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The Trouble With You

Page 97

by Erin Nicholas

“Judging by that smile on your face, he’s even good at texting,” Everly says.

I grin and say happily, “He’s good at everything.”

I text back. I already think of you all the time. But these are gorgeous. Thank you.

He sends back a simple heart emoji and for some reason that makes me happier than any poetry he could’ve written.

Then suddenly Everly says, “Oh! I didn’t tell you, on my way in, I noticed Beckett talking to a couple of girls out on the sidewalk in front of Perks and Rec.”

“A couple of girls? Who?” I ask.

“Well, that’s the thing,” Everly says. “I have no idea who they are.”

We all look at one another, and then Andi and Astrid both say, “Stalker.”

We all lunge out of our chairs and scramble for the window that overlooks the sidewalk Everly is talking about.

Sure enough, my brother is standing down there, in conversation with two young women in their twenties. They’re both very pretty and…familiar.

“They were at hockey practice the other day,” I say. “They stayed for the whole practice, but didn’t come up and talk to any of the players afterward.”

“I thought Lawson and Beckett were going to put cameras up at your houses and try to catch these stalkers on camera,” Andi says.

I look at her. “How did you know about that?”

“Beckett was talking about it at Perks and Rec,” she says with a shrug.

Of course he was.

“Well, that would explain why we haven’t seen them on camera. They probably overheard and are avoiding the cameras.”

“But he is still getting stuff delivered at your house?” Andi asks.

“Oh, yeah,” I say. “Every other day. She hasn’t missed yet.”

Andi is staring down at the sidewalk, definitely seeming bothered by this. “I need to go,” she says, suddenly turning and starting for the door.

“Just like that?” I call after her.

She lifts a hand and waves.

Astrid and Nora start to move away from the window, but Everly catches my eye, and I nod.

We both know it’s about to happen. And we’re not going to miss it.

Sure, enough, a minute later, Andi is out on the sidewalk where Beckett and the women are talking.

She walks up to them and says something we, of course, can’t hear.

Beckett grins when he sees her, as he always does.

Andi says something, very animated, using her hands to describe whatever it is.

I can’t see the two women’s faces, only my brother’s clearly. He looks surprised. And amused.

A moment later he nods, and says something to the women, then he and Andi turn and head down the sidewalk away from them.

The women watch them go, then say something to one another, turn, and leave in the opposite direction.