He scowled at Hayley. “It was no big deal.”
Hayley pushed back her plate. “There was an article in the paper about it. He got a medal of commendation from the mayor and everything.”
He rolled his eyes even as heat flushed his neck. “He had a heart attack. I called 911.”
“Actually, he performed CPR for eighteen minutes and kept the man alive until the medics got there. He’s kind of a hero.”
He was gonna kill her. “Don’t you have homework or something?”
“It’s summer. Duh.”
Sadie squeezed his wrist. “Stop it. She’s right. You are a hero. What a wonderful thing to do.”
His pulse fluttered at her touch before she removed her hand. “Thank you, but it was really nothing.”
“Yep, he’s a regular hero. Did you know he saved me from drowning in the ocean once when I was seven?”
Sam rolled his head back.
“Oh, tell me. I can’t wait to hear this one.”
“I’ll do the dishes.” Sam stood.
“You don’t have to do that,” Sadie called as he headed into the kitchen.
“Yes, I do,” he muttered.
Sam began clearing the table and loading the dishes into the dishwasher. He was close enough to hear every word, but fortunately, once his sister finished the ocean story, the topic shifted to something unrelated to him.
“I love your nail polish,” Hayley said to Sadie as he collected the last of the dishes.
“Thanks. It’s Purple Rain. You should come over sometime and I can paint yours for you.”
“She doesn’t like that kind of—”
“I’d love that.” Hayley shot him a smug look, then turned back to Sadie. “So you must be the one he’s taking to our cousin’s wedding.”
At the sink Sam whipped his head around.
“That would be me, and I can’t wait. I’ve never been to a destination wedding, so I’m really excited.”
He directed a hot laser stare at his sister. Attempted mental telepathy:Do not bring up Amanda and me.
“I’m glad you’ll be there. I helped make the table centerpieces for the reception. They’re kinda cheesy, but whatever.”
Sadie laughed. “Did you get a new dress? I’m definitely going shopping for this.”
“Mom took me to the mall. I got an outfit for the breakfast too.”
“There’s a breakfast?”
Hayley nailed Sam with a look. “Did you tell her nothing?”
Sam grunted. Hayley was going to tell Sadie all about Amanda and him, and he’d come off the poor rejected schmuck. So, yes, that was apparently why he’d been so tense since his sister’sarrival. He obviously cared a great deal what Sadie thought. He didn’t even want to dissect that thought.
His sister was busy laying out the weekend schedule. “And after the rehearsal dinner, there’ll be s’mores on the beach. There’s a buffet breakfast on Saturday morning, and lunch is on our own, then it’ll be time to get ready for the wedding. It’s on the beach at sunset. I got a light blue sundress and strappy sandals, but I’ll probably take them off at the beach. The hotel looks really nice and it’ll be a full weekend, but I’m glad there’s some free time. I love my family, but there’s a great pool, and you never know when you’re going to meet a cute guy.”
“Maybe there’ll be someone at the wedding you like. We’ll have a great time, you’ll see. And now I’ll know someone else besides Sam.”
