Page 38 of You are the Reason

“Well, after Dad, there was Mr Re—”

Kinsley’s cheeks are flushed in embarrassment and she almost chokes on her sandwich at the mention of Mum with a man

“That’s enough,” she announces, waving her hand at me. “There will be none of that, just eat your biscuits and let us girls catch up.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kinsley

“Can you drop me to the library on your way to work in the morning?” I call out to Jesse from the bathroom. “I want to surprise Soph; I’ve unintentionally been avoiding her.”

“You do suck at this friendship thing.” He winks as he rounds the door and sits on the bench next to the sink.

“What’s the go with you two anyway? She’s never here, did that double date lead to any solo ones?”

“Maybe if you were a better friend, you would know the gossip.” Jesse wiggles his brows and I know he’s deflecting off of the topic.Interesting.How much do I want to push him on this? I decide to stay silent, giving him the option to elaborate. Through the mirror we make eye contact and he’s pouting.Such a baby.

“Come on, spit it out.” Turning to face him, I give him all of my attention. “Do we need to sit down with a tub of ice cream and spoons to have some kind of deep and meaningful here?”

That gets a laugh out of him. “I thought we were the beer and pizza type?”

“You’re deflecting again!”

“Give me a break, I can’t take you seriously with that.” He points at the facemask I just applied. “Stuff on your face.”

He has a fair point, it does look ridiculous. “Fine, why don’t you go order us a pizza? I will wash this off and then I can whip your ass in Monopoly whilst you bring me up to speed on the gossip I clearly missed.”

“That’s my girl!” he whoops and hollers, bouncing his way out of the bathroom and I hear a pitter patter of paws running up the hall. “Let’s go Lou! Pizza time!”

How a woman will ever pin him down is beyond me. I will personally congratulate whoever does; this boy is a handful. He talks to the dog the same way I talk to myself. I wonder which one is more crazy?Take your pick, Kinsley.Hmm, actually maybe a dog would be nice. I wonder if Tanner likes dogs? He has always been fine with Lou-loo.

Taking out my phone I send him a message, no time like the present.

Me- Do you like dogs?

Tanner - It depends …

I laugh whilst typing out my response.

Me - Depends on what?

Tanner - The owner

Me - If it was me?

Tanner - Then, yes. I love dogs.

Bubbles pop up again, and I wait to see if he says anything else before I respond.

Tanner - Are we getting a dog?

First he drops thegirlfriendbomb on me in front of his sister, and now he is asking ifweare getting a dog. A warm blush climbs up my neck and over my cheeks whilst butterflies swarm in my stomach.

Tanner - You’re blushing, Pip.

Note to self, don’t leave Tanner on read. He will continue to message you until you reply. I take a silly selfie, still with my face mask on and press send.

Me - I can’t see any rosy cheeks …

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