Page 92 of Book Club Confidential

“Hey, what’s up?” he asked, answering on the first ring.

“I’m checking in,” she said. “I didn’t hear from you. How did the interviews go?”

“Fine, I guess. I didn’t call because I haven’t heard anything. I love you, but I’m not twelve years old anymore. Stop hovering,” he said.

Tessa bit her tongue against the urge to tell him she’d trusted the twelve-year-old version of him. It was the last sixteen or so years that he’d repeatedly worried her and broken their dad’s heart.

She could hear Dad’s voice, muffled in the background.

“What’s he doing home?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Devin said. “Heartburn or something. We had burgers again last night.”

Tessa’s internal alarm system began to buzz. “You can’t just eat take-out food five days a week,” she said. “It’s horrible for both of you. Why aren’t you cooking? It’s healthier and cheaper too.” She’d worried about her dad not eating enough before her brother’s return. Now she had to worry about him eating a constant flow of trash. “He told me he’d been having heartburn a few weeks ago. It shouldn’t still be happening.”

Devin was silent for a long moment. “It’s just some burgers and a little indigestion. Why are you freaking out? It’s hard to cook for two. There’s a ton of leftovers that just get thrown away. Plus, we don’t want to cook and clean up every night.” He huffed. “Why are you like this?”

“Someone has to be the responsible one,” she snapped. “Did he tell you he had a doctor’s appointment right before you came home? Did he tell him about the heartburn?”

“Nope. He didn’t tell me about the appointment or his heartburn,” Devin said. “He’s a grown man. He doesn’t need a nursemaid, Tessa. Jeez. Try to relax for like sixty seconds, could you?”

She took several slow breaths, willing herself not to get more upset than she already was. Why couldn’t he answer basic questions about their dad’s health when he was living there and seeing him every day? She wanted to hang up on Devin and scream until her throat was raw.

“Let me know when you hear back about the interviews,” she said. “I’m going to call Dad. I didn’t realize he wasn’t at work.”

“Yeah, all right,” Devin said. “But seriously, Tessa. Take a deep breath once in a while.”

She disconnected and counted to fifty before dialing her dad. Were all little brothers complete know-it-alls? Even in their thirties?

Her dad answered on the third ring. “Hiya, sweetie. Have I thanked you for all the help you’ve given Devin? He talks about it all the time. Warms my heart to see my kiddos enjoying one another’s friendship like you do.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I’m always happy when you’re happy. Devin said you’re home from work with heartburn. Are you okay?”

He chuckled nervously. “Sure. It’s just heartburn.”

Devin’s voice boomed in the background. “That’s what I told her!”

“It seems odd to me, though,” she said. “In the past you’ve gone to work with broken fingers, a fever, and pneumonia.”

“That was because we needed the money. Now I don’t need the money so much, and your brother’s here. I want to spend time with him.”

“Isn’t he living there?” she asked, unsatisfied with her dad’s answers. Something wasn’t right. She just wasn’t sure what that was. Or, she thought wryly, maybe she was looking for a problem in someone else’s life so she could avoid the issues in hers.

“Tell Tessa we’re going out for burgers,” Devin said in the background. “You can call her back.”

“I heard,” she said. “Do me a favor and order a salad this time. All the red meat might be upsetting your stomach.”

“Sounds good,” he said. “Hey, whatever happened to the guy you mentioned at dinner?” he asked, catching Tessa off guard. “It’s none of my business, but I realized I didn’t ask much about him when you were here for dinner.”

Tessa smiled, thinking of her growing friendship with Grant. “He’s nice,” she said.

“He’s not your client anymore.”

“He is not,” she agreed. But he only seemed interested in her as a friendly work associate. And maybe that was for the best.

“Do the two of you keep in touch?” her dad asked.

“Yes.” She looked forward to every one of his texts. Some were marketing related, but many were pictures or things he heard or thought of that she’d enjoy. Town trivia. Images from downtown. The more they interacted, the more she realized she liked him as a human. A really hot, smart, kind human.