Page 29 of Reaching Gavin

He shook his head. “No way. My mama taught me to never to go into a woman’s purse.”

“I’ve still got a lot to do,” I hedged. I’d begun to eye my belongings. It would only take a few minutes to pack up, but I shouldn’t.

“Not on a Friday night.”

“Gavin, I just don’t think it’s a good idea”—

He cut me off, “I’m heading out to dinner with my sister. You can grill her on what the preservation committee’s beef is with our plans for the theater.”

That changed things. I started stacking my notes into a pile and shoving them into my overworked Kate Spade bag. Then, I paused. “Isn’t that kind of cheating?”

“Your best friend Trevor has been tagging along to any meeting that isn’t closed doors. Without an invite. I think it’s okay for you to get a leg up, too.”

I narrowed my eyes, but then returned to the task at hand. I was packed up in a matter of twenty seconds. I shrugged my bag onto my shoulder and turned to him, “Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer, he only grinned.

This wasn’twhat I expected. When Gavin told me he was having dinner with his sister, I’d expected a fancy, formal dining room or a trendy, new restaurant. Instead, we were jammed into the back booth of a Cheesy Pete’s. The restaurant, which catered to adults who wanted to act like children for a few hours, was a West Coast staple. Growing up I had gone to the family-friendly versions aimed at actual kids, but I had never been to one of these.

We were currently engaged in a hot debate over what pizza toppings to order.

“I don’t eat meat, Gavin,” Imogen said with a weary sigh, the kind usually reserved for conversations between a sister and a brother.

Gavin rolled his eyes. “So that this week’s diet?”

“Behave,” I muttered and elbowed him in the side. Engaging in physical combat was one of the perks of sitting next to him. It wasn’t the only one though. Even in the crowded restaurants, I caught the spicy notes of his cologne, which smelled like smoky leather combined with heaven. It was taking considerable effort not to bury my nose against his neck and take a deeper breath. “Be supportive.”

Imogen pointed a manicured finger at me. “I like this one. Keep her.”

“We’re just”—

“It’s not like”—

“Sure.” Imogen shut her menu and shot me an impish smile. “My brother is a pain in the ass, but he’s a pretty hot, eligible bachelor. Even Seattle Magazine says so.”

Gavin’s head fell backwards as he groaned to the heavens. “I don’t need you to get a date for me.”

“Obviously, you do.”

“My sister,” Gavin gestured toward her, “making my life hell since 1997.”

“I can’t help it if you’re relationship-challenged. I mean, some of the girls he brings to these functions our parents make us go to, I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out he was paying them to be there.”

I mashed my lips together, holding down a giggle. I was glad I’d come out after all.

“I have never paid for a date. I just don’t have the greatest taste in women,” he said to me as if he needed to do some damage control.

“You actually have to put some effort into it,” Imogen advised “or, even better, just date her. She’s perfect and she’s your type.”

“I don’t date,” I asserted myself into the conversation, but I’d caught the last bit. I was his type, huh?

In-ter-est-ing.

“Neither does Gavin,” Imogen said with meaning. “I have an idea! You guys could not date each other, not get married, and not have beautiful babies!”

“I begged my parents for a brother,” Gavin grumbled next to me.

We were delivered from the sibling bickering by the arrival of the waiter. Ten minutes later, and two pizzas ordered, I realized that these two could fight anywhere. It wasn’t obnoxious though. I’d watched my best friend fight with her mother and that had been awkward to be around. Instead, this reminded me of my relationship with my own siblings. The love between Gavin and Imogen was tangible. I could feel it. I could see it. They just chose to show it through good-natured ribbing and doing their best to embarrass the hell out of each other.