Page 117 of If All Else Sails
I frown. “What?”
Chairs scrape the floor as Jacob, Eli, and Van lean across the table to read whatever’s on the screen. I reach over and pluck the phone from Josie’s fingers, then glare down at the screen. And have no idea why she reacted to the pretty typical back-and-forth. There’s nothing remotely scandalous. Still, I click off the phone and slide it into my pocket.
When I look up at her, Josie’s smirking. “Did you see it? You actually saidyesto something.”
The whole table erupts into laughter as the waitress brings our orders. And though I’m uncomfortable being the center of attention or the cause for laughter, warmth stretches and expands in my chest. Because I know everyone seated around me is someone safe. They care about me—and not because of anything in particular I’ve done to earn it—maybe even in spite of me not keeping in touch well. And saying no too often. Josie isn’t wrong about that.
As we start to eat and the conversation moves to our plans for tomorrow, a foot finds mine under the table. Immediately, I know it’s not one of the guys. They’d probably be kicking me. No, it’s Josie, pressing the top of my foot gently, as though reminding me she’s here. I glance across the table at her, and when our eyes meet, it’s like there’s no one in the room but the two of us.
“So, tell us how this came to be,” Eli says, pointing between Josie and me.
I choke, glancing quickly at Jacob. “What?”
Van pops a french fry into his mouth. “Jacob said she’s your live-in nurse.”
Josie chokes. It takes some pounding on her back from Jacob and a few gulps of water before she can speak. I’m just relieved Eli wasn’t asking about something else. I didn’t think it was obvious that something has been brewing between us. Keeping my distance from her tonight has helped. And nothing sucks any romantic tension out of a room like the arrival of an overprotective sibling and two guys who never shut up.
“Not his nurse. More like his handler,” Josie says, her foot pressing down on mine beneath the table.
“An overpaid babysitter,” Jacob says. “Emphasis on overpaid.”
“Hey—you have no idea what I’ve endured.” Josie’s eyes meet mine as she says, “I mean, the first day I got there, he asked if I’d give him a sponge bath.”
Jacob drops his fork. Eli’s mouth hangs open, and Van looks like he’s about to fall out of his chair. I pinch the bridge of my nose.
Only at the sudden silence does Josie realize how that sounded. Her eyes go wide. “Not like that! He didn’t really mean it—he was just trying to scare me off.”
“He better not have meant it,” Jacob says, glaring at me across the table. He’s picked up his fork again and looks ready to stab me with it.
Not inspiring confidence in how a conversation with him will go about my actual feelings for Josie.
“And I found out later he had a fever, so nothing he said could be trusted anyway.”
Is that what she thinks? Because I know for a fact that I told Josie she was pretty. And I faked being more out of it than I was because I liked her touching me. The fever exposed exactly how I really feel about Josie. How I’ve felt for years.
“I barely got him into bed,” Josie says.
Now Van does fall out of his chair. Eli throws his head back and laughs, and the only thing keeping Jacob from diving across the table at me is Josie’s hand on his shoulder.
“He was sick!” she says. “I had to get him into bed because he wassick. Calm down!” She glances at me across the table, shaking her head. “I’ve caught your foot-in-mouth disease. I think I’ll spend the rest of the night in silence.”
“Please don’t,” Van says, picking himself up off the floor. “We need more stories just like that.”
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Josie says, pushing her chair back to stand. “Please be good while I’m gone.” She directs this to Jacob, who only rolls his eyes.
The moment she’s gone, they pounce.
“When’s the wedding?” Van asks with a grin.
Eli leans closer and ru?es my hair. “I always wondered what kind of woman would snag your grinchy little heart. I approve. And I’m not just saying this because her brother’s right here.”
I don’t even bother protesting. Instead, I glance over at the brother in question, expecting him to be glaring. Not stuffinghis face with fried catfish like this conversation doesn’t involve his sister. And me.
“What?” he asks around a mouthful.
“I just...”
Jacob takes a sip of water. “You’re just in love with my sister? Yeah. I know. I’ve known for years. Oh, and you’re welcome, by the way.” He wipes his mouth with a paper towel while I gape at him. “I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to play matchmaker, and your injury made the perfect setup. Though next time, go a little easier. You had me slightly concerned that disc golf would end your career.”
