Page 48 of Our Little Moments

“Yeah.” Hazel giggles. “Would it happen to be because of a little crush?”

I laugh.That’swhy they were quiet all night. They werescheming.

Here I thought something horrible was happening. I should have known better. These women are my sisters.

“Hello?” Isa snaps her fingers in front of my face, a teasing smile on her face. “Adrian! You will not avoid this conversation!”

I remember Stella’s words now. I wish we could trade spots. I wouldloveto see my sisters tease her. But no. I’m the one that will have to handle it.

I grin, holding in a laugh. “You mean where I have to talk and you listen.”

I can see how hard Isabella is working to hide her laughter. “Exactly. A conversation.”

“An interrogation.”

My sister grins, full of laughter and excitement, and I wish she showed that side of herself to more people. “Come on, Adrian! Pleaseeeeee,” Isabella begs, disappointment in her eyes when I don’t answer.

I don’t think she has any idea how hard saying no to her can be. When she is in distress, saying no to her is heartbreaking. But when she looks disappointed, it’s heart shattering.

That’s why, when I see her face shut down and the excitement fade from her eyes, I start talking.

“Stella and I got to our hike earlier than planned.” That spark comes back in her eyes, and her lips itch a bit higher, which makes me smile. It’s so easy to make my sister feel better when I know what she needs.

Layla’s eyes turn curious. “Tell us everything, Adrian.”

“Well, we hiked for most of the afternoon. At first, I was worried it was going to be too long for her. But we hiked until the sun had fully set.”

“What was your favorite part?” Layla asks me, her gaze full of curiosity.

Seeing Stella smile so brightly.“Finally getting to the end of the trail. You know it’s always been my favorite part.”

“When did you plan it?” Hazel asks. “Was it a spontaneous decision?”

“Stella started planning it a few days before,” Layla answers.

“How do you know?” I ask her, bewildered at how she knows. Layla rarely gets involved with gossip but always seems to know what happens with me and Stella.

“I’m a romance writer. When the town has rumors about a couple that involves my brother, I make it my business to know,” she says, grinning wide at me. I smile back at her.

The silence ticks by.

Hazel blurts, “I planned a trip for us!” Her smile is so big that I’m sure it hurts her cheeks.

“What?” Isabella and I ask, completely surprised.

Hazel’s cheeks turn a bright shade of pink. “I thought it could be a fun way to enjoy summer. Once the busier weeks with work pass, we can take a break and try to reconnect. Seeing Stella step outside her comfort zone made me think about us and how we used to spend our summers. We haven’t done anything together in so long. It could be fun.”

Layla steps in. “She’s been planning it for days. You remember that summer camp we went to, Isa?”

My sister nods.

“Well,” Layla continues, “it was turned into a vacation site a few years ago. We saw it and knew it had to be the place. It will be so fun to go back there!”

“Yeah . . .” Isabella replies, clearly unconvinced.

“I invited a few of our friends to come along. We’ll get through the busy week, then we can all get some rest. A well-earned little vacation.”

Layla laughs. “I need a break from writing. I will lose my mind without one.”

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