Page 35 of An Unexpected Everything
“So what’s the emergency?” she asked, looking at my phone.
“Some flower thing. And a lip balm or gloss. I’m not sure.”
Isabella snorted and leaned forward. “It’s a lipstick and lip stain. And I know exactly where she needs to get that in town. I might be new, but I’ve already fallen in love with the cute shops.”
“Come with me. Tomorrow and tonight. Help.”
She blinked up at me, and I hadn’t even realized I had said the words. “You want me to help you and the girls with prom?”
“Yes. I really have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve been playing pretend all these years. And the girls want to meet you.”
It was a step. A step I hadn’t known I wanted, but it was out there, and there was no taking it back.
“Okay. I mean, I was a teenage girl, and I helped raise my sisters. I can do this.”
I swallowed hard. “Damn straight. Better than I can.”
“I don’t know about that. You’re doing a pretty good job from what I hear.”
I didn’t have an answer to that, so I kissed her softly and was grateful when the phone buzzed again with another prom emergency.
“I guess you really do need my help.”
That evening we collected everything we needed for the girls, and while I wanted her to sleep underneath my roof, or me sleep with her, that wasn’t the time. The girls needed me, and frankly, I wasn’t sure what the hell I was supposed to do. But the nextafternoon Isabella showed up complete with snacks, sparkling cider, and a worried expression on her face.
“Okay, am I ready for this?” she asked, and I grinned.
“You’re doing damn good. Come on, let’s introduce you to the crew. It’s just the twins here for now. Their friends will be here later.”
“What about Lance?” she asked as I took everything from her. I leaned down and took her lips with mine. There was really no holding back. I moaned against her before she pulled away, her hands over her lips. “I have to look somewhat respectable,” she teased.
“Well, I don’t,” I said with a laugh. “And Lance is down in Denver. He’ll be up next weekend. He’s on a weird schedule right now.”
Nerves settled over her features and she nodded tightly. “Oh good. So it’s not everyone at once.”
“No it’s not. I guess it helps that I’ve met some of your family. But not all forty.”
“I do not have forty siblings. At least I don’t think so. Oh my God. What if Dad has like four other secret families out there and Idohave forty siblings?”
Before I could say anything to that ridiculous and yet could be true question, voices came from upstairs as the twins moved forward.
“You’re here. You’re here.”
Sam and Sydney pushed me out of the way as if I hadn’t raised them for the past eight years and threw their arms around Isabella. I was glad that I had taken the food and drinks from her hands, or we could have had an accident.
“Oh. Hi.” Isabella met my gaze, and I shrugged, mouthing sorry.
“I’m so glad that you’re here. I mean, we can do each other’s hair and makeup, but Weston’s just not very good at it. And wecould have gone over to one of our friend’s houses and had their mom’s help, but we just wanted it to be family. And well, we’re so glad you’re here. I’m Sydney by the way, and this is Sam. Yes, we’re identical, but we’re totally different. I play field hockey, and she plays soccer. We want to hear all about Weston, and we can’t wait to hear every juicy detail you have. He’s very secretive, and we just need all the details.”
“And sometimes she lets me speak too. It’s very nice to meet you, Isabella,” Sam put in.
“Okay, why don’t we let her go, and then we’ll figure out what the hell we’re doing next.”
“You’re not supposed to curse,” Sydney teased.
“You curse more than I do. So shut the fuck up,” I said with a laugh, as Isabella just shook her head.
“It’s nice to meet you both. And while I didn’t play soccer, I did play field hockey. I hear you got a scholarship.”
