“Oh? So what?” Savannah played it cool. Inside her emotions were reeling and her mind was racing.
“Well, Gabriel seemed a little out of it and he acted like he wanted to tell me something. You know, like I could sense he did, but he didn’t. He’s been out of it the last few days, too, so I was wondering if you knew what was going on with him?” Jay sighed. “He started acting weird after he came here, so, I kind of figured it had something to do with you. It might not, but hell, it probably does. You’re acting weird now, too, that I brought it up.”
Savannah cringed. She’d never been good at hiding things from Jay. Now she wondered if she should tell him everything that happened, in brief, or gloss over it. He’d know if she didn’t tell him the truth, though. With a loud sigh, Savannah said, “Yeah, I know what’s probably wrong with him.”
Jay stared at his sister and nodded slowly. When Savannah didn’t continue, Jay ran his fingers through already tousled hair. “You know, I get that you’re grown now, Sav. I know you’ve always liked Gabe, and if something happened, it’s okay. You’re probably worried I’ll get mad or whatever, but I’ve been thinking Gabe would be the best thing for you.”
Savannah stared slack-jawed at her brother. “What?”
Jay laughed softly. “I know, it sounds crazy. But, I always worry about you and seeing you home, grown, I’ve realized some things. Eventually, you’re going to end up with someone, whether you marry them or not, and I want that person to be someone I trust. A guy I know will take care of you.” Jay snorted. “And someone I like. I don’t want you being with someone I can’t stand.”
Savannah still stared open-mouthed at her brother. After a few moments of silence, she shook her head slowly and asked, “So you think Gabriel is that person?”
Jay nodded. “Yeah. I used to hate the idea. Was always worried you two would end up an item or something. But now we’re all older, I like the idea.”
“Ah… so you’re playing matchmaker?” Savannah asked.
Jay shook his head. “No, not that. I’m only voicing my opinion and letting you know I’m okay with it. You worry too much, and I know if something did happen, you’d be worried about how I would take it. Well, it’ll be weird, for sure, but I’ll take it fine. I’d be happy with y’all together, so you know.”
Jay said he’d be okay with it, but he looked uncomfortable. Then again, was uncomfortable such a strange thing to look when talking about your best friend and little sister getting together? Savannah took a deep breath and exhaled her sentence in a rush of words. “Gabriel and I made out on the attic floor the other day.”
Jay’s eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. Savannah stared with a shocked expression she was sure exactly matched the one on Jay’s face. After a long silence, Jay shook his head. “What did you say?”
“You said you’d be okay with it,” Savannah said.
“With you two dating. Not with Gabriel taking advantage of you on the attic floor.” Jay continued to slowly shake his head.
“That’s not how it happened,” Savannah said. “I started it.”
Jay took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “How about we get the whole story, cohesively? Not a rush of words that make it sound like you two made an amateur porn video on the attic floor?” Jay cringed and shivered.
Savannah laughed nervously. “Sorry. Yeah, I made it sound bad. But it’s not that bad. Promise.”
Jay nodded slowly. “God, I hope not.”
Savannah filled him in on what had happened without too many details, and what had been said. She explained the reason Gabriel might be acting weird was because of what he’d said about feeling two different ways about her. When Savannah finished her story, Jay sighed.
“Yeah, I can see how that might be weird for him,” Jay said. “I mean, he’s what? Five years older than you? He probably remembers you growing up better than I do. But, he’s right about you being grown now, too, and he isn’t actually your brother. That’s me. So,” Jay shrugged. “He’ll come around.” Jay looked embarrassed again. “Honestly, I talked to him about you a while back. He probably thought I was joking, but I was serious.”
“What did you say, Jay?”
“Same thing I told you. That if you and him got together, I know I’d like my future brother-in-law, which is a big score for me. Plus, I know you’d be taken care of, a big score for you.”
Savannah snorted. “You’re ridiculous, Jay. You know that, right?”
Jay grinned widely. “I know, Sis, but you love me anyway.”
* * * * *
Gabriel pushed the lawnmower on autopilot. His thoughts were elsewhere, as they’d been for days. Even if he’d wanted to think of something besides Savannah, Gabriel was sure he couldn’t… and he found himself wanting to think of her.
What he wanted to think about was whether pursuing a romantic relationship with a girl whose first steps he could remember was the right thing to do. Instead, his mind thought about the way her warm skin had felt and the way her lips had tasted.
Sighing, Gabriel thought back. Thinking of the past made him a little uncomfortable, considering how much a very young Savannah had been involved. Then again, this was a small town. Didn’t most people who dated and got married or whatever grow up knowing each other their whole lives? Well, it happened that way a lot in Dade City.
As he continued mowing, Gabriel remembered a time when Savannah had been very young. He and Gabriel had been riding bikes all day. Savannah had, of course, been tagging along but she’d gotten tired a lot quicker than they had. They’d stopped in an empty lot filled with tall oaks and kumquat trees. Gabriel had picked a few of the ripe ones and given some to Savannah.
“Thanks, Gabe. You’re the best.” A seven-year-old Savannah beamed. She’d wanted to eat some, but couldn’t reach the good ones.
“No problem, kitten.” Gabriel, at twelve, was at that awkward stage where he seemed to be all legs and arms. He sprawled in the shade of one large tree with his legs stretched in front and bit into one of the fruits. It was sweet and juicy. Gabriel always picked the best ones.
Savannah smiled as she bit into hers. “You know, for a guy, you’re okay. I think I’ll marry you one day.”
Jay, even more awkward than Gabriel thanks to a mouth full of braces and a changing voice, snorted. “Sav, you can’t say things like that.”
Her tiny face looked confused. “Why not? I get to pick who I marry, and I choose Gabriel. He’s the least grossest boy I know.”
Gabriel felt more awkward than usual. He also knew Savannah could be sensitive about things, so he decided to play it off by convincing her he wasn’t husband-worthy. “Kitten, I’m not a great choice for a husband, you know. You could do a lot better.”
“Why not? You’re nice, and you like having me around.” Savannah’s little face furrowed as she considered it. “And you make sure I eat and stuff, so that’s cool.” She nodded with a happy smile. “Yup. You’ll make a perfect husband one day.”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, I’m still pretty gross. I have no money, and I like kissing girls.” Savannah’s tiny face grimaced in disgust. “Plus, I think farting is funny and love is for wimps.”