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“Ten bucks?”
“Pfft. That’s high school. It’s twenty now.”
Steph laughed, and they headed outside into the crisp fall evening.
As they crossed the street after a passing car, Brandy asked, “Are you really going solo to the reunion? Want me to recruit someone?”
“Please, no.” Steph squinted over at her as the setting sun blinded her for a moment. “I mean, who is there to set me up with? I know all the available guys in Everly Falls. You and your sister snagged the only new ones.”
“There’s a few move-ins, and a couple are in Ian’s friend group from the gym,” Brandy said in a casual tone. “One might be interested.”
Steph pulled her to a stop on the sidewalk at the corner of the restaurant. “Don’t tell me you’ve talked about me to someone.” She scrunched her nose. “I really don’t want to be set up. Just because you’re practically engaged to Mr. Hot and Perfect doesn’t mean I’m worried about being single for the rest of my life.”
Brandy and Ian were definitely close to getting engaged, but Steph suspected they were waiting until after Everly and Austin married in a few weeks, so the spotlight would stay on that magical couple.
Brandy squeezed Steph’s arm. “I didn’t mean that you need help—you don’t need help. It’s themenwho need help.” She released her arm and continued to the restaurant doors.
Steph hurried after her. In for a penny, in for a pound.
It was quite amusing to watch Brandy bring on the bossiness and insist the hostess give them a corner booth that was mostly out of sight from the table Lydia and her date were at.
Steph literally held her breath as they followed the hostess to their orange vinyl booth. They settled in and ordered drinks once the server arrived.
“I can’t believe we made it,” Steph whispered, taking a surreptitious glance over at Lydia. She was telling some story that included a lot of hand gestures. The man laughed. It was a higher-pitched laugh, but not terrible.
“She’s flirting,” Brandy deadpanned. “It’s so … weird. He’s gotta be at least ten years younger.”
“Is the age difference really a big deal?” Steph mused in a hushed voice. “I mean, your mom is a catch for any man.”
“My momisa catch. I don’t know if he is.” Brandy took a sip from her ice water with two lemons. “It’s not just that my mother is dating—flirting. She didn’t tell me or my sister. And her choice will affect us … a lot. Because if things progress and my mother gets married again, I’d have a stepdad.”
“Oh yeah, true.” Steph took another glance at Lydia and her date. Steph’s own mother had a stepdad, Pops, and their personalities clashed. “It would be weird for that guy to be your stepdad.”
“Agreed.”
Lydia laughed at something her date said. A high, tinkling laugh. Definitely flirting.
Brandy grimaced.
“Maybe he’s harmless?” Steph said hopefully. “I mean, should we trust your mom’s instincts?”
“Maybe he is harmless, but if she doesn’t confess she’s gone on a date after this, I’m not going to be happy.” Brandy paused. “And we need to make sure he doesn’t follow her home.”
“What if she invites him?”
Brandy didn’t look pleased at the possibility. “I hate this.”
Steph reached over and squeezed her hand. “At least we’re here. Probably being overprotective, but nothing’s going to happen on our watch, okay?”
Brandy exhaled. “Okay.”
Their chicken enchiladas came, and Brandy asked the server, “Can you bring to-go containers and the check? We might have to leave pretty soon.”
The server bustled away, and Steph took a couple of bites of the cheesy goodness, then noticed Brandy wasn’t eating. “Not hungry after all?”
“I’ll take it all home,” she said. “I can’t eat while I’m busy analyzing my mom and her date.”
Steph nodded and took another bite. She didn’t love heated-up leftovers, but her grandpa loved anything, and since she lived with him, it would be easy to talk him into eating the food.
