Page 154 of Love in Riverbend
The phone in my back pocket vibrates. With a deep breath, I pull it out and read the screen.
* * *
“ON MY WAY.”
* * *
Do you want to forget about this for a while?
That’s the question I’m dying to text. The problem with doing so is that if Justin and I continue as we have been doing, this talk with Ricky will only get more difficult not less.
Two adults.
Ignoring the perspiration coating my skin and the erratic beating of my heart, I make my way to Ricky’s bedroom door and knock.
“I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Ricky, it’s Devan. Can we talk?”
The door opens. He’s wearing a pair of basketball shorts. That’s all. His bare chest and toned abs are on display. I can admit that he’s good looking in a brother-type way. If he found someone, I’d be happy for him.
Two adults.
Ricky’s stare is on me. Concern shows in lines beside his eyes. “What’s the matter?”
“I wanted to talk with you before dinner.”
He pushes the door open wider. “Is it something with Mom or Dad? Your new job?”
“No. It’s…” I inhale. “I invited Justin to dinner.” I lean against the doorjamb, taking in the clutter that is my brother. His bed is unmade. The clothes he wore while working today are half in and half out of a clothes basket. There are water bottles, a few pop cans, and God only knows what else on his bedside stand.
“Okay,” he says, digging through a drawer of his dresser. Finally, he pulls his softball shirt from the depths. It’s wrinkled, but at least it’s clean. “Why?”
“We want to talk to you and Mom and Dad.”
My brother’s nose scrunches. “You and Justin want to talk to all of us. About what?”
Is it awful I want him to figure it out before I have to say it?
It is.
I need to say it.
I want a relationship with Justin. This is our first obstacle, and we both need to face it head-on. Clearing my throat, I say, “We’re dating.”
Ricky laughs as he pulls the orange shirt over his head. “Right. Is this a joke?”
“No.” I shake my head. “It only became official last night, but it started the night of the hog roast.”
My brother’s expression goes blank. “The hog roast? The one at the Gordon farm? You weren’t in town.”
“I was. I came for my interview with Mr. Sams—Cory.” I don’t know what Justin said to Ricky about that night. “He didn’t know who I was that night. And I didn’t tell him.”
Ricky shakes his head. “No. Justin wouldn’t do this without talking to me, telling me.”
“We didn’t want to keep it from you. We were waiting to see if we both felt the same way.”
“What way?” Ricky’s voice is louder than before.
