Page 55 of Never Kiss Your Brother's Best Friend

“Everything is going so well. There’s not much left to do. The concert date is set, the band is booked, and we only have a few tickets left before we’re completely sold out.”

I feel my excitement bubbling up as I talk about it.

“And I donated the world’s best silent auction item. You’re welcome,” Peter jokes.

“Yes, you did, according to you.” I smile at him.

“Do you need help with anything else?” Linda asks.

“Actually, yes. A member from the country club is decorating for the silent auction, but she said we needed to bring some volunteers to help. Would you be interested in that?”

She raises a hand for a high five. “You got it!” Everything she does has so much energy. I’d like to bottle some of it.

“Great. Thanks so much for your help. I’ll get you the details when it gets a little closer.” She nods.

Peter changes the subject. “I talked to Sterling yesterday. He mentioned something about Dean showing up at our house?”

I forgot I never told Peter about it. Got a little distracted.

“Oh, yep. Said he wanted to get back together. I said no, obviously, but he wouldn’t leave. Thankfully Sterling came to my rescue.”

“Awww,” Linda chimes in. “Isn’t he the best? Did you reward him for his service?” She gives me a wink.

Peter gives her a sideways glance.

Where to go with that question. I don’t like to lie. Technically he rewarded me first, I think. So, I might be safe to say “no.”

In instances like these, I think silence is the best choice, so I say nothing.

Peter gives me a questioning look. “I thought you’d decided to slow things down with Sterling. Ow.” He looks at Linda.

She clearly kicked him under the table. Did I mention how much I like her?

“It’s okay, Linda. Yes, we did talk about that. I took your advice. We’re trying to just stay friends right now.”

“Trying?" he asks. Then he lets out another, “Ow.” He grits his teeth while attempting to form a smile. “That’s really starting to hurt, sweetheart.”

I’m saved by the arrival of the food. Reuben pizza, let’s do this thing. The waitress starts to put the Reuben down in front of Peter. He immediately points at me. “Oh no, that goes over there, please.”

Linda and I laugh.

Thankfully, the pizza is so good that no one talks for a while as we devour it. When I have just two pieces left, I speak up. “Okay, one for each of you. And I wouldn’t mind a bite of that 'PB& J' please, Linda. That looks tasty.”

Linda and I trade slices. Then I put my last piece over on Peter’s plate. He waves a hand at me. “Not happening. I can’t stand sauerkraut.”

“It doesn’t really taste like sauerkraut. Just try it.”

“Sauerkraut doesn’t really taste like sauerkraut. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” he says playfully.

He may be right. Sauerkraut always tastes like sauerkraut. There’s no disguising it.

Linda bats her eyelashes at him as she picks up his slice. “For me? Just try a teeny tiny little bite.”

He rubs his face, then looks at me. “Never get married, Emma. You lose all control over your decision-making rights, particularly when your spouse is an absolute knock out.”

Peter holds his nose and closes his eyes as Linda starts to move the slice toward his mouth.

What a baby.

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