Page 70 of The Chad Next Door
“What about her?” Houston asks. “Is anyone worrying about her?”
My eyebrows lift. That was surprisingly thoughtful. “The only family she has is her aunt,” I say. “And the kids. But if you knew Hope, you’d know she will never do anything she doesn’t want to do. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“We would know her if you would stop hiding her upstairs,” Micah says, and she’s almost surly as she stares at me. Maybe she doesn’t like being the only voice of reason in this conversation. “I’m withholding judgment until I can actually talk to this woman. And you’re not allowed to make out with her to avoid conversation like you did on Halloween!”
“I need to leave soon,” Houston mutters. “I’ve got that…thing.”
“You mean the thing with Tamlin Park with whom you have heaps of chemistry, right?” Micah says, bouncing her eyebrows. “Also, did you know that if you try to use the swipe feature on your phone to spell her name, it comes out as Tampon instead?”
“Yep,” Brooklyn agrees. “I may have sent Jordan an extremely misleading text the other day.”
“Why are you guys typing Tamlin’s name?” Houston asks with a groan. “I’m dating Darcy. End of story.”
I don’t think itisthe end of his story, and I’m curious how this is going to play out. The need to step in is almost killing me, but Houston is right. He needs to get through this on his own. He’s right on the cusp of knowing the truth about this woman he seems to love, and I don’t know how he’s going to react. Hopefully it goes well for him rather than blowing up in his face.
Regardless, Micah isalsoright, and it’s time for Hope to finally make an appearance. She’s been freaking out about this all morning, as if my siblings are capable of disliking anyone. Pulling out my phone, I send her a quick text to tell her she can come downstairs.
She responds immediately.
Trouble: I was kinda hoping you would come get me. It’s a lot easier to kiss you when you’re in front of me.
Me: I am well aware.
Trouble: Are you telling me you don’t want to kiss me? *gif of someone saying ‘rude’*
Me: When have I ever not wanted to kiss you?
Trouble: *gif of an old man shrugging*
Me: This is why I don’t text.
Trouble: *gif of someone sticking out their tongue*
Me: I didn’t come upstairs because if I did, I wouldn’t want to come back down.
Trouble: Sharing is caring, old man.
Me: Do I really have to share you?
Instead of responding in the negative, like a part of me hopes, she appears on the stairs, and the whole room seems to grow brighter as soon as she’s in it. Her smile is warm but tentative, and she can’t seem to decide where to look as she takes in the Briggs clan. I’m perfectly happy if she only looks at me.
“Okay,” Micah says quietly as Hope approaches our little gathering.
Jordan and Fischer come over too, apparently deciding that if Hope can join me and my siblings, they officially can too.
Though I take Hope’s hand and guide her onto my lap, I turn my focus to Micah. “Okay?” I repeat.
My sister smiles for the first time since I told her my plan. “I’ve never seen him look at anything the way he looks at you,” she tells Hope, tears filling her eyes. “Like he’s happy for the first time in his life.”
She may be talking about me like I’m not here, but I don’t care. Now that I have Hope in my arms, everything is better.
Tucking her arm around my shoulders, Hope leans into me. “Yeah, for a minute there, I wondered if he ever smiled. But you Briggses have some good smiles.”
“They really do,” Jordan says as he wedges himself onto the couch with Brooklyn between us and puts his arm around her. Impressive, given the wary glance he throws my way. He may have been friends with Houston for the last decade and a half, but he and I haven’t interacted much. I’m perfectly okay if he’s intimidated by me since that means he’ll be careful with Brook from here on out. I won’t be easy with their relationship until I know more about how it came about, which means he’s due for an interrogation.
I’m looking forward to that too much.
Fischer isn’t as outwardly affectionate as Jordan, but he still reaches out for Micah’s hand, like he fully understands how necessary it is to have that physical contact whenever possible. “Their smiles are a defining feature,” he agrees when she beams at him.
