Page 31 of Breathless

I pat her awkwardly on the shoulder and wait for her to dislodgeherself.

When she does, she’s still standing so close to me I shuffle back to create morespace.

“Thanks for inviting me! I feel sospecial!”

What the hell? “I didn’tin—”

A loud whistle brings everyone to a standstill. My brother and Tori are standing on the front porch, and Tori looks like a cruise director with a sunhat, clipboard, and pen. She hooks one arm in Ethan’s and waves her clipboard atus.

“We want to thank everyone for coming to our pre-wedding weekend bash. Weddings are too crazy a time to catch up with our friends, and we weren’t really feeling the bachelor-bachelorette party thing, so we thought we’d try something else. We’ll be meeting up with a few more buds at the coast, but since y’all are the ones making the long drive, you deserve extra love. I want to get the cell numbers of everyone driving. I’ll make a few quick copies for you so if you have to stop to get gas, you should let someone in the caravan know. We don’t want anyone to get lost orstranded.”

Tori explains who’s going in which cars, and I’m surprised when I realize my mother isn’t coming. I lean over to Joey and tell her I’ll be right back before I jog over to discuss this with my mom, who’s sitting on the new porch swing with Cody andMila.

“Please tell me you’re not babysitting this weekend.” We’ve talked about this, how she shouldn’t be running after the kids. Glancing around to make sure no one can hear us, I lower my voice. “You know what the doctorsaid.”

“Cool your jets, son. I’m not babysitting. Two of Tori’s cousins are doing that. I’ll just be here to keep an eye onthings.”

I don’t know who she thinks she’sfooling.

Running my hand over my face, I sigh. Sometimes I feel like all I do is plug up holes in the dam only to have three moregush.

She leans forward to pat my arm. “Tori’s parents are helping with her sister’s kids, and I have their number. If I need anything, they’ll be nearby. Now, please go have fun and stop worrying. You’re gonna get gray hair before you’re thirty at thisrate.”

I recognize the firm set of her jaw. Ain’t no talking Beverly Carter out of something shewants.

Relenting, I decide I’d better get more info. “Who are the cousins? How old are they?” It’s rare when we let someone new into the inner sanctum of our babysitting circle. Cody and Mila mean the whole world to the Carterclan.

“They’re honors students at UT, worrywart. We met them last Christmas. We’ll befine.”

No wonder she wanted to stay with Ethan while Joey’s in town. She needed to plot hershenanigans.

“You’d better not set foot in the barn.” The ranch hands can take care of the horses while we’re gone, but if Mom goes in there for any reason, she’s bound to start helping there too. “And you’re grounded when I get back,” I tease, leaning over to give her a hug. “Call me if you need anything. I can be home in three hoursflat.”

“No speeding! You know as well as I do that the drive takes longer than threehours.”

“Then stay outta trouble.” I kiss the kids on the top of their heads. “Don’t run your grandmother into the ground, you hear me? Or no birthdaypresents.”

The little brats giggle. They know I’m full ofshit.

* * *

It’s not quiteten in the morning, and I’m already dragging my feet. The three hours I put in at the Stock Yard before dawn are kicking my ass. I’ve helped Tori pack up the cars belonging to two of her friends, along with ice chests stocked with enough food for the nextapocalypse.

When I reach my truck, I yawn. Through the tinted windows, I count four bodies, which means we’re ready to go. I hop in the driver’s seat as the engines around me start and the caravan getsmoving.

It’s about time. If I have to repack another truck, I’m gonna lose myshit.

Rambo barks next to me, and I look over and freeze when I see Renee in the passenger seat holding Joey’spuppy.

Oh, fuckno.

But it gets worse because a quick look in my rear view mirror tells me Jo’s not in mytruck.

I smack the steering wheel. “Where’sJosephine?”

Twisting in my seat, I glare at Patrick, who shrugs. “She was here, and then, I don’tknow.”

Sometimes I wonder how we’refriends.

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