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“No way,” I said. “He likes you.”
I slipped a hand onto her shoulder, squeezing gently. “He gave you his number. He wanted you to call. He’s been considerate this whole time. Tonight is going to be amazing.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled. “You’re right. I’m being silly.”
“So silly,” I agreed.
My stomach fluttered with dozens of butterflies. You’d think I was about to go on this date. I wanted it to go well for her so badly.
“Want me to get the door?”
She smiled shakily. “Would you? I just need a moment to calm the fuck down.”
I chuckled. “Good idea. Don’t let the nerves take over. Whatever happens, you’ll be fine. I’m just a phone call away.”
She stuck out her tongue. “I better not need my brother to rescue me from my date. Ugh. How awful. No, I refuse. If I need a rescue, I’ll call a friend.”
I paused on my way to the door. “A friend?”
“Joey,” she said with a decisive nod.
“Joey?” I said, shocked. “You’d get into a car with him?”
She hesitated. “Well, I’ve told him no before. But we both know it wasn’t ordinary circumstances that night. If I really forgive him, then…yeah. I have to trust he won’t kill me with his driving.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but I really didn’t know what to say to that. I shook my head, bemused by my sister’s willingness to put her faith in someone who’d failed her so completely, and went to open the door.
Felipe stood on the doorstep, looking hot as hell in a cream-colored sweater, charcoal jeans, and a brown leather jacket. He’d shaved his scruff down to just a hint of stubble, and he smelled like spicy sandalwood cologne.
“Hey, man.” He stuck his hand out to shake. “I’m here to pick up Dakota.”
I glanced past him to the driveway, where a newer model station wagon was parked. “I didn’t really take you for a wagon kind of guy.”
He chuckled. “Nah, it’s not mine. My car is too small to take Dakota’s wheelchair. I borrowed this.”
“Hmm.” It looked like she’d be able to transfer into the passenger seat okay, as long as Felipe stored her wheelchair in the back for her. “You know how to fold up a wheelchair?”
Dakota wheeled up behind me. “No grilling my date. I can tell him anything he needs to know.”
I shifted to the side so that Dakota could go out the front door.
“Wow. You look great,” Felipe said, eyes appreciative as he skimmed over her. Yeah, he definitely saw more than the wheelchair.
Dakota smiled up at him. “You clean up okay, I guess,” she teased. “Not like me, of course. Who could compete?”
He laughed. “You’re not wrong. I’m definitely punching up tonight.”
“I hope not. I’m way down here.”
He looked thrown for a minute as Dakota laughed.
“My sister’s got jokes,” I said. “Brace yourself. It could be a rocky night.”
Dakota smacked me in the gut without even looking for where to aim. I grunted.
Felipe smiled. “I like a woman with a good sense of humor. Just forgive me if I don’t always get the joke. I wouldn’t want to be insensitive.”
“See, Kit?” She grinned over her shoulder. “He’s the sweetest. You don’t need to worry about me.”
