Karlee wiggled her eyebrows at Kayla. “You should listen to me more often. You’d be surprised by all the stuff I see.”
Kayla crunched her cereal loudly and swallowed. “Nah. I’m thinking it wouldn’t be so much. Not anymore. You grew up but I think I didn’t notice until now.”
Karlee sighed, taking her bowl to the sink, and winking as she smiled. “Imagine when the others finally figure it out.” Then she swaggered away. Kayla squinted at her little sister. Was Karlee doing stuff they didn’t realize yet? No one noticed? Usually, it was Kayla who did the partying but never in high school. Well, not much. And since then? She considered it normal for college students. Now that she was growing up, she seemed to be doing it less and less, preparing for her next phase in life. So what phase was her little sis getting into?
The scary part was: no one could know if Karlee didn’t want them to. Of that, Kayla had no doubt.
Frustrated by her feelings, and all she witnessed in the past two days, Kayla wandered into the office where Eric was recuperating. “Candy bar?” she asked, holding up what had become a much-craved drug to Eric.
Lying there staring at the TV, he was listless. His head jerked off the pillow and his entire face lit up. “You’re an angel of mercy.”
He reached for it as she laughed and sat down in the spare chair in the room. His face glowered as he took a giant bite out of it. “Wait. Is she still around?”
“No. She went shopping. Buying more veggies for her patient.” She gave him a sly smile.
Then she laughed at his crestfallen mouth. “More? Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes, my friend…” She loved teasing Eric now. Learning that his sweet tooth was insatiable and Kathy, fearing for his health, had gone nuclear with all things wholesome, Kayla started sneaking him a candy bar each day. He quickly warmed up to her. And honestly? She liked him a lot too. He was the ideal brother she never had.
And he would soon be the brother-in-law Jim failed to become. From the very start. She was relieved she liked the man Kathy would soon be dating. She knew they were still in the first phase, but planning to go that way. Eric’s injury and subsequent healing only stalled it. But living in Kathy’s parents’ house was also an obstacle.
Biting quickly, looking orgasmic in his pleasure, made Kayla laugh. “Eric, how do you stay so fit? I’ve never seen a man eat so much chocolate as you do.”
“I don’t usually. I love any kind of candy. But she refuses to let me eat it. I like a little a day. You know? Not in crazy amounts. But all the denial makes me crazy.”
“Ahh, when Kathy is all in… good luck, man.”
His face brightened at hearing that. “You think she’s all in?”
“I know she is. You’ll have some shyness and modesty to contend with still… but I think you can handle it.” She stretched her legs out. “So what the heck was Jim doing here?”
“I know. I thought perhaps he planned to corner me with a latent anger, seeking his revenge plot but to my utter surprise, the man just wanted to teach me how to play chess. And hang out. It was good, actually. I felt bad about, you know, taking Kathy from him and all that.”
“He isn’t right for Kathy.”
“I know. But still…” She understood. It was a relief to know Eric wasn’t a jerk who tried to get between another couple. But right then, she was hungry for Jim or anything Jim-related.
“So you think he’s okay?”
“Yeah. He was too easygoing about Kathy and me. Made some jokes even. Yeah. I really do think he’s fine. And he promised to bring me some candy too.”
“You’ve got your own black market going.”
He laughed and ducked his head, looking a little chagrined. “I do like her. I mean, her discipline and stern rules about healing me. It’s very sweet.”
“Everything Kathy does is like that. She has the kindest heart and takes the most care of anyone I know.”
“I know. Isn’t she just… perfect?”
“No.” Kayla snorted bluntly, glad Eric thought that to start. “Oh, hell, no. But you’ll learn; I promise, and I think you’ll care all the more for her.”
They turned their attention to the TV until Kathy came back, grocery bags in hand. After they put them away, she hung with them, helping Kayla forget her awful day… week… and PTSD. She was glad they were all safe and alive, just watching stupid dating shows as the sunlight splashed into the room. She was glad for the company to take her mind off blood and human mortality. Eric or Rob or Jim almost died. It was just so hard to understand. Much nicer to share it while laughing at nothing and just being together.
What was Jim doing? Alone in his dingy, dark, quiet apartment with books and no one?
No. Not her problem. Ever.
No.
But it still worried her. A lot.
And oh, good lord, her sister was deeply in love with Eric and they were adorable. Not disgusting or annoying, but so cute, she enjoyed observing their affection and care. She fought the urge and almost informed Eric there was no way he and Kathy could wait another year to have sex. Nope. There was just no way.
Their chemistry was the opposite of rocks. Maybe be too much for even her perfect little sister. She smiled knowing how happy Kathy was, now that she was with the right person.
What did that feel like?
Chapter 6
IT HAPPENED THREE MORE times. Kayla ran into Jim three times in one capacity or another when he came over to visit Eric. Once, she walked into the kitchen and found him getting Eric a drink of water. He instantly froze, gave her a hollow nod
