Page 32 of The Flirty Forward

“How come Keith’s not in the picture?” Kelly asks, from next to me.

“We don’t want his grumpy mugshot in the photo with us,” Sebastian says.

“I heard that,” I hear from behind us, and I’m assuming that’s Keith.

“What about your favorite brother-in-law?” Andrew asks.

“Nope. You either.” That’s from Sebastian again.

“What about your dad?” Kelly asks. She’s already turning. “Honey—”

“Can we just take the picture already?” Sebastian asks.

“Wait, hold on,” Kelly says. She messes with her hair a moment. “Okay.”

Somebody starts crying, and Tina walks away. “Just a second.” She’s back a moment later, carrying her little boy on her hip. “Sammy’s going to be in the picture with us.”

“Okay, Kayla,” Sebastian says.

“Wait!” Kelly turns away and walks away.

“Mom, where are you going?” Sebastian asks in exasperation.

“I need to check the oven; my potatoes are going to burn.”

“And this is why we never have any family photos,” Sebastian murmurs.

“Want me to stand in?” Andrew asks again.

“No,” Tina and Sebastian both say at the same time.

“Okay, I’m back.” Kelly comes back and stands next to me.

“Kayla, hurry and take the picture before somebody else disappears.” Sebastian tightens his arm around me right after he says this, and I hold myself stiffly and try to smile.

“Smile,” Kayla says. “I’m going to take one more.”

She finishes and hands the phone to Sebastian. “Thanks, Kay.”

“Is it good?” Tina asks, swaying with Sammy on her hip.

I’m already walking to the front door; I need to escape. “Are you sure you can’t stay?” Kelly asks, following me to the door.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. Thank you though.” I make the mistake of looking up. Sebastian’s eyes meet mine from across the room. I turn around quickly and walk out the front door before he can say anything or come after me. I walk down the front steps just as Bri pulls up in front of the house. I jog towards the car; I’m almost there.

“Stephanie.” Sebastian’s voice stops me.

I turn around, willing him to keep his distance. “I’ll see you around. Thanks for letting me drive your car. Oh.” I reach into my pocket and pull out his keys and toss them to him. “See ya.” I open the door and climb into the backseat because Amber, Bri’s sister, is already in the front seat. “Go,” I say as soon as I’m inside.

Brielle pulls forward, and I look out the window and see Sebastian watching us go. I turn away quickly. “You okay, Stephanie?” Bri asks softly.

“Yeah.”

It’s quiet for a few minutes. “So, anybody want to tell me why we picked you up and drove away from the scene of the crime?” Amber asks from the front seat.

I smile in spite of myself. I love Amber like a sister. I met her the fall of my freshman year in college when she and Brielle’s mom came to visit Brielle. She’s a few years younger than Bri and I, but she’s become the little sister I never had, not that she’s little anymore. She’s going to be twenty this year.Crazy. “I wasn’t running away from the scene of a crime,” I say indignantly.

“No? Sure looked that way,” Amber says. “Or were you just running away from the tall, cool drink of water, otherwise known as Sebastian Hart, number eighty-five of the Green Thunder.”

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