Page 32 of Houston, We Have a Problem
“Yep.”
“What’s she doing here?”
“Writing a story on Little League, apparently.”
Kit lifts his eyebrows. “In October?”
“We play year-round here,” I mutter, though I’m suddenly starting to wonder if Tamlin really meant it when she said she wasn’t here for me. What if she found out that I help coach an underprivileged team? I can’t see how she could twist that story negatively, but there’s a first for everything. I’ll have to be extra cautious at our game on Saturday and make sure she doesn’t somehow show up at the field and start taking creepy pictures or something.
“Uh, you okay?” Kit asks.
I don’t know what paranoia looks like, but I’ve probably got it on my face. “I’ve just been on edge,” I admit.
“Because Tamlin is in Sun City?”
If Tamlin was my only problem, I’d be fine, but I’ve got baseball to deal with, as well as Jordan and Brooklyn’s whole thing. They’re still inside, and it’s taking everything in me not to go see what they’re doing. Micah is clearly dating Fischer despite meeting him a couple of weeks ago, and the guy looks at her like she’s his sun. I’m not sure I trust him, and with Chad not around to look out for her, I feel like I have to step in. Then there’s my inconceivably attractive neighbor who has my head spinning because I can’t figure her out.
It’s all too much.
I groan. “Because of a lot of things.”
“Because of your sister dating your best friend? Or is it because of whoever you were texting earlier?”
I shoot him a glare. “Kit Morgan, you are terrifying. Are you secretly psychic? How does Skyler put up with you?” Thensomething clicks in my head. “Wait, how do you know they’re dating?”
Laughing, he shakes his head as if I’m the most ridiculous person he’s ever met. I’m a little bit serious, though, because I swear this man can read minds. That, or he’s some sort of micro-expression and body language expert like that one TV show I used to watch years ago. What was it called?Lie to Me. Whatever he is, he’s got a crazy read on people that I’ve never understood.
“Anyone who looks at Brooklyn would know she’s in love with Jordan, and you don’t seem too bothered by that.”
I am bothered, but not because I don’t want them to be together. If they would just tell me what’s going on instead of keeping it a secret… The fact that Jordan is hiding it makes me wonder how serious he really is, and he doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to relationships. Neither does Brook, to be honest. I don’t want either of them to get hurt.
Kit folds his arms. “And I’m pretty sure anyone who looked at your stupid grin would have figured out that you were texting a girl,” he says, rolling his eyes. “What kind of model is she?”
“A model citizen.” I give him a shove. “You’re not going to leave that alone, are you? I already told you that I’m done with casual.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re ready for serious,” he counters. “So?”
This is going to sound horrible, but there’s no way to paint it better without flat-out lying. “She’s my new tenant next door.”
Kit’s smile drops, which is pretty much what I expected to happen.
“Don’t start,” I say. “I know that makes things muddy. And it’s not like I planned on kissing—”
“You kissed her?”
“No! Well, almost.” If that stupid washing machine hadn’t gotten in the way, I might have been able to play trivia with Darcy tonight instead of Tamlin. Kit’s still watching me, but I feel weird talking about this. Outside of jokes and taunts with the team, I’ve never really talked about relationships or dating. It’s always been too casual to bother with it, and I don’t know how to navigate real feelings.
But if anyone can talk me through something like this, I’m pretty sure Kit can.
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit, and the words hurt.
Kit cocks his head. “Do what?”
“Relationships. Real ones. I don’t even know this girl, but I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“It could be rebound emotions you’re feeling,” he suggests.
I shake my head, though I do consider that for half a second. It’s been more than two months since Bonnie, which is a whole lot longer than I’ve ever gone without finding someone new. “If I wanted a rebound, I wouldn’t go for my tenant. There are probably half a dozen women in that bar who would gladly go out with me.”
