Page 57 of Just Shred

The snow crunches under my boots as I walk to Layne and Angie’s place. I take off my shoes and put them by the backdoor. I had fun in the snow. I didn’t fall once, and the guys told me it looked like I never stopped ten years ago. “Sure you guys don’t want to come with me and Shane? Cill has backstage passes for tonight,” I ask, loving the way my brother looks at Angie from across the kitchen island.

“I’m good,” Layne says, stirring the pasta, strands of his hair spilling from his ponytail. The guy is six foot two, and a force of nature on the slopes, but when he’s teaching little kids how to ski or snowboard, he becomes a big teddy bear. “I saw those guys train up on the mountain on Monday. Damn, the pipe is getting bigger every year.”

“I’m so happy you are back,” Angie says while she slices the tomatoes for the salad, and I take my seat on one of the stools.

“What’s up with you two?” I ask, popping a piece of tomato in my mouth.

They share a look between each other, and Angie blushes when my brother smirks.

“Oh my God, are you pregnant?” I yell.

Angie places her hand on my brother’s, trying to hold back her big smile.

“You told her, babe?” he asks, putting his hands on his waist.

“She didn’t,” I say, jumping off the stool and hugging them both tight. “You assholes thought you could keep that from me?” I grin. “Do Mom and Dad know?”

“No, and we’re waiting till twelve weeks before the whole circus starts. You know how Mom loves babies,” Layne says, rolling his eyes.

“I’m so happy for you guys after the dance you were doing around each other for years. And now a baby!” Angie and I scream in unison.

Layne mutters under his breath, putting some pasta on three plates. We migrate to the dinner table, and I squeal some more. “Damn, I’m going to be an auntie. I can teach him or her how to ride a motorcycle.”

“Hell no,” Layne warns. But Angie nods, winking at me.

“You’re a little know-it-all who likes to put her nose in stuff that doesn’t concern you,” he grumbles, trying not to grin.

I waggle my eyebrows. “You forget, I’m the one who introduced you two all those years ago.”

“And you sold your apartment in New York, didn’t you?” I ask, turning to Angie.

She flashes me a beautiful smile, running a hand through my brother’s long hair. “I sure did.”

“Oh my God, you’re already living together? Are you?”

“Damn, do you know everything, sis?” My brother laughs.

“I knew it from the moment I entered your house. It has never looked this clean before.” I snort, looking around.

My brother groans, and Angie and I laugh at the same time.

“Can you girls not,” my brother jokes, covering his ears. I run over to him and hug him tight, rubbing my knuckles over his hair. He chuckles. “Not the hair.”

“Damn, guys,” I say as I take a seat and dig into my dinner. “Hell just froze over.”

My brother kisses Angie’s hand.

“It sure did,” she says. And I get a pang in my stomach. I never wanted something like this. A home, a base, love, because when you love someone, truly love someone, you can get hurt beyond repair.

“What about you, Acie?” Angie asks.

“What about me?” I reply with my mouth full.

“Cill said something about a snowboarder when he dropped Layne off,” she says, and my brother almost chokes on his beer.

I groan. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I had a good talk with Shane yesterday.”

“He told me he apologized,” my brother says.

---