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Josh left the kitchen, and she followed what was going on just by listening. She heard when her brother arrived in the foyer. Heard the door open and Josh and he greet each other with a bro dance. They’d been best friends when they were younger, staying in touch casually despite the estrangement between the families, and had picked things up after Josh helped Meg and Jason with the custody battle over Molly. She heard shuffling and backslapping and juvenile laughter. And with each second the sounds got closer and closer to the kitchen.
“Is this your surprise, dude?” It was her brother. “My sister in your kitchen?”
Caroline turned and gave Kevin a little wave. He took three steps and scooped her into a massive hug.
“What the hell are you doing hanging out with this loser?” Kevin asked, tugging on her ponytail before letting her go. “I always thought you were the smart one.”
There it was. Smart one. Pretty one. “He’s not a loser,” Caroline said, glancing at Josh. “Most of the time.”
“Hey!” Josh smiled at her as he grabbed a beer from the fridge for Kevin, her big brother, who was now leaning against the island watching them. He was not happy.
Kevin was a good guy. Classically handsome, with dark hair and dark eyes, he was Josh’s height, but he had about twenty more pounds of muscle on his frame. Her brother had the women swooning at stadiums all over the country and Caroline was thankful he hadn’t let it go to his head. His career in pro baseball had thrown him into a lot of different places over the course of his career and he currently called Chicago home. There was chatter, though, that New York would be trying to get the gifted, power-hitting catcher on their roster. Caroline would love that, because even though Kevin was protective, he respected her and understood that she was an adult. Then again, she’d never slept with one of his friends before.
“You’re cooking?” Kevin asked as he took a long pull on the beer. “Why are you making him dinner? He should take you out.”
Oh, yes, that would have been so much better. “Because I want to? I like to cook, and I’ve been in love with this kitchen since the first time I saw it.”
“Ah,” her brother nodded. “Come here often?”
She felt herself grin. She was here a lot, but didn’t want to say anything that would make it sound too intense for Josh. “As a matter of fact, I do. What are you asking?”
Kevin slid closer to her and looked her right in the eyes. “I want to know if you’re dating my best friend, Caroline.”
Caroline took a deep breath and looked at her brother, then caught sight of Josh, who hadn’t left the spot he’d claimed near the fridge. He had a very knowing smirk on his face and when she locked eyes with him, he didn’t hesitate, and stepped to her side.
“It’s new, Kev,” Josh said. “We’re still figuring it out.”
“Figuring it out? Shit.” Kevin ran his fingers through his short, dark hair. Then glancing between them, her brother came to another realization. “No one else knows, do they?”
“Meg suspects, but I haven’t told her officially.” Caroline hesitated. “I’m having dinner with Mom tomorrow. Let me tell her first.”
“If there’s nothing wrong with you seeing him, and I’m not saying there is or isn’t, why do you care if anyone knows?”
Spoken like someone who had no clue. “Kevin, it’s not that, and I am telling her. I just needed some time. Did you tell Mom about the last girl you had sex with?”
“Shit!” Kevin exclaimed, shoving Josh. “You’re doing my sister, man?”
Caroline whacked her brother on the arm. “Focus! I want to know if you tell Mom your business?”
“I... I didn’t... It’s different.” Her poor brother was sputtering.
“How?”
He didn’t answer. He couldn’t.
“All I want is to be normal. To have some privacy. To be treated like an adult in the family instead of a like a child.”
“Shitballs,” Kevin said, looking at Josh. “Is this why you asked me over?”
“You asked him over?” Why on Earth would Josh do that without asking her?
“It was an impulse.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” This had better be good.
Josh shrugged. What kind of answer was that? Did he want them outed before she had a chance to tell anyone?
Finally, he spoke. “You would have been a nervous wreck. You have enough on your mind.”
