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“I’m sure you’ve had crushes before.”
Haley’s gaze darted up to my face and her eyes widened. Then she quickly glanced away, tugging at her earlobe.
“I’ve had…one…” she whispered, scrubbing at her palm with her thumb.
I hesitated before responding. It was no secret that Haley was obsessed with romance novels. It only made logical sense that her love of romance would spill over into her personal life as well. But how had she slipped through high school and college without a single boyfriend snatching her up? She was adorable with her soft brown eyes like a puppy, her rosy-tan freckles, and her sweet, shy demeanor.
“Well,” I said. “Any guy would be lucky to have you.”
I don’t know why those words tasted so sour in my mouth but I certainly didn’t like it.
“Thanks, Theo,” Haley replied so quietly I almost missed it.
Footsteps came thundering up the stairwell. A second later, Chase blew past me.
“Dibs on the top bunk!”
“Fat chance, buddy,” I called after him. I turned back to Haley. “If you get any more dick pics, let me know, all right? I’ll take care of it for you.”
A furious pink blush colored Haley’s cheeks.
Damn, she’s cute,I thought. And I couldn’t help but feel a protective surge of worry at the thought of someone else toying with her vulnerable little heart.
***
The Talbot kitchen was a riot of noise the next morning with eleven people crammed around the table for breakfast. Haley arrived late, shuffling into the room, wrapped in a blanket, with a serious case of bed head.
“Sleeping Beauty has risen from her slumber!” Chase declared around a mouthful of pancake. “Did your Prince Charming kiss you awake at last, darling princess?”
Haley glared at him.
I chuckled and pushed my chair back, moving to the coffee pot. I retrieved a mug from the cupboard, poured the coffee, and handed her the cup.
“Here,” I said. “Caffeine. It helps curb the urge to murder pesky brothers in the morning.”
“Oh, thank God,” Haley said, accepting the cup.
“How come you didn’t get any coffee for me?” Chase protested, feigning a look of mock pain as he clutched at his chest dramatically. “I’m wounded. I am your oldest and dearest friend.”
“You’re also a pain in the ass,” I countered.
A giggle rippled through the Talbot family seated around the table. Haley took a seat, nursing her coffee and pulling her knees up to her chest.
“Looks like someone stayed up too late reading smooch-y books again,” Chase said in a sing-song voice. He took a bite of his pancake with a smug flourish of his fork. “Taking notes for your first kiss, sis?”
“Shut up, Chase,” Haley said, exasperated. “For God’s sake.”
Mrs. Talbot piled a huge helping of pancakes onto a plate and set it in front of Haley.
“Chase, leave your sister alone. She just woke up.”
I leaned against the kitchen counter in thought.
“Is that true?”
Haley raised her eyebrows. “What?”
“You’ve never been kissed?”
