Page 68 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Please don’t ever call themtatsagain.”
“I’m just saying. You’re a bunny because you’re a cute little girlfriend driving the big strong men to do their big strong activity.”
I huff and shift the phone from one ear to the other. “You literally just sucked all the fun out of my day. And I’m not anyone’s girlfriend.”
She finally laughs. “Then ignore me. But the urban dictionary says to be the best kind of shuttle bunny, you should have beer on hand when you pick them up at the end of the day.”
“Did you seriously just consult the urban dictionary?”
“I teach seventh graders,” she says. “If I didn’t consult the urban dictionary on a regular basis, I’d never survive. So are you going to give me an update or what?”
“I have no idea what update to give you. I’m making progress on the house. Most of the junk is cleared out except for what I’m saving for Mom and keeping for myself. I just ordered new appliances and countertops for the kitchen—it was desperately in need of an update—and most of the old furniture I can’t use for staging the house has been picked up and hauled away.”
“Wow. But how do you know anything about staging a house?”
“I don’t. But Freemont does. And so does the internet. Me and YouTube have been best friends the past few days.”
Kristyn sighs like I’m trying her patience. “I’m glad things are coming along, but you know that’s not really the update I want, right?”
“We’re friends, Kristyn.”
“Have you kissed him yet?”
“Friends,” I repeat.
“Have youwantedto kiss him yet?”
There is no way I’m telling her about our kiss. Kisses fueled by witnessing acts of heroism do not count. Especially when those kisses come very close to ruining a friendship nineteen years inthe making. “Uggh, do you even realize what you’re asking? Do you know what it would do to our friendship?” I ask, making at least half my point.
“Absolutely. It would make itso. much. hotter.” She has no idea how right she is about this one.
Headlights flash at the end of the road, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hey, Brody is here. I gotta go.”
“No!” she says. “You still haven’t told me anything good!”
“That’s because there’s nothing to tell. I promise as soon as there is, you’ll be the first person I call.”
I hang up and move to the steps as Brody pulls into the circle drive in front of the house. I climb into his truck, where I am assaulted in the best way possible with the same clean manly smell I encountered when I found Brody fresh out of the shower, locked out of his house. Brody’s hair is still damp, his t-shirt dotted with water like he tossed it on before he was fully dry.
“Hi,” I say on an exhale as I settle back into my seat.
“Hey,” he says. “Thanks again for doing this.”
I smile. “Of course. I’m excited.” Our interactions since last weekend have been brief, so I anticipate some sort of weirdness between us, but as Brody gives me a rundown of how the day is going to go, I start to relax. This doesn’t feel weird at all. It feels like us.
My responsibilities aren’t very complicated. For most of the day, I’ll just be tagging along. The only time I really have to do anything is when they’re on the water, and that can take as little or as long as I want as long as I’m at the take-out when they finish.
“Got it,” I say after his explanation. “So, will I drive the whole way? Or...”
“Nah. Not unless you just want to. Griffin will drive on the way there, and you can ride in the back with me. Then you’ll hop inand drive once we’re on the water. I’m gonna warn you though. Griffin’s Suburban smells like a locker room. There’s wet gear going in and out all the time, and it can get a little musty.”
“I can handle musty.” And will do so gladly if it means two hours in the backseat with Brody, even though that’snotsomething I should be excited about. At least we won’t be alone. The car will be full of other men.
Turns out, wearekind of alone. Squeezed into the third row of Griffin’s Suburban because Ryan brought a friend at the last minute.
Awomanfriend, Aislynn, who is perfectly comfortable putting her handsall. over. Ryandespite the full car. The way she’s dressed, it looks like she’ll be kayaking too. Which, more power to her. If I had the experience and skill, I’d want to be joining in as well. But all thetouching. We haven’t even been driving ten minutes, and she’s kissed him half a dozen times already. When I shoot Brody a questioning look, he pulls out his cell phone.
