“Wow, you aren’t what I expected, but in a good way.”
I can hear Teddy cursing. “I swear to God, we are about to fight like men.”
“Just let us talk to her!” She screams back over her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Laney!” Theo says, his voice cracking with fear.
“It’s fine, Teddy!” I yell into the phone with a laugh.
“So, you’re the one my brother has been talking non-stop to Mom about when he thought we weren’t listening.”
“I hope so.”
“Well, I’m Jamie, his favorite.”
“Not anymore!” I hear him yell in the background and another “oomph.”
Another voice sounds out. “She was your favorite? Really, Teddy? That hurts.”
“I’m so going to get you for this. Hang up, Laney. Just hang up!”
Another head pops up on the screen. “Hi. I’m Brenna.”
“Hi.”
“So did Teddy tell you ‘bout us?”
“Sure did,” I say through a laugh.
A third head pops up. “Did he tell you how protective we are?”
“I have the best of intentions, I assure you, Courtney.”
She gives me a pride-filled grin. “In the flesh.”
“Well, rest assured, your brother is in good hands and schooling me on a lot more than I would like to admit.”
Jamie speaks up. “He’s special, isn’t he?”
“Very.”
“Yeah, as in helmet wearing special,” Courtney says, rolling her eyes.
Brenna’s eyes light up. “You should come for New Year’s! You can sleep in my room.”
“Oh, I uh, well I have to stay here with my mom.”
Jamie thumps her ear. “That’s an invitation Teddy should extend.”
“Where is he anyway?” I ask.
Jamie and Brenna look back to Courtney who shrugs. “We probably have about ten seconds left.”
I shake my head with a laugh.
“You know, Courtney, you and Theo look a lot alike.”
“That’s funny you mention that,” Jamie says, “because we have this pillow.”