His smirk brought out the dimple in his cheek, and she glanced away.That thing was lethal.Maybe one of the reasons they were always trading barbs.So he wouldn’t flash it at her and make her knees weak.
Carli moved in and embraced her brother.“Thanks for coming.I wasn’t sure if you would or not.”
I’m not that much of a dead beat.Of course I’d be here.It’s not every day your sister gets engaged to a rich doctor and has a party at a huge mansion.
Blake’s brows slid together, and Mercedes figured he was attempting to interpret the signs winging back and forth.The man had been taking lessons for months now, but it took lots of practice to be fluent.Mercedes had started learning ASL when she’d lived next door to Carli’s grandparents on the Cape but hadn’t gotten really good until they’d moved in together several years ago.
Blake held up his hands and waved at the tables.“Make sure to get plenty to eat.I’ll give you all a tour later if you want.For now, I need to make nice with some of my parents’ longtime friends.Hopefully, I can make my way through them quickly.However, I have to steal Carli for introductions.”His signing had gotten considerably better since they’d been together.
Carli and Blake ambled away, and the rest of the Jameson clan grew quiet as they glanced around at all the strangers.Many of whom were taking surreptitious glances at them.Mercedes wanted to slap them all.The family might not be wearing expensive outfits, but they all looked nice and respectable.Most likely, it was the signing that had gotten the crowd staring.
Blake’s brother, Harrison, and his wife Annie, had a son, Parker, who had a hearing loss.It was how Blake and Carli had met, arranging services for his nephew.Carli had confided in Mercedes that Blake’s parents had kept people unaware of their grandson’s hearing loss.They’d been pushing for cochlear implants, thinking it was a miracle fix, but the boy’s parents had decided to wait until he was older and have him make his own decision.
Mercedes skimmed the room and arrowed to the table with the fruit and vegetable platters on it.As she put items on a small plate, she noticed Mike and Cheryl talking about how thrilled they were that Carli didn’t need to worry about money in the future.Any place else, it might be tacky, but they were only signing, so no one else understood what they were saying except family.And Mercedes, but she’d felt like family to them for years.
A flick on her arm had her head swiveling toward Evan.They’ve got all this great chow here and you’re planning to eat only rabbit food.
“If I want my hips to continue fitting into this skirt, yes.”
Evan rolled his eyes and walked toward the table with the main dishes, his hands signing,Nothing wrong with your hips.
With a smile on her face at his backhanded compliment, she sashayed over and scooped a few bacon-wrapped scallops onto her plate.
Bacon.That’s what I’m talking about.Evan pushed four onto his plate as well and followed her to a grouping of chairs across the room where Deanna and Brian chatted with a few other guests.
“Wade and Tanya, this is our other brother, Evan, and Carli’s roommate, Mercedes,”Brian introduced the couple they were talking to.“Wade was Blake’s college roommate.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.”Mercedes nodded, but Evan shuffled his plate and stretched his hand to shake with Wade.After what looked like a firm grip, Evan backed off.Ridiculous men and their fragile egos.
They chatted for a while, Brian and Mercedes taking turns interpreting for the group.Evan stayed fairly quiet, and Mercedes wished she could make him feel more comfortable here.She wasn’t sure if it was the mostly hearing crowd or the fact many of the people here were wealthy.It certainly wasn’t because he was shy.He was plenty social in his own crowd.
While Deanna regaled them with a story of her class writing to an army unit and teaching them sign language through videos, Mercedes peeked at Evan.
Are you okay?You seem off tonight.She kept her voice off so she didn’t distract Deanna from her conversation, but she wanted to find out what was up.
Evan shrugged.I’m all right.Just something stupid Adam did.I might need your help.
With what?
Getting back into my apartment.Adam got us evicted.He tried to barbecue food in a toolbox on the porch.All the smoke alarms went off.
Oh, no!He didn’t hear them, huh?Mercedes had never been a huge fan of Adam’s, but she’d put up with the clown because of Evan.
No.So we have ten days to get out.He plans to mooch off his parents, but I have no place to go.
Can I talk to the manager for you?Maybe he’ll let you stay.
Eyes lighting up, Evan inched closer.Would you?That’d be great.Of course, without Adam, I can’t really afford the place by myself.You wouldn’t happen to know of anyone looking to share an apartment?
A thought popped into her head and flutters started in her stomach.It was a bad idea, but maybe …
So happens, I need a roommate.Your sister is getting married and moving out, leaving me paying the rent myself.
Evan twisted to find Blake and Carli through the doorway in animated conversation with an older couple.He turned back and his eyebrows connected.
You want me to live with you?
Not really.She gave him her usual glare when he was being ridiculous.However, there’s this woman I work with who has been hinting that she wants to move in once Carli moves out.There’s no way I can room with this woman.She’d push me over the edge in less than a day.She already makes me crazy in only the eight hours I work with her.If you move in, even for a little bit, I won’t have to lie to her about not having an opening.
