Page 63 of The Other Plan

“No. Of course I’m not ashamed. It’s just... it’s a lot to explain, and I don’t—”

“Well, good. I’ll go down and put on the coffee. We can all catch up.”

“What!” I sat up and yanked the covers up with me. “What do you mean you’ll—”

He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “See you down there.”

As he walked to the door, he called, “Hey, Jo!”

I jumped out of bed, hopping on my feet as I yanked on my underwear. Racing to the closet, I ripped a robe off the hook, wrapping it around me as I bolted after him.

“Carter!” I called in a whisper as I raced down the stairs. When I reached the bottom, Jo stood with wide eyes, staring at Carter as he marched right up to her.

“Morning, Jo!” He patted her on the shoulder as he passed her by.

Her shocked gaze moved from him to me, and I pulled my lips up into an awkward smile. “Hey, Jo.”

The stunned look on her face faltered and lifted into a huge smile. Shortly after, laughter rolled out of her mouth.

“Shut up!” I covered my face and walked toward her.

“Well, holy shit,” she said between laughs. “And can I just say... I knew it!” She lifted a triumphant fist into the air.

“Yeah. You called it. Thanks for the tip the other night,” Carter said, confirming my suspicions.

Pinching my lips together, I narrowed my eyes. “Oh! I knew it was you! You sneaky son of a...”

I started toward her, but she ran around my kitchen island, laughing. “And I was right! So, ha!”

I moved toward her, but she slipped away behind Carter, laughing as she dodged my grasp.

I planted my hands on my hips. “I can’t believe you did that!”

“Oh, you can’t, can you? You can’t possibly believe that I busted out your feelings to the guy you had feelings for and got you two together?” She put her finger on her chin. “I wonder where I could have gotten that idea. Hmm? I wonder, wonder, wonder.” Her eyes widened as she looked at me. “Oh, yeah! From you! Payback’s a bitch, Jenna!”

Knowing I didn’t have a leg to stand on since I had done the exact same thing to her, I slumped my shoulders in defeat. “Okay. We’re even.”

She stuck out her hand in a truce, approaching me slowly. “Shake on it?”

I eyeballed her hand, laughing as I gave up the fight and shook it.

“You two done?” Carter asked as he opened and closed my cabinets.

“Finished,” I said as I moved up behind him, opening the correct cabinet for coffee.

“Ah, there it is!” He pulled out the bag and took a sniff. “Mmm. Smells good.”

“Door County Coffee makes the best stuff. Filters are in the drawer underneath the coffeemaker.”

Carter kissed my cheek as he walked off to my coffee maker across the kitchen. I glanced up to see Jo watching us with sparkles flickering about in her eyes.

“Quit staring,” I demanded. “You’re making me self-conscious.”

“You’ve got a man in your kitchen. A half-naked man. I’m staring,” she responded.

“Why don’t you two go out on the porch and relax. I’ll make breakfast while you fill her in on how you roped such a handsome, smart, sexy man into your kitchen.”

Jo started laughing, jutting a thumb at him. “I like him.”