Page 63 of Never Kiss Your Brother's Best Friend

Emma waves to the crowd.

“Thank you all so much for coming. You have made this project such a success.” She turns to me. “When Sterling and I first talked about trying to raise money for the shelter, I really didn’t know if it would happen.”

She smiles at me, then grabs my hand again. Oh boy, think of something cold. Ice cubes. Snow. Penguins. Why is it always penguins?

It’s no use, just start calling me “Sweaty Palms Sterling.”

“But thanks to all of your support. It’s going to happen. Cedar Creek will have a new, bigger animal shelter with Dr. Cole at the helm!” The crowd roars.

I look into the seas of faces to see Peter, Linda, Mia and Zoe cheering with their hands in the air.

What a ride this has been.

Emma hands the mic back and we walk back down the stairs to listen to the finale.

When it ends, people slowly head for the exits. I see nothing but happy faces. We sit in our seats for a few minutes just taking it all in.

Eventually, the six of us make our way to the front to talk to the band while the last few people straggle out. I go around to each bandmember and personally thank them.

While I’m talking to the drummer, music starts up from the sound system. It’s a great song, too, an absolute classic, “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon.

As I look around, I realize the rest of our group has disappeared.

Then the bandmembers wave and tell me to have a good night.

What is going on? Where did everybody go?

Then Emma comes sauntering toward me from off stage. My heart starts beating a mile a minute.

“You have a sec?” she asks.

“For you, all the time in the world, you know that,” I answer.

She takes my hands in hers and closes her eyes for a moment.

When she opens them again, she looks so sincere. I’m putty in her hands like always. “Look Sterling, I’m sorry for being weird last night.”

“You were being weird? I hadn’t noticed.”

She pokes me gently.

“After you left Zoe’s the other night, I made a pros and cons list for getting into a relationship with you.”

I tilt my head and arch my eyebrows. “Really?”

“Yes, don’t judge me. I like lists. They’re tangible evidence.”

“Ok, so how did I do?”

She puts my hands on her waist and then her arms around my neck. Her body starts swaying gently to the music and I follow her lead.

“You had some pros. She runs her fingers through my hair, then touches my eyes. “This and these.”

When I smile, she moves her hands to my dimples. “And those, of course.”

“And let’s not overlook, here,” she says as she runs her hands over my chest and then to my shoulders and down my arms.”

“Well, all this seems based on the physical. I’m not sure if I should be offended or not. You know I’m not just a boy toy,” I say as I pull her body closer against mine, smirking.

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