Page 11 of Ice, Ice… Maybe?

“I miss you too,” she smiled sadly. “And I’ll try to come by, but I have a date.”

“Ohhh? My baby-Becca-booberry has a date?”

“Oh my gosh, never call me that,” she chuckled. “Or I will break out your pet name, Matthew.”

“I’m done.”

“I figured.”

“Tell me about your date…”

“Well, it’s more like we are going to hang out and get to know each other.”

“Becca Baird! Don’t you dare drop your drawers for this guy – ‘Hang out’ is bro-code for foolin’ around. You know ‘Netflix and chill’? Well, ‘Hang out and get to know each other’ is almost just as bad of a phrase. He’s putting the moves on you, sis…”

“Matthew, just because you’d do that – doesn’t mean other guys think the same.”

“Uh yeah, they do.”

“No, they don’t.”

“I guarantee it.”

“Travis is not like that…”

“Oh gosh, his name is Travis? I bet he’s some fem-boy, plays guitar, or some sport. All guys named Travis are high on themselves and…”

“Wow. That’s oddly specific.”

“I knew a few of them in high school and college - and there’s a type. Just like all Jasons have a problem with the world, and all Lukes were named after parents that saw Star Wars in the theaters back in the seventies.”

“You seem to know everything, don’t you? And please enlighten me on my name, dear brother…”

“You’re an optimist who is trying really hard to act cool and fit in – but you never will because you are an original. Half sweet, half a holy terror. If you were a goody-two-shoes, you’d go by Rebecca. If you were a wild child like Toni, you’d go by Becki – but maybe with two ‘I’s…” Matthew chuckled. “How am I doing?”

“You’re a twerp, and I’m sorry I called.”

“No, you’re not – and I’m serious. IfTraaavisss,” he mocked in a high-pitched annoying voice, “tries to make a move, you tell him that your brothers will whip his…”

“It’s Travis Giroux,” she admitted, wondering if her brother would recognize the name since he followed sports. He usually always had baseball or football on, but had been known to go to a few basketball games as well. Maybe he liked hockey, too?

“Nooooo,” he breathed in a hushed voice, and she felt a burst of pride for some strange reason. “You’re lying…”

“Nope.”

“Travis Giroux…THE Travis Giroux?Hockey player and panty-slayer, Tickle-Me-Travis?”

“Panty-slayer? Are you serious? Wait, did you just say ‘Tickle-Me-Travis’… like Tickle-Me-Elmo?”

“I told you guys named Travis were no good. Don’t believe me? Ask Jason or Luke.”

“I’m not asking Jason… and Luke is too innocent. He’s a baby.”

“That guy isn’t innocent. He’s twenty-three and actually has his head on straight out of all of us.”

“Aww. That’s actually sweet coming from you.”

“I’m a sweet guy – and ditch Travis.”

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