Page 94 of Trip Through Your Wires

“Thank you,” she beams.

The rest of dinner is filled with Mom and Dad updating us on their work. Tax season is coming, so she is stressed about that, and he is working a new case. When we’re done and ready to get up from the table, I offer to help clear the table and mom holds up her hand.

“I got it,” she holds up a hand. “You go relax, honey.”

“Yeah, honey,” Nat mocks. “Come hang with me outside.”

“You sure?” I look at the pile of dishes still on the table.

“Yes,” Mom smiles. “Go spend time with your sister.”

“Alright.” I get up from the table and nod to the family room. “Shall we?”

Nat jumps up and kisses Mom on the cheek. “Great dinner as always.”

Mom smiles and watches us, turning back to the kitchen once we leave the dining room.

“Okay, spill it,” Nat says once we step out onto the back deck and close the sliding glass door behind us.

I look down at her and shake my head. “Spill, what?”

“Who is she?”

“Who is who?” I laugh.

“The girl responsible for your little space-out during dinner.”

“What?” I look at her like she is crazy.

“You heard me.”

“I did not space out,” I air quote.

“Right,” she laughs.

“Nat—”

“I know you, baby brother,” she cuts me off. “I knew when you liked Caroline Masters in sixth grade and I knew when you lost your virginity to her sister freshman year.”

“Everyone in my grade liked Caroline Masters. But woah,” I hold up a hand about the other. “How do you know about Lynn?”

“Please,” she rolls her eyes. “You weren’t the first cherry she popped. Doesn’t matter. But you liking a girl does, so spill it.”

I lean against the railing and study her. “How do you know I like a girl?”

“Call it sibling intuition,” she shrugs. “That’s how I know you had something else on your mind at dinner, and it wasn’t your deal with the Rockies.”

I ignore her comment and turn to look over the railing. “Oh my god,” she leans in, “I’m right. You do like a girl.”

I shake my head and look down. “Nat….”

“Omigod!” She grabs my arm and squeals. “What’s she like? Is she pretty? Of course she is, what am I thinking? I mean, look at you.”

I can’t lie to my sister any more than I can lie to myself. I do like a girl. In fact, I more than like a girl. I am smitten beyond belief. I want Jenica like crazy and that is what I was thinking about at dinner—how signing with the Rockies will make it easier for us to be together.

If Cruz and I accept the deal with the Rockies, Ellery will be in Colorado too, which means Jenica could visit her best friend and me at the same time. It would be just like Highland, only we’d be together. No longer sneaking around.

“You don’t have to tell me anything,” Nat says gently. “Just tell me this, is she worth it?”

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