Page 47 of Fumbled Beginning

We had an entire speech planned out in our heads and practiced all day yesterday, but suddenly neither of us could remember a word of it.

Kinley peeked her head over his shoulder and smirked. “Well, it looks like our night just got a lot more interesting.”

I haven’t told her what’s been happening, but I could tell by her smiling eyes that she didn’t have a single issue with us being together.

“Hey, man. Sorry for just showing up like this. We hope it’s not a bad time, but we brought beer.” JP lifted up a twelve-pack to show my brother.

“And cupcakes.” I held out the big pink box.

I wanted to laugh at the thought of softening my brother up with beer and cupcakes.

“I asked you both a question.” Maverick kept his sight on his best friend. “I would really like to know what my best friend is doing here with my little sister?”

“And I would really like you to change your tone,” I said, hating that things were starting out like this.

I should have called him and explained that we would be stopping by, but that would have led to questions I didn’t want to answer over the phone. If anyone should understand, it should be him. It wasn’t long before Maverick and Kinley showed up at my parents’ house to announce that Kinley was pregnant with his baby.

“Are you guys sleeping together?” His face went pale like the thought made him physically ill.

I smiled like a smartass. “Not at this exact moment.” JP cursed under his breath next to me, but I just shrugged. “We are technically standing outside your front door, waiting for you to invite us in.”

Maverick didn’t say anything; he just rubbed his jaw. “This is fucking weird.”

“It doesn’t have to be, but it will be really awkward if you make us stand out here in the hall all night.”

He blinked a few times. I wasn’t sure if he was upset or just surprised. “Let’s go to the kitchen because I need a fucking drink.”

Kinley eyed the box of cupcakes. “I’m going to check on Zander. Will you make sure your brother doesn’t eat all those?”

I patted her shoulder. “If he doesn’t change his attitude, you’re going to get the entire box.”

Following my brother and JP, I set the box in the center of the kitchen table. Maverick went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine Kinley had opened. “Is white, okay?”

“That’s fine,” I said, reaching for a glass out of the cabinet while he popped open two beers from the twelve-pack.

After the three of us had a cold drink in our hands, we all settled around the table and waited for Kinley to come back into the room. I took the cupcakes from the box and plated them on dessert plates.

“Cupcakes?” Maverick crossed his arms.

“They are red velvet, your favorite, but if you don’t want them…” I reached for his plate, but he grabbed it before I could touch it.

“I didn’t say I didn’t want them, so hands off.” He peeled the wrapper off and took a huge bite.

“You could show a little more gratitude, you know.”

“I’m just a little shocked. I wasn’t expecting this.” He set the rest of his dessert down and scrubbed a hand over his face. “How long has this been going on?”

“Not long.” JP sat up straighter in his chair. “If you’re going to punch me, you’ve got one shot, okay?”

“I’m not going to punch you.” Maverick eyed him from across the table. “But I am going to give you one hell of a lecture.”

Kinley returned to the room and slid into the seat next to my brother. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Maverick said with no hesitation.

Kinley folded her arms across her chest. “Just remember how easy your sister went on us.”

God, I loved her. There was a reason why she was my best friend.

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