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“God, I love your family.” It’s true. When Kat was my co-worker, I got such regular updates on the Morgan brothers, I felt like I knew each of them personally. In addition to missing Kat terribly these days, I also acutely miss hearing the latest on her family members, too. “How’s Peenie Weenie?” I ask, referring to her craziest brother, Keane.
Kat snickers. “Keane the Peen has recently become a stripper—as his actual job.”
“No.”
“Yep. His stage name is Peen Star.”
We both laugh.
“Apparently, he’s pretty good at it, based on the money he’s been raking in—one dollah bill at a time, of course. In fact, he told Dax, who then told me, he’s been making more money as a stripper than he ever did in baseball or bartending.”
“No way. That’s crazy.”
“Who knows, this might be Keane’s calling. He’s an amazing dancer, a massive flirt, a diehard exhibitionist, and the biggest ham you’ll ever meet. If ever there was a man perfectly designed for stripping, it’s our family’s neon sheep.”
“Plus, he’s easy on the eyes,” I say, “if you don’t mind me saying so.” I’ve never met Keane, but from the photos I’ve seen of him, he’s a jaw-droppingly handsome human. Supernaturally gorgeous. But then again, I could say the same thing about all the Morgans.
“Yeah, and he knows it,” Kat quips with a roll of her eyes.
“Do your parents know their goofball son has been paying his rent by taking his clothes off?”
“Oh, God, no. Keane swore us all to secrecy. He’s positive my mother will clutch her pearls at the news and my father will be ‘deeply disappointed’ in him.” Kat snorts. “But I told him, no, Peenie, Mom will think it’s hilarious—or at least, she’ll be thrilled you’re able to pay your rent without mooching off the parentals anymore. And Dad would need to have actual expectations of you in order to be deeply disappointed in you.”
“Why is your whole family so freaking mean to poor Keane? Honestly, I find him adorable, at least from afar.”
“Oh, he is adorable. Funny and charming and a true original. But he can also be annoying as fuck. When you meet him, you’ll understand why our endless razzing of him is well deserved.”
“Speaking of meeting your family, are you thinking of bringing Josh to meet your family any time soon, or are you still holding off on that?”
Kat’s blue eyes sparkle like sapphires. “As a matter of fact, Josh is coming to my parents’ house for dinner tonight.”
“Oh my gosh! That’s great news!”
“My whole family will be there.” Kat leans back and smiles. “So much has happened since we last saw each other at karaoke night, Banana. It’s been a whirlwind.” She gives me a run-down, including some of the stuff I already knew from texts, and some of which I didn’t. She says she froze Josh out for a week after karaoke night, which prompted him to send her endless flowers and beg for forgiveness and ultimately fly Kat down to LA, which is when Kat finally forgave Josh and they agreed to a fresh start and a committed relationship. Also, lucky Kat, she tells me she briefly saw my darling boyfriend during his quick stop in LA after his visit to Fresno. It’s something Henn already told me about, of course, but it’s fun to hear Kat’s version of the visit.
“When is Josh going to move into his new house in Seattle?” I ask.
“He already did—two months earlier than originally planned—because he couldn’t wait to live with me.” My eyes widen at the implication, but before I’m able to ask the question on the tip of my tongue, Kat squeals and confirms, “I’ve been living with Josh at his new house!”
I squeal with her. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you. I’m so, so happy.” She didn’t need to tell me that—it’s written all over her face.
“Does this mean you and Josh have now said the magic words to each other?”
Kat’s smile becomes even bigger. “We have.”
I hoot with glee and ask, “Did you hold out and make Josh say it first?”
Kat flashes me a long side-eye that says, Girl, duh, before laughing and saying, “It’s always fun to make Joshua chase me—at least, a little bit.” She giggles. “What about you and Henny? Have you said it yet?”
I shake my head. “I think we’re close, though. I’m betting we’ll say it when we see each other in person again.”
“When will that be?”
“At Jonas and Sarah’s wedding, at the very latest. Henn said he’ll fly in for that, no matter what, even if he’s not finished with the big job he’s been doing on-site in DC by then.”
We talk about Jonas and Sarah’s upcoming wedding, since Kat’s been helping Sarah with the whirlwind planning as her maid of honor. The topic leads to Kat telling me about Jonas’ grand proposal in Greece, which she’s heard about in detail from Sarah, and when that portion of our conversation ends, we shift to talking about work. Specifically, the gaping hole created by Kat’s departure that’s yet to be filled.
