over onto his back. His eyes open only a little at first, and when he sees it's me, they open fully.
He glances at the clock on the nightstand and lays his head back down on the pillow. “Natalie? What's going on?”
“It's time for pie.” I know I don't need any more explanation than that.
“Pumpkin,” Aidan mutters, his lower lip popping out.
“Quit pouting and come with me. I have a surprise.” Earlier this evening, when Aidan asked me where I’d been while everyone was watching that movie, I didn't answer him. This is why.
Aidan pushes back the covers and sits up. He's wearing blue and green flannel pajama pants and a white V-neck. His hair is messy as if somebody had been dragging both their hands through it. As I'm thinking that, Aidan really does drag both his hands through his hair, and I wonder if this is something he always does after he wakes.
I step back to allow space for him to stand. He takes in my outfit and smirks.
“It's a nightshirt,” I explain, my fingers running over the ivory lace on the end of the sleeve.
