Little brother? My eyes dart to glare at Tara. I am NOT babysitting.
Tara catches my look, then playfully pushes him away. “Brother? I didn’t know you had a little brother.”
“Yeah, he popped in last night unannounced on his way to a new assignment." He pulls her tight against him again. Tara’s eyes glaze over as she slips her arms around his waist. He cuts his eyes at me and winks. “He’s in the military.”
I smile sweetly at John as he releases Tara and walks to the back of the car to get our bags. “I’m not staying.” I tell him firmly. “I’m just dropping her off. I have a ticket to catch ‘The Lost Boys Dinner Show’ tonight. I’ve been dying to see it and Jack wouldn’t take me. Thanks for the offer though, but I’ll pass.”
He throws her bag over his shoulder and says as he closes the door. “You should reconsider. He’s a really great guy.”
I smirk, “I’m sure he is, but I’ve made plans.” I hold my hand out to Tara. “Keys, please?”
Tara shoves the car keys down her jeans pocket while she frowns at me. “Lizzy don’t be rude. At least, come inside to meet him.” She slips her hand back in John’s and walks with him to the house.
I bite my tongue and watch them whispering to each other and I wonder if this was a conspiracy to hook me and his brother up. When she dangles her car keys, I sigh, as I follow them. I can’t go anywhere without those. I raise my voice so they can hear me. “I can’t stay long. I don’t want to be late for the show.”
Tara looks back grinning and mouths to me. “John’s brother is a military man, Lizzy! How exciting!”
I mouth back, “This better not be a set up.”
She grins, and I can’t tell if it is or not.
When we walk into the house, I’m impressed with John’s decor. It’s not a bachelor pad. It’s a home. He sets her bag down and points the way to the first-floor bathroom. “If you need to go potty, it’s down the hall there.”
I make a beeline for it.
When I return, John and Tara are in the kitchen preparing to make margaritas. He tells me, “Brody’s gone for a run.”
I look at my phone to check the time. “I’ve only got a little time, then I have to bug out.”
He nods, takes his phone out, and starts to text someone, who I assume is Brody, as he asks me, “Margarita?”
I laugh, “No, thanks. I’m driving, remember?”
He chuckles and says, “My little brother is a really great guy!”
I grin at that, pulling up a stool. “I’m sure he is. If I don’t meet him before I leave, I’ll make sure to come back in time on Sunday to meet him before we go home.”
Tara asks as she begins mixing the Margaritas, “So tell us about your little brother? What’s he do in the military?”
“I have no idea what he does. And, no idea where he does it. And, no idea when he will have to do it. And, no idea when he’s done doing it and will come home.”
“Oh,” Tara mouths as her eyebrows raise. “He’s a badass then.”
He nods and chuckles. “Yeah, he’s the badass of the family.”
I laugh, “That’s his corvette then.”
He chuckles harder. “Hell yeah, he’s proud of that beauty too. He took me for a spin yesterday and nearly made me scream.”
We all laugh at that.
“How long has Brody been in the service?” I ask.
“Too long, if you ask me, but about six years.”
“Wow, hard-core.” Tara says, then turns the blender on and mixes the batch of Margaritas. She pours the first one and John slides it across the bar to me, grinning sheepishly. I grin, amused, but slide it back, shaking my head.
Tara play slaps him. “Lizzy will never forgive me, if you keep trying to hook her up.”
John laughs. “Brody will never forgive me if I don’t.”
My alarm on my phone goes off. “Well, it’s time to go.” I jump off the stool.
I look at Tara for support. Her eyes narrow when she reads my silent plea, so she says, “I’ll walk you out.”
“John, I’ll come back Sunday around ten o’clock to get Tara and I can meet Brody then.”
He nods, clearly disappointed, but doesn’t argue. Instead, he opens a bag of chips, and begins to munch on them.
Tara and I walk into the foyer. “I wish you ….” Her voice drops off when we hear tapping on the patio door, then John walking across the tile floor. I grab Tara’s arm and drag her out the front door.
She doesn’t say a thing until we are standing by her car. “Lizzy, stay. If John says he’s a great guy, he’s a great guy.”
“He may very well be, but if he isn’t, I’ll be stuck all weekend.”
She frowns, then nods. “Ok. I get it.”
“Thanks.” I hug her neck. “Keys, please.” I hold my hand out to her.
She laughs, “I’m tempted to deny you anyway.”
I snatch them out of her hand, then run around to the driver’s side.
She shakes her phone at me. “I’ll text you if he’s hot and you can come back early.”
“Deal,” I tell her as I slide behind the wheel.
“Have fun!” She yells as I pull off.
I throw my hand up and escape.
CHAPTER TWO
BRODY
The steady beat of my feet hitting the pavement along with the matching rhythm of my breath has always had a calming effect on me. I run because I have to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it.
Five miles into my run, my phone vibrates. I pull it out of my pocket. It’s John.
ETA?
30.
30 minutes?
Bro, you need to return asap.
Sup?
Trust me!
I slow to a jog, frowning.
What’s wrong?
Nothing is wrong. Something is right.
What?
I’m confused by his answer.
Not what. Who!
Turn around and come back now!
Who?
Just hurry, Hotshot!
I whip around and head back. If John thinks whoever it is is important enough to call me back to the house, that’s good enough for me. I take off at a good clip.
Although John and I are blood brothers, we are very different. He’s a nerd, but one hell of a great salesman. I’m a jock and one hell of a badass. Growing up, he would get into trouble and I would get him out. Good times.
Turning onto his street, I slow to a jog to cool down. I can see a black Honda parked in the driveway. As I walk by, I look in. There’s a girl’s backpack laying on the backseat. Ah! The who must be his new girl, Tara. He didn’t mention she would be coming this weekend, but then again, John wouldn’t. He knows I would bail on him and call Jeff to get a hotel room. Then he would lecture me about spending time with him while I was here and remind me that my job is dangerous. I love my brother but being single and hanging out with a couple isn’t my thing. Three’s a crowd.