“Umm, with that lead-in, I can’t promise you a damn thing.”
I roll my eyes and crack the grill to see if the burgers are almost done.
“Would you be upset if I asked your sister out on a date?”
He twirls the beer bottle in his hand. “Like a real date? Like a kiss her at the end of the night date?”
I smile. “Yes.”
He doesn’t say anything right away, and his blank expression gives me nothing.
“Does she know you like her?”
I volley my head side to side. “I think she does, yeah.”
“And she’s cool with it? Being in a relationship?”
“Does she have something against them?”
“I didn’t say that. I was just asking.”
“Look, we’ve made comments here and there, but I think the both of us would be more comfortable if we knew you were cool with it.”
“Oh yeah. Of course I am. You two are such complete opposites that it’s almost perfect. Just take it slow, alright?”
I hold back my laughter as I move the burgers to a plate to take inside. Slow isn’t exactly the word I’d use to describe Calla and me.
We step into the house, and chatter fills the air. I immediately spot Calla with Greer, and my body perks to attention.
A thought that never occurred to me till this moment: how am I going to not touch Calla while we’re surrounded by our friends? Calla’s parents weren’t able to make it, but judging by the smile on her face, I did a pretty good job. But still, no peppered kisses and subtle brushes of my hand against her butt when I walk behind her?
I didn’t think this through.
“A surprise party, huh?” Graham elbows me in the kitchen. “Things must be going okay in the romance department.”
“Shhh.” I glance around for wherever Simon ventured off to. “She hasn’t said anything to her brother yet.”
Do I wish she would? Yes. Am I going to pressure her to tell him? No.
“But yes, things with Calla are going well. Great actually.”
“Ah, shit.”
“What?”
“Another one of you is tied down. I honestly thought you’d be the first, but all good things take time, right?”
I chuckle. Looks like it.
“Are you thinking about settling down?” I ask. Graham doesn’t talk about his personal life too much, so even if he were casually dating, I don’t think I would know about it. He’s not the type of guy to just come right out and say he’s in a relationship.
He shrugs.
“I want to be a little more advanced in my career before I settle down.”
“Smart.”
I’m glad one of us knows what’s up and how to keep a lockdown on their writing life.
