Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Are you my brother’s girlfriend?”
My heart skips a beat. I freeze.
The straw slips from my mouth.
Phoebe stares, her question lingering in the air; I feel a wave of heat rising over my cheeks, neck, and forehead that has nothing to do with baking in the sun.
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. What am I supposed to say? Are Easton and I a thing? He and I haven’t had a talk about making it official—let alone in front of his seven-year-old sister!
Am I his girlfriend?
I’ve never had the courage to ask him. I have not pushed. Soon he will be going his way and I will be going mine and—
Next to me, Easton shifts.
“Yes,” he announces, his deep voice confident. “She’s my girlfriend.”
His sister’s mouth drops open, too, and now we’re both gawking at him like a pair of guppies.
Phoebe jumps up out of her chair to stand next to his, pointing her little finger at him.
“You should’ve told me!” She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest like she’s been offended in the worst way.
Hey! I wasn’t in on the secret, either!
Easton chuckles, pleased with himself, settling back onto his towel.
“Well, now you know.”
Phoebe swings her eyes back to me, gloating. “So you are girlfriend and boyfriend! I knew it.”
She loves knowing things.
I blink, still processing what just happened.
“Uh…yeah. I guess we are.”
Phoebe beams, proud of herself for figuring it out.
“I knew it!” she repeats, and pumps her fist. “You guys were acting all weird and stuff—and I saw you kissing by the garage when you left yesterday.”
She sticks her tongue out at her brother like she’s disgusted by the idea of him being affectionate.
“Phoebs!” He feigns a gasp. “Were you spying on us?”
“Yes! Mom is boring. I’d rather watch you guys.”
Easton and I both laugh.
She’s a monster, but she’s innocent and adorable.
“Kissing is weird,” I agree, shaking off my shock at his declaration.
I lean across my deck chair and him. “A little heads-up would’ve been nice. Don’t people normally talk about this stuff?”
My boyfriend grins, turning his head toward me and squinting, his mischievous eyes twinkling.
“Why? You planning on saying no?”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t wipe the grin off my face. “You wish.”
“I wish you’d say no?”
I shake my head. “Wait. No. That’s not what I meant.”
Phoebe plops down back in her chair.
“Harper, I like you better than his other crushes.” She exhales loudly, glad to get that confession off her mind. “Plus, I told my friends I think my brother has a girlfriend, so this makes me look really smart.”
Easton groans, running a hand over his face. “Do you gossip with your little friends, Phoebe?”
His sister shrugs, unbothered. “Well, it’s true, so it’s not gossip.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Phoebs.”
She grins at me, looking pleased with herself. Crossing her teeny arms and hugging herself.
“All the other girls he liked were stupid,” she mutters to herself.
I stifle a laugh. “Hey now—we can’t go calling other girls stupid.”
Totally unbothered. “They are.”
“How do you know who his other crushes were?”
“She spies on me!” Easton stands, grabbing his little sister. “Now you’re in for it!”
Phoebe squeals, wriggling in his arms as Easton lifts her effortlessly.
“Nooo! Easton, no!” she shouts—but her laughter betrays her. His sister is delighted, kicking her legs in protest—but it’s too late. Easton is walking toward the pool, his smile roguish.
“Admit it, you were spying, you little weasel!” he teases, holding her next to the pool.
“I wasn’t! I wasn’t!” Phoebe giggles, her voice high-pitched as she squirms in a mock attempt to escape. “Okay. I was.”
I sit up, grinning, watching the two of them through my sunglasses, tossing my empty juice box into the cooler.
“Easton, let her go.” I wink, knowing he isn’t going to put her down. He’s enjoying this way too much.
“Too late! She’s done for now!” he announces theatrically.
Then.
With one giant step toward the edge, he jumps into the pool, holding Phoebe tight as they both splash down into the water.
Easton surfaces first, slicking his hair back and grinning like a kid.
Phoebe pops up a second later, wiping water from her face and shrieking with delight.
She clings to her brother, arms around his neck.
“You’re gonna pay for that!” Phoebe declares.
The sound of their laughter echoes throughout the concrete patio area, and I laugh along with them, shaking my head.
“I am?!”
His sister nods.
Easton looks up at me from the water, his hair wet and his smile still wide. “What about her?”
“Yeah, her, too!”
“Phoebe!” I yell. “Don’t you dare betray me, tiny Westermann!”
“You’re next!” My boyfriend points at me from the shallow end, water dripping from his body.
I raise my hands in surrender.
“Oh no. No, no, no—I’m good right here.”
My heart sinks.
I glance down at the brand-new one-piece swimsuit I ordered online; I had no intention of getting wet today, but there is no way I’m getting out of this dry.