Sara still hadn’t remembered how to breathe yet. This was bad. Very bad. “Okay.”
“Are you lying to everyone about sleeping with my brother or just your best friend?”
Chapter Eleven
Sara set Telly’s cage on the floor. Why wasn’t Kim at Greg’s? And why had she thought lying was a good idea?
She glanced down at Brad’s robe and tucked in her boob. Luckily it had only made a partial escape. Thank God she’d covered up. “Uh, can you repeat the question?”
Kim sighed. “I thought we were best friends.”
“We were. We are. I swear. This doesn’t have anything to do with us.”
“You don’t think so? If I was banging your brother like a drum—and lying right to your face about it, while living under your roof—you don’t think you’d mind?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
“Yeah, I’m putting it like that.” Kim crossed her arms and gazed up at the ceiling. “What happened to us telling each other everything?” She held up a hand. “Clarification. I’m not asking for details in this case. In fact, I expressly forbid you from telling me anything personal as it relates to Brad. Except maybe why you scream like a banshee when you come.” She pantomimed gagging. “Never mind. TMI.”
“I do not.” Sara sat on the edge of the mattress and bit her lip. If it had been anyone but Kim, she probably would’ve crawled under the bed, but she had enough dirt on her friend to use as leverage for a lifetime. Still, the crawling thing was tempting. “Do I?”
“You so do. I would’ve been jealous, if I hadn’t been disgusted.”
Kim’s peevish tone struck her as funny, so funny that she fell on her side, laughing, and clutched her stomach. Either her multiple orgasms had shaken something loose or the relief of knowing her secret was out had tipped her over the edge. “Sorry. I didn’t think you were home. I wouldn’t have—we wouldn’t have—”
“Yeah, like you weren’t home the other night when I asked you to stay away. At least you played music to disguise the moans. Though what was up with ’Ticket To Ride‘?” She made a face. “That isn’t some weird sex song of yours, is it?”
Sara composed her features. “Yes. Yes, it is.”
Kim pitched a pillow at her and hit her square in the head. “Bitch. You’re on thin ice already.”
Sara blew out a breath, her good humor fading. It had been nice while it lasted. “Brad wanted to tell you. He begged me repeatedly not to lie.”
“With his past, he’s not exactly a fan of deception. I knew it was all you. Which both hurt more and hurt less, because I know you’re über-cautious.” Kim grunted and twisted her top half to face Sara so she didn’t jar her leg. “You have to know that I’d never begrudge you happiness, no matter where you found it. Don’t you?” Kim’s big blue eyes, so like her brother’s, sheened with tears. “Especially if it meant you might end up my sister for real someday.”
Sara’s throat locked up. “Don’t. See, this is what I was afraid of happening.” She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t handle it along with everything going on with him, which has already been totally unexpected and wonderful and so confusing that I’m still not sure which way’s up. I’ve already had those crazy thoughts myself, and it’s too soon, I can’t deal—”
“Hey, breathe.” Kim stroked her hair. “I didn’t say I was planning a wedding. I said maybe someday. If you and Brad break up, it won’t change a damn thing with us. You’re my sister whether we share a last name or not, Carmichael, so stop being stupid before I’m forced to beat you with my crutch.”
Sara wiped her eyes with the corner of her comforter. They weren’t wet, just itchy. “What crutch? You refused to get one.”
“Greg loaned me one he had.” Kim wrinkled her nose. “I’d rather hop.”
“How’re you going to dance at the benefit? Normally you get up on the tables.”
“Meh. I’ll have to chair dance or something equally lame.” Kim grinned. “Or maybe I’ll settle for making out with Greg in the kitchen. He always wanders toward the food.”
“Greg…that name is so familiar. Wait, you’re not talking about that Greg? The cook in the cafeteria?” Sara’s eyes widened. “But he’s only—”
Kim cleared her throat. Loudly. “Greg is over thirty. I’m a baby puma compared to you.”
“You’re right. He’s not too young, he’s…fresh. Uncontaminated.” She and Kim shared a grin. “At least until you got your hooks into him.”
“I can’t believe you’d say that. Why, I told him I hadn’t been with many men when we got together, so he insisted on trying everything in his bag of tricks to please me. You know how those young guys are with their issues. Actually, never mind. Please don’t overshare.” She covered her ears. “La la la.”
Sara had to laugh. “Ah. The performance issues. I wondered what that meant, since you were screaming your fool head off when we went upstairs.”
“I don’t scream. I purr. Rambunctiously.”