She tilted her head and closed one eye. “You plan to hang around my friends again? Why?”
“To get the feel for what it’s like to be deaf. To see what Parker’s future might be like.” And to be with her. Not that he’d say that out loud. Now that was a stupid thing to even think, because none of them could hear him even if he did say it aloud.
“If you really want to see what it’s like to be Deaf, you could come over to our house.” Deanna appeared at his elbow again after having a conversation with the guy who’d been all over Carli and had her attention now.
“That’s very nice, but…”
“Seriously, you should come on Sunday. It’s Carli’s birthday, and the family is having a little get-together. It’s why we’re all here tonight.”
Facing Carli, he reached out to touch her elbow. “I didn’t know it was your birthday. Happy birthday. Wait, you taught me this.” He moved his hands for the words and was rewarded with Carli’s excited face.
“Good job. Guess you had a great teacher.”
“The best. I’m hoping to get more lessons soon.”
Deanna sidled in between him and her sister and didn’t sign. “You can get them Sunday. Pick Carli up on your way, so she doesn’t have to take her clunker of a car out. Be there at one.”
He nodded. “If you’re sure. I’d love to see you again and meet your family.”
Deanna’s expression was impish, and he wondered why. Did she think he and Carli were romantically involved? They weren’t, but he was starting to think he’d like to be.
Carli twisted toward them again. “Don’t pay any attention to what Deanna says. She’s a little brat at times.”
Glancing at his watch, he realized it was getting late. Had Carli come straight from work here and had she taken the T? He hated the idea of her walking to the train station by herself at this hour on a Friday night.
“Would you like a ride home? I was about to head out myself.”
“Thanks, but I have my car today. Plus, I can’t leave just yet. I’m the designated driver.”
The guy who’d been hugging her earlier stumbled back their way and wrapped Carli in his arms, planting a big kiss on her cheek.
“Someone needs to control these wild animals.” She shook her head and glared at the man, Evan, if he remembered correctly from Deanna’s quick introductions.
Carli and the guy signed some things back and forth, and Blake tried to pick up any signs he’d been taught. There wasn’t much. Showed how lacking he was and how much more effort he needed to put into learning. For his nephew. Yeah, Parker was the reason he wanted to know ASL. It had nothing to do with a golden-haired woman with startling green eyes.
As he raised his hand to let Carli know he’d see her later, one of the signs from Evan caught his eye.Love.He’d said he loved Carli.
“Bye, Blake. We’ll talk about more lessons later.”
Blake turned to go, but not before he heard Carli’s laugh as she grinned at her friend right before she signed to him,Love you, too.
Blake shot a quick text to Carli as he got out of his car and walked toward her front door. It pulled open in seconds, and her surprised face greeted him.
“Blake? What are you doing here?”
He rubbed his hands together, then pulled up the collar of his fleece-lined denim jacket. “Your sister said one o’clock. I wasn’t sure where your parents lived, so figured I’d give it a half hour leeway. Am I too early or too late?”
“Early or late for what?”
“Your birthday at your parents?” She’d been standing right there when Deanna had invited him, right? Recalling that night, he realized Deanna’s back had been to Carli, who hadn’t been wearing her CIs. Man, what an idiot for not clearing this with Carli first.
“You didn’t take that seriously, did you? I’m going to kill her.” The last bit she said under her breath.
The chill air surrounded him, and he huddled in closer to the door. “She said I’d get a good look at people signing. Plus, I’d love to meet your family. Deanna seemed quite friendly.”
Carli sighed and stepped back, gesturing to the entryway. Once he was in, she closed the door behind him.
“Friendly, because she thinks you’re cute. I’m sorry, Blake, but I seriously doubt you’ll have a good time with my family. I apologize for my sister. She doesn’t know when to keep her nose out of things.”
