Skye: Oh, really?
Rob: Skye... I saw you through the window.
Skye: Couldn’t just ignore what was right in front of me.
Rob: Which part did you like more, the run or the push-ups? I can take my T-shirt off, just for you.
My face felt so hot that I was certain everyone at the table could tell something was off. Glancing around, I noticed Tess was grinning at me, but everyone else was too busy devouring the pizza.
Hmm... I wasn’t one to overshare, but I stood by the family’s no-secrets policy. Tess had insisted on it after Dad left, saying that keeping things in wasn’t healthy. We used to just sit together in circles and pour our thoughts out when Mom wasn’t looking. She’d been so down anyway that it would have broken her heart. But the strategy worked, and after a sibling session, we all usually came up with ideas to cheer Mom up. I didn’t miss those times, but we did grow very close because of it. Some might say our relationship was weird, but I liked that everyone had their nose in my business. My siblings and their better halves gave some good advice. Usually I only mentioned guys when I’d been on a few dates, but I decided to try another strategy this time. Perhaps if I spoke about this, I could get some perspective.
“So, my neighbors moved away,” I said.
“That’s right,” Cole said. “You said you were helping them sell the house. How is that going?”
I took a deep breath. “Well, this gorgeous guy just moved in. I was already there for dinner once and it was delicious. We also kissed, and it was smokin’. Anyway, if anyone has advice on dealing with a too-hot-to-handle neighbor, I’m all ears.”
I’d said all this very fast and was greeted with such an unnatural silence that I wondered if they understood me.
“He’s the guy who just texted you?” Josie asked. As usual, she caught on the fastest. The lawyer of the group, always looking for clues.
Tess laughed. The boys were just stunned.
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I don’t know. Body language. Also, you’re blushing. And all that from some texts.”
“I also can vouch for the fact that she’s been daydreaming about said hot neighbor a few times at work,” Tess said.
Cole whistled. “You know what, sis? Good for you.”
My eyes bulged. “Wasn’t expecting this reaction.” My brothers usually were skeptical of any guy I mentioned.
Cole, Ryker, and Tess exchanged glances. Josie pressed her lips together.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“You were so down after you broke up with that last guy you dated that we’re happy you’re moving on,” Cole said. “Just putting it out there, but I’m still volunteering to punch the moron.”
I hadn’t realized they’d all worried so much about me. I was slowly putting two and two together though. There was a lot of sibling support over the last weeks... like when Tess, who would sleep at the store if she could, had started suggesting we take the evenings off to go to museums or for walks in Central Park. Josie and Heather had organized girly evenings. Ryker and Cole had pampered me even more than usual.
It had all been a group effort to cheer me up.
I hadn’t been in a funk because I was single but because the guy had made me feel like I was worth nothing, and it was a shitty feeling. Like goo I couldn’t scrub off. And oh crap, now they were all hopeful I was moving on. I hadn’t meant to get their hopes up. I mean... at least they weren’t worrying about me, so that was a good thing.
“Let’s recap,” Josie said. “He’s hot, a great cook, and, by the intensity of your blush, an excellent flirt. I’m giving you one week before you agree to whatever is making you blush.”
“Nah, two weeks,” Tess said. “Give Skye some credit. She’s a tough nut to crack.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence, sis.”
I turned to my brothers. Ryker was deep in thought, judging by his frown.
Cole whistled. “I usually agree with Tess, but I’m with Josie on this one.”
Ryker held his hands up. “I don’t want to wake the Dragon, so I’m just going to withhold my opinion.”
“We can do that?” Hunter said. “That’s so smart! I’m with Ryker.”