Page 67 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
Kate smiles and shakes her head, huffing out a laugh, and suddenly we’re back on solid ground.
At least for now.
At least until I can drop her off.
I can pretend that long. I can joke and tease. Act like one, amazing, life-changing kiss wasn’t enough to rip my heart out and place it directly in her hands.
But the reality is, with that kiss, Kate changed me. Claimed me.
I’ll never be the same again.
My only hope now is that somehow, she’ll reach the same conclusion. One kiss will never be enough.
Chapter Nineteen
Kate
Kristyn has called mefour times in the past three days.
And I have been “too busy to talk” all four times because Kristyn will want to ask me about what’s happening with Brody.
I am not ready to talk about what’s happening with Brody. Or tell her I’m technically supposed to fly to London tomorrow, though honestly, the thought of bailing has been jumping into my brain with surprising frequency lately.
In between my trips to Hendersonville to visit appliance stores and pick out tile and countertops for the kitchen, I have seen Brody twice since our hike along the narrows. Once when he took me kayaking, and once when he brought by a basket of goat’s milk soap his mom put together for me. Both times, we did not talk about the kiss, and we did not talk about London, but Brody did give me long, lingering hugs that made me question everything I know about life. I don’t know what those hugs mean, especially after how we left things last weekend. But I know how they make me feel, and I do not want them to stop.
When Kristyn texted last night, she threatened to call Brody herself if I didn’t respond with an update.
I still haven’t responded, but she wouldn’tactuallycall.
Okay, fine. She totally would. But how would I even begin to share everything that has happened?
I sigh and tap my phone against my knee. If I respond right now, she probably won’t get my text until I’m on my way to Robbinsville with Brody. I for sure won’t be able to have a conversationaboutBrody while he’s close enough to listen, which means I’ll be able to delay the conversation at least another twenty-four hours.
I key out my message.
Kate: Hey! Sorry to have missed you so many times.Ha. She’ll see right through that one.I’ve been really busy.I’ll give you an update soon!
There. Vague but cheerful. I hit send and move to drop my phone into my backpack, but it immediately starts to ring, Kristyn’s face lighting up the screen.
I swear under my breath, then answer the call. “Are you serious? What are you even doing up right now?”
“I’m a teacher,” Kristyn responds. “My internal clock wakes me up whether I’m working or not. What areyoudoing up?”
“I’m waiting for Brody to pick me up.”
“What? This early? Why?”
I lean back into the front-porch rocking chair and pull my knees up to my chest. “He’s kayaking with his friends today, and I’m their shuttle bunny.”
“Ummm, what?”
“A shuttle bunny. It means I’m driving with them over to Robbinsville so I can drop them off at the top of the rapids, then drive down and meet them at the bottom.”
“Aww, how cute. And sexist.”
“How is it sexist?”
“Do you think they’d call their shuttle driver a ‘bunny’ if you were a six-foot-four biker covered in tats?”
