Page 27 of We Thought We Were Invincible
It was short, shorter than pretty much anything I'd ever worn. I sat on the corner of the bed, pulling on the edges of the dress when Morgan walked back in, looking gorgeous in a simple green maxi dress.
“Ugh,” I said. “Why couldn't I wear that?”
“I don't see what the problem is. You're a surfer. You always run around in your bathing suit.”
“Yeah.” I grimaced. “With a rash guard or wetsuit over it. Have one of those?”
“Now.” She tapped a brush against her hand. “Your hair.”
I fingered the ends of my ponytail that brushed the top of my shoulder.
“Hey Morg.” A gorgeous blond with long legs and tanned skin pushed into the room.
God, did this family hit some sort of gene lottery?
“Callie, this is my sister, Parker.” Morgan waved a hand between us.
“Older sister,” Parker clarified.
“As opposed to all the other sisters we have?” Morgan rolled her eyes my way.
“Well, there's Troy.”
Morgan snorted. “Troy's our baby brother,” she explained to me. “He's a sophomore.”
“Anyway,” Parker said. “I didn't want to talk to you just for the sheer pleasure of it.”
“Gee, thanks.” Morgan laughed.
“But,” Parker continued with a wink. “There is a man downstairs who looks like sex on a stick and is asking for Callie.”
I put my hands to my ears. “You better not be talking about my brother.” He was the only one I could think of who'd ask for me.
“Colby?” Parker asked. “Nah. Don't get me wrong, my sister done good.”
“Eww.” I plugged my ears.
“But this one happens to be someone I went to school with and he's no high-schooler, that's for sure. I've only been out a year, but let me tell you, as soon as you walk across that stage, there is this distance between you and the people that are still there. I wouldn't make this guy wait any longer.”
I jumped to my feet and walked into the hall to look down the stairs. My breath caught. Jay stood near the front door, his eyes scanning pictures on the wall. His dark hair looked ruffled, but I knew he styled it that way. He looked good, but I didn't know how much of that feeling was because I hadn't seen him in weeks.
I ran down the last few steps, seeing him turn as he heard me. His smiled beamed as he stepped forward and scooped me up in his arms. I didn't even think about it as I kissed him.
“Well damn,” Parker said behind us.
I leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. “You're really here?”
“I told you I'd come for your birthday.” He laughed. “Colby called me about tonight.”
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Just then, there was a knock at the front door. I didn't move from Jay's arms as Morgan opened the door. Colby walked by, giving Jay a welcome home clap on the back. Jamie and Amelia followed close behind.
Morgan came up to me and pulled my hair tie out, letting my brown locks fall to my shoulders. She backed away, and I looked up, catching Jamie's widening eyes as he scanned me from head to toe.
A satisfied flush rose in my cheeks and I buried my face against Jay's firm chest as he hooked his arm around my waist.
I didn't know how Morgan convinced Jamie and Amelia to come.
“Hey brother,” he said, a look passing between them that I didn't understand.
