“Oh, Kira loves front yards,” Derek spoke up with a smile in his voice. He looked at me and when I didn’t object, he continued, “She’s just so dedicated to the craft of lawn care that she outgrew it. But she still lives for tending the bushes of housewives.”
“Okay, thank you.” I held up my hand for him to stop.
“Too much?” he asked.
I nodded. “A little.”
“It sounded like you were giving housewives…” He hummed at the thought.
“It did, Derek. It truly did,” I cut him off. Leo brushed his hand over his mouth to hide a growing smile. I frowned when he cleared his throat to ward off a laugh. Derek wasn’t as put together.
“I would never. Just so you know,” I clarified, earning another snort from Derek. “I’m a professional. Professionals don’t sleep with the clientèle.”
“No one asked,” Derek noted, and laughed when I shoved his shoulder playfully.
“Well, you made the whole joke and a very contemplative noise, so I felt the need to explain.”
“You’re doing it,” Leo warned in a gentle voice. I paused, realizing my pattern of over-thinking. Derek was completely confused, looking at us both before asking,
“Doing what?”
Before either of us had to answer, Nate interrupted. He yelled something to Dad about putting air in the tire and then joined our growing circle.
“You coming to the bonfire tonight?” His question was directed at Derek.
“That’s the plan, unfortunately.” Derek sighed and then finished the last of his drink.
“Bring a few packs of beer,” Nate suggested.
“How about you, Kira?” Leo asked. Nate frowned at his friend’s inquiry.
This bonfire was the same one I never got invited to each year. My palms were suddenly sweaty because of something other than the hundred-degree heat.
“Um.” I looked at Nate. Leo spoke up before I could read my brother’s expression.
“You should,” Leo urged. “It’s always pretty fun.”
“Fun.” Derek chuckled like it was a joke. “That’s one way to put it.”
“I don’t think you’d be interested.” Nate shook his head at me, eyes demanding me to say no.
I assumed I’d never been invited because - despite us being older - Nate still was fairly picky when it came to where I tagged along. Some places, he couldn’t care less. Others were strictly off-limits. And I got it. He needed space and so did I. But our lives intersected so much and I was the main one giving up things to honor space.
After years of folding, I wanted to stand firm on something. At least this once because it wasn’t every day Leo invited me to a party. If I squinted, it was almost like an invitation on a date… If Derek and Nate weren’t watching me in my peripherals like the two overprotective people they were.
“Nate’s right.” Derek pushed himself to his feet. “It’s not all that great anyway.”
I let out a dry laugh. “You two are really making me want to do the opposite of what you’re saying.”
“Don’t be hardheaded,” Nate warned.
I ignored his comment and looked at Leo. “What time?”
Nate sucked the back of his teeth when Leo told me. Derek looked disapproving too, shaking his head as he went to throw away his cup.
“Come on. I’m not trying to babysit her all night,” Nate complained to Leo.
I scoffed and got to my feet. “When have you ever babysat me, Nate?”
