Page 27 of Full House

CHAPTER TEN

When they arrived back at the house after whale watching, Victoria encountered another ambush. Only this time it wasn’t a large crowd, and it wasn’t for Nate. It was in the form of a single woman, Nate’s sister, Tammy, and it was all for her. Introductions were made, hugs were given, and questions were pelted out at the rate of machine gun fire before she and Nate had even made it through the front door. Victoria honestly didn’t know how his sister could talk so fast.

“Enough! Give us some breathing room,” Nate yelled over his sister’s rambling. “You’re worse than the crowd we had to deal with at the pier.”

Victoria had to stop herself from nodding as Nate echoed her thoughts.

Nate’s announcement stopped Tammy in her tracks—for all of two seconds—before she blurted, “How did they figure out you were there?”

Good question, Victoria thought as she waited for Nate’s answer.

“I’m not sure, but I think it was a kid who works at one of the shops on the pier.”

Victoria couldn’t help but snicker, “Your hat fetish was your downfall?”

Tammy’s eyebrows popped up. “What hat fetish?”

Victoria had purposely left the hat in Nate’s car.

Nate gave Victoria an exasperated looked before replying to his sister, “No hat fetish. Tori has an unusual sense of humor. Or, I should say more specifically, she’s a smartass.”

“Hardy-har-har,” Victoria deadpanned.

Nate grinned. “See, you just proved my point.”

“You guys are all over Twitter.” Victoria looked over to see Tammy had pulled her phone out and was scrolling on it.

“Really?” Victoria rarely used social media. It was all too much for her to keep track of. But she knew her manager kept regular updates posted to her Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

“You’re trending. Hashtag Leed.” She looked up from her phone grinning. “Cute. It’s a blending of your last names.” She looked down at her phone again, scrolling. “Love the hat, by the way. I can see why Nate has a thing for it.”

“I’m surrounded by smartasses,” Nate said, pulling out his own phone.

Victoria leaned into Nate’s side to see the screen. He pulled up his account and pictures of him with his fans came into view, and as he scrolled, several with just her and Nate. She tried to read the comments as they flashed by, but only managed to glimpse a few words—dating, item, romance, and couple. She needn’t have worried, Tammy more than happily filled her in.

“The speculation about you two is running rampant. People are asking if you guys are a couple. A few women tweeted mad-face emojis. Some sad-face emojis.” Tammy looked up and grinned. “The guys really seem to dig you in your hat, Victoria.”

Victoria heard a growl from the Neanderthal standing next to her. She elbowed him in the side. “You’ve no one to blame but yourself.”

“This one’s a little weird, @NateReed, how could you?” Tammy read from her phone.

“Let me see,” Nate said.

She flipped her phone around, and after Nate studied it, he went back to his own phone flipping through it.

“What’s everyone doing standing in the entry? Dinner’s almost done.” Nate’s mom appeared around the corner, coming from the kitchen.

“I was just telling Nate and Victoria about the new French restaurant that opened up on Front Street, and we’re making a run for it.”

Debbie, decked out in an apron with a dish towel thrown over her shoulder, gave her daughter a dirty look. “Very funny.”

Nate tucked his phone back into his pocket. “Give us ten minutes to clean up.” He took Victoria’s hand and led her toward the stairs. “Now’s our chance to make a break for it. We can sneak out the back and be long gone before either of them notices.”

Victoria laughed. “No way, buster, I’m not missing out on the heavenly smells coming from the kitchen.”

“Fine, but I want it on record I tried to save you from my sister.”

“She’s not that bad. I find her candor refreshing.”

---