“Why not? You love golf. Let me borrow a polo. Stacey bought me this, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her I hate it—”
“NO.” I throw my hand out, stopping him from getting any closer.
“Seriously?” He surveys me with a quirky, confused grin. “Let me just borrow a shirt. I’m not Chase. I won’t get the drink cart girls’ lipstick all over it and ruin it.” He laughs, making another attempt to push past me.
His eyes meet mine, but then they peer mischievously at my bedroom door. Those damn wheels begin to spin, and a bead of sweat starts to form above my brow. “Why are you acting weird?” His vision is going back and forth from me to over my shoulder. Shit. “Wait a minute…” Please no. “You got a girl in there?” He smiles as if he’s caught me. “Hello in there!” He takes a step closer. I would never lay a hand on my best friend, but right now, it’s the only thing stopping him from murdering me. I throw my hand to his chest and shove him.
“Have Chase go.”
“Damn, calm down, bro.” He throws his hands up in surrender. “And no on Chase. He always gets us kicked out for being too aggressive with the cart girls. Stacey won’t let me golf with him anymore. Plus, my pops sent me to scoop you up. So, let’s go. Tell your lady friend it’s time to go.”
Sure, why don’t I tell your sister I have to go golfing with you and her dad. Maybe then I can mention I’m having wild sex with his little girl and watch myself get pummeled by his nine iron.
“Dude, hello? Go get dressed. Want me to keep her company?”
“No!” I snap too quickly.
His eyes light up with more curiosity, which doesn’t bode well. Shit. “Man, why so jumpy? Wait…don’t tell me that’s Rebecca in there?” Christ, please don’t let Hannah hear that. She’ll have my balls. “I’d rather saw my dick off, I told you. Fine, let’s just go.”
“Sweet.”
I push him down the hall, away from my door, and stop at my laundry room to grab a clean pair of shorts and a polo.
“Aren’t you gonna say goodbye to your date? And what about my shirt?” he asks as I snag a pair of golf shoes and my clubs from my front closet.
“No, she’ll get a clue and leave on her own. And salmon looks really pretty on you.”
Kip laughs, then slaps me on the back. “You dawg, you. Nice to see you finally playing the field.”
I push him out of my front door, wishing he’s this cheerful when I break the news my field is all things his little sister.
Hannah
I jump out of the shower, my mood light and ah-mazing. I dance around my room, re-enacting the intro scene to Adventures in Babysitting, singing “Then He Kissed Me” into my brush.
Making it home without being stopped and questioned was pure luck. My dad was on the golf course, and Mom was out, already buying out all the baby stores.
On my Uber ride home, I got a text from Stacey inviting me to lunch this afternoon and to do some baby registry shopping. If I wanted a buffer between my brother and I, she’s it. Kipley and I never fought as kids, but I have a feeling this may be our first. To be honest, I’m not sure how he’ll react. If I was a one-night stand to Levi, it wouldn’t go over so well. But we’re more than that. And with Stacey’s help, if I can get him to listen long enough to understand, then I feel hopeful he won’t kill Levi. He may even rally with us when telling Dad.
But first, I have to tell Stacey. I accept her lunch invitation, knowing this will be the perfect time to confess.
I haven’t heard from Levi outside of a quick I’m sorry text, which is okay. It at least tells me he’s still alive. It also reminds me to ask him who else has a key, because that could have ended badly. And that’s not how I want us to start off. Everyone upset at us. Our intentions aren’t to hurt anyone or be deceiving. Keeping us a secret was for the best. But what’s best now is honesty.
Slipping on a cute tunic with leggings, I head downtown to the quant French bistro Stacey recommended. I wonder what their baby will look like. If they’ll have a boy or girl. How broke I’m going to be spoiling him or her rotten. That’s if Mom doesn’t buy out everything first. My mind wanders, and I start to think about what our baby would look like if Levi and I had one.
“Oh…geez. Stop while you’re ahead, Hannah.” We just decided we would officially date and tell the world. Let’s ease up on marriage and babies. Not that I don’t already have a binder from when I was thirteen planning out our entire wedding. I wonder if he would think it was creepy to learn just how deep my childhood obsession ran? Maybe he’ll think it’s cute. Good luck with that, crazy.