Page 53 of Don't Fall For Your Brother's Best Friend
“Something’s going on with him. He’s been super grumpy lately. More than usual.” I finish the carrots and hand them off to my mother.
“You know,” Hartford starts. “Shep has been extra grumpy too. Ever since he’s been home.”
“Really?” my mother and I say in unison.
Willow chimes in with, “Maybe they’ve both got girl troubles.”
Hartford leans her hip against the counter. “Paxton did say Shepherd hooked up with his neighbor over Christmas.” Hartford glances at my mother whose face has fallen flat. “Sorry, Carol. You know what I mean.”
We all laugh, minus my mother. My mother nearly swats her hand in the air. “I don’t pretend to think my men aren’t out being men.”
Hartford’s eyes go wide, and her cheeks blush. “Not Paxton,” she says in a rush, and we all laugh harder, even my mother this time. “Seriously, we’re abstaining from sexual…” her words fall away as she appears she’s making the conversation worse.
“We all know you have sex,” I say. “We read your article.”
“Anya,” Hartford nearly yells at the top of her lungs. “Oh god,” she covers her face, “I can’t believe you just said that around your mother.” She faces my mother. “Carol, I’m sorry.”
Mom only laughs harder. “Girls, as much as I’ve enjoyed this, get out of my kitchen.”
Hartford spins on her heels quickly. “Gladly.”
“I haven’t talked to you in forever,” Willow grabs my arm as we walk out of the kitchen and onto the back patio where everyone is sitting. “I’m sorry I’ve been so absent. Things with Lake are going really well.”
I stop walking so I can hug my best friend. “I’m really happy for you. Lake is a great guy. Paxton wouldn’t be friends with him if he wasn’t.”
“Your brothers are good judges of characters, especially Cal.” She nods over at Griffin. “Griffin is a great guy too.”
I’m nearly spilling over from trying to keep this secret. I whisper, “Actually, can you keep a secret?”
“Always.”
“Something’s kind of happened with him.”
Willow screams at the top of her lungs, and everyone stops to stare at her. “Sorry,” she says with a blush. She grabs my arm, pushing past Brock and Millie who have just shown up to the party. “Tell me all the things,” she says as we stand in the laundry room.
“Well.” My cheeks flame hot. “I mean…” I can’t get the words out.
“Is he a good kisser? Have you had sex?” Her eyes widen. “Oh my god, he’s a stallion in the bedroom.”
I laugh. “Willow, I can’t believe you just asked that.”
“Well, is he?”
I nod, my cheeks on fire. “Yes, he’s amazing.”
Willow clutches her chest. “I’m so happy for you.”
“What about Lake?” I ask her when her face falls slightly. “He’s good, right?”
Willow sucks in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Let’s just say, we’re still working out the kinks.”
I want to ask what this means, but Brock barges into the laundry room. “Mom’s looking for you,” he says to me, then he stares at Willow. “Should have known you’d be hiding in here from everyone.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Willow crosses her arms against her chest.
“Just means you’re probably causing trouble. Getting Anya to do something bad, like when Anya was in high school and you talked her into skipping class.”
Willow brushes past me so she can poke a finger into Brock’s chest. “That wasn’t me, by the way, that was April Billingsworth, and we don’t talk to her anymore because she’s a mean girl. Just like you’re a mean boy.”