Page 77 of Not A Whisper

“Everything alright?”

Kai and I exchange looks before I step away. “Everything is fine. We were just talking about how stubborn you three can be.”

Jason's laugh doesn’t echo like it did the night before. With furniture in the house, the sound gets eaten up.

“I’m not even going to argue that.” His dimples make an appearance.

“Good, ’cause you’d lose.” I take his interruption as a chance to scurry away. Pulling my jacket tight around me, I move past him. “Keep an eye on those rolls, will ya?”

With that, I slip outside.

The backyard is small and consists mostly of compacted dirt from all the construction that was completed the day before. I don't linger here however. Instead, I walk toward the pond and step up onto the floating dock that leads to the middle of the water.

"Hey! There’s our lovely little lady!” Carlos greets with a wave from where he’s sitting.

I move over and give him a swift hug before taking a seat beside him. Luane tsks. “Kai can be a chatterbox. If he doesn’t hurry up, these ribs will burn.”

“I’m watching them, they’ll be fine,” Trip assures her gruffly.

“Yeah, I trust you like I trust oil not to catch fire near a lit match,” Carlos counters and then laughs.

I expected it to be cold out here on the water, but when I look around I find a massive heater which is keeping the space relatively warm. Ready for us on the table is corn on the cob, loaded mashed potatoes, beans, and coleslaw.

“So, Bri, I was just asking the boys where you guys were going for your three-day vacation,” Luane asks from across the table. Her cheeks are rosy from the cool air but other than that, she looks relatively warm, bundled up in several layers. “No one out here will tell me where you are headed. Do you know?”

I look to Grant who comes over to sit beside me and Trip whose heavy smirk doesn’t go unmissed.

“No, I haven’t the slightest idea. I don’t even know when we leave tomorrow.”

Carlos shakes his head. “These boys are secret keepers. It’s a bad habit to have, kids.”

Grant’s hand lands on my thigh. When I look over at him, I find a smile is firmly planted on his face. But when our eyes meet, I can see something hard glittering in his. "Where's all the fun if you know everything? Surprises are based on secret keeping."

I don't like that gleam in his eyes. There's something about it that makes me feel like he's not telling me something. Just because I can, I kick him under the table. He winces but it turns into a snicker that in no way comforts me.

"Well this is one surprise I'll never stop appreciating," Luane sighs as she looks between both houses.

As the conversation shifts and Kai and Jason come back out to join us, I relax. As the evening progresses, talking and laughter is constant, the sound drifting over the water around us and into the night. The guys fill my plate with food. Even when I protest that I'm stuffed, they continue to push. They also keep a drink in my hand. When I mention that, it's Jason that says, "It’s to keep you warm out here. It's getting cold. Plus, tonight we’re all celebrating the liberation from an evil tyrant.”

When the wine coolers and beers are gone, Kai pulls out the tequila and starts pouring shots. By the end of the evening, I may be a little drunk. Thankfully, it appears Kai and Carlos are too. Maybe they won’t notice and judge me for my intoxication. Luane helps Kai into the house first when his head hits his chest an hour after dinner.

"M-man can't hold-d his liquor," Carlos hiccups, laughing as his head rolls.

"Neither can you, apparently. Let's get you into bed," Trip offers, standing and moving to help his dad up and into his wheelchair.

I frown. "Should one of us spend the night with Carlos? He’s drunk, maybe he shouldn’t be alone?”

"Alright, given that I can barely understand you, I think you're cut off too," Grant says, getting up. "I can't tell if your tongue has stopped working or if you've just given up trying to create words for the evening."

"I'm fine." But I can hear myself now that he's brought it to my attention. I'm not even sure ifIcan understand myself.

He leans down, takes my arm, and hoists it over his shoulders. Jason does the same thing to my other arm, and together, they lift me to my feet. Or at least they try to. My legs give out beneath me, and I gasp before falling into a round of giggles.

"I guess I'm no better than them," I say between giggles.

Together, the two of them help me walk back into theNani's new house. Luane meets us halfway toward the door. I cringe, hoping that my face looks more composed than how I feel.

"Make sure she drinks some water," Luane says, giving Jason a pointed look.

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