Page 79 of More Than Pen Pals

“Fine. Thank you for saving her life.”

“And I’m coming to meet the brother.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ll talk to her about it.”

“Are you still allowed to talk to her?”

Is he taunting me? “Shut up.”

“Are you, though? I seriously want to know.”

“We’re going to keep writing letters. But I’ll ask her about you going to dinner with Shannon when I meet with her tomorrow about Diego Sanchez. By the way, you might need to come along to that meeting. Since you never seem to have anything better to do than be up in my business all the time, I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. After all, I haven’t seen Leslie since the day I saved her life.”

“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”

“Not until the day I die. I’m thinking about saying it in my will, too, so you might get the pleasure of hearing it again after I’m dead.”

“Fantastic.”

* * *

After dinner, I get settled on the couch to watch TV when someone pounds on my door. It’s one of my siblings, but I can’t tell which one. They all knock exactly the same.

“It’s open!” I holler.

The door bangs open and both girls race in. Sonya holds a Blockbuster Video tape over her head like it’s a trophy. “You’re watchingDirty Dancingwith us!” They squeal as they plop down on top of my reclined body.

“Oof.” I push at them. “Get off. I’m watchingMacGyver.”

“It’s a rerun,” Tonya says as she stands and then pulls my arm to get me to sit up. “We were nice enough to watch the season finale of your stupid show with you last week, remember? Now it’s your turn to watch what we want.”

“I don’t want to watch a dancing movie. You can’t watch it over at the house without me?”

They finally get me positioned how they want me and sit on either side of me on the couch.

“Mom hates this movie,” Tonya says. “If she hears it, she’ll make us turn it off.”

“What makes you think I won’t hate it and make you turn it off?”

Sonya shrugs. “Because you let us do anything we want.”

She’s not wrong. Regardless of what Mom said on Saturday, I’m terrible with kids. I’ve always let these two run right over me.

“How many times have you seen this movie?” I ask.

“Not enough,” Tonya says.

Sonya loops her arm through mine and squeezes it. “It’s soooo romantic!”

“Speaking of romantic …” Tonya giggles.

“What’s up with you and that Melissa woman?” Sonya finishes for her.

“Nothing.” I press my lips together.

“Don’t you dare lie to us, Ashley Theodore Hamilton.” Tonya pokes my chest. “You were totally flirting with her at dinner on Saturday, and you never flirt. Plus, Mom says you’re going on a date with her this weekend.”

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