Page 42 of The Grump

That’s the code for booty call,a voice said at the back of my mind.

“Did you do anything in particular?” She sounded like she was on the prowl.

I glanced over my shoulder, but she had her back to me, scrubbing the wooden table.

“No.”

“So, you went straight home after celebration?”

“Yep. It was freezing. I didn’t even manage to complete the whole walk.”

My sister straightened up, turning to me. “Really?”

“What’s up with you today?” I turned around, putting my hands on my hips. “You’re acting funny.”

“No reason,” she replied. But there was for sure a reason. She had a twinkle in her eye. It reminded me of when we were kids and she caught me with my hand in the cookie jar.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I said, faking that I had no idea.

“I’m just wondering when you’re going to fess up.”

“About what?” I asked, deciding to tease her.

Her jaw dropped before she laid into me. “I can’t believe you. Xander said that he was joining you. And I talked to Jasmine last night. She said Xander showed up with hot chocolate with marshmallows.” She said it in a tone that indicated it was all the proof she needed to make her point—which it kind of was.

“Jasmine just told you all of this?” That caught me off guard.

“Of course not. It took some convincing on my part, but eventually I loosened her tongue.”

“When did you even do that?”

“Last night, of course.”

I shook my head. “Oh, man. What’s she going to think?”

“I don’t think she knew what was happening. But don’t distract me. So, you went home with Xander?”

I nearly jumped back into the counter. “N-No,” I stammered. “Why would you think that?”

She frowned. “You really just didn’t complete your walk because you were cold?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t get it,” she said.

“First of all, please don’t call Jasmine. Just ask me whatever you want to know.”

“But you aren’t telling me anything!” She was clearly fighting laughter. “Obviously something happened between you and Xander when you went to the LeBlanc-Broussard mansion, and yet I didn’t hear a whisper of it except ‘It was a very nice evening.’”

I glanced down at my feet and then back at my sister. “We had a lot of work yesterday.”

“Bailey! Who can I call to find out what happened at that house?”

“No one,” I said even though Beckett came to mind.

“Don’t worry. I wasn’t going to call anyone. Goodness, I do havesomedecency.”

I sighed. “Fine. We kissed at the mansion, and it was very hot.”

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