Whoops.
“Ask him why he called,” Pete said again – and burst out laughing once more, causing Drake to sigh heavily as his finger hovered over the radio display about to hang up on the two of them.
“Whatcha need, W-2?”
“Migraine medicine – and patience,” Drake retorted and drew in his breath, before letting it out. What good did it do him to attempt to have his pride when it was already in tatters on the floor? “Sunny, I’m struggling with Steffi…”
“Oh nooo, honey. I haven’t gotten a chance to meet her yet – don’t blow it already.”
“I’m not trying to,” Drake admitted hoarsely. “That’s why I’m calling. She’s not talking to me as much – and I thought I was making headway with her or that we were finally past the whole arguing phase, but…”
“Sometimes things are difficult,” Sunny interrupted knowingly. “You Walkers and your ‘I’m-tough-machoism’…”
“Hey…” Pete began as Drake hollered, “Whoa now… really?”
“You boys – Tommy included – are hard-headed, sweet, sexy things…”
“That’s better,” Drake grunted.
“She’s talking about me,” Pete chimed in quickly.
“I’m talking about all of you – heaven help the woman that wants a well-raised Southern boy because for all your ‘Yes ma’ams’and ‘No ma’ams’there’s a spirit in you men that is frankly a little infuriating and annoying because your ego is as big as your boots and snug as your britches…”
“Um…”
“Sounds like she’s got us pegged…”
“So here’s what you do,” Sunny interrupted. “You start the attack using the ol’ tried-and-true ‘Sunny Protocol’.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m about to tell you, if you’ll just hush for a minute – and you! Petey, yes, you – don’t look innocent. I need a burp cloth, a chocolate bar, and a glass of water, in that order… don’t make me tell you twice.”
“You know, Drake,” Pete began with a strange tone to his voice. “There’s something sublime in having a strong woman ask for help.”
“It’s because I wanted to see you walk away,” Sunny purred – and Drake gagged openly.
“Um, hello? Back to me, please?”
“Hold on a second,” Sunny growled again. “Meeee-yow those tight little running shorts the Air Force makes you wear for PT are the hottest things, I swear.”
“SUNNY – Me!” Drake snapped, clicking his fingers in frustration. “Hello? Me, please. I need help with my girl, and then you can go pounce on my brother… heaven help me, I said that aloud.”
“Um, yeah, you did – and I love the idea,” Sunny chuckled and then crooned something to Pete in the background that made his brother laugh again. Yeah, he wanted a relationship like that for himself, and he couldn’t see Steffi being interested in him like that. “Now listen up, do I have your full attention?”
“Yes.”
“Good. So here is what you’re gonna do…”
Drake listened in disbelief, wonder, and confusion – because it seemed so incredibly simple, and it was hard to believe it worked on his brother. According to Sunny, Pete fell hard for her despite all of his arguments, and Drake could believe it. She wasalmost as hard-headed as the rest of the Walker family and fit right in.
“If the shoe fits, right?” Sunny chuckled. “Go get your woman, W-2.”
“Thanks, Sunny – you’re the best.”
“Oh, I know,” she tossed in a sing-song voice that made him smile. “Now, I’m gonna hang up because your brother just lost those sexy shorts and there are zero tan lines. It’s playtime for me and…”
Drake ended the call himself – and resisted the urge to pull over to scratch his eyes out of his head. Yeah, he definitely wanted a love like that someday.
