Page 74 of Digging Up Love
Quentin:
Can’t wait.
Quentin’s feet hit the floor with a painful thud. He jolted out of his sleep and caught himself on an elbow just before his head followed suit. “What the heck?”
His brother loomed above him. “This is a new couch.”
“You’re welcome for watching your kids, jerk.” He pushed himself up and peeled off the Candy Land card stuck to his elbow.
“Um, thank you?” Hector swept a hand to indicate the destruction, and Quentin winced. The living room looked like Toys “R” Us after Black Friday stampedes.
His sister-in-law appeared from the kitchen, twisting the cap off a bottle of water. “Thanks again for watching the girls, Q. We really appreciate it.” Vanessa squinted at him. “What’s that on your fingers?”
Huh? He lifted a hand to his face. “Oh. The girls and I did our nails.”
Laughing, Vanessa said, “Hang on.” She went to the bathroom and emerged with a bottle and a cotton ball. She caught up his hand and swabbed at the polish. “Did they give you any trouble? Other than making you play beautician.”
He thought back to the minor sibling squabbles. Nothing compared to his knock-down, drag-out fights with Hector back in the day. “No, they were awesome. We watched a movie, and they fell asleep about ten.”
Hector growled under his breath. “Ten? Their bedtime is eight!”
Fumes from the polish remover caught in Quentin’s nose. He sneezed over his shoulder, then shrugged. “It’s Saturday.”
“Like my babies ever sleep in. Maybe they’ll be up at four-thirty instead of four a.m., if we’re lucky.”
Vanessa swatted her husband’s arm and capped the bottle. “You’re all set. And what he means to say is ‘Thank you.’ We owe you one, Q.”
“Seriously, no big deal.” He held up his polish-free fingers. “You saved me from an embarrassing morning.” After wrapping his sister-in-law in a hug, he reached over and gave Hector a noogie on his gelled hair. “I’ll give you two lovebirds some privacy to finish your date.”
Quentin escaped out the door before his brother could retaliate and jogged down the front steps with a smile. Having his own date set up for tomorrow had a little something to do with his buoyant mood.
CHAPTER 27
ALISHA
Simone leaned back under the scalloped maroon awning outside the brunch spot, one sandaled foot pressed to the brick wall, eyeing her with the unamused glare Momma used to save for their naughtiest antics. “I still can’t believe this.”
“I was gonna tell you.” Alisha nudged a loose chunk of concrete with her sneaker.
“When? When you handed me a wedding program with my name listed as maid of honor?”
“Sim, come on.”
“So you’re saying Iwouldn’tbe maid of honor?” Simone picked an invisible speck of lint off her white jumpsuit. “You know I willend youif you make Margaret Thatcher maid of honor.”
“Oh my word, Simone. We all know Meg will get married before me. She’ll be mymatronof honor, so your title is safe.”
Her sister’s topaz eyes flashed dangerously, and Alisha relented. “Kidding, you know I’m kidding.” She fanned her face with her palm; the morning sun was already fierce, filtering through the trees planted in the sidewalk. “But Quentin and I aren’t even officially dating. Stop trying to marry me off.”
Simone blew out through her lips. “‘Officially dating.’ What does that even mean? I’ll never understand your generation and labels.”
“Mygeneration?” She stepped into the shade of the awning to make way for a couple exiting the restaurant. “You’re four and a half years younger than me.”
“Four years and ten months equals five years.”
“Faulty math.”
Simone ignored that. “So how does it feel to beun-officially dating your very own Ross Geller?”
