Page 64 of Code Word
“Just maybe? Because I’m pretty sure I felt?—”
“Okay, so maybe more than maybe.” I cringed. “Is it weird to talk about this stuff?” Aaaand then I groaned and took my hand off his back so I could cover my eyes. “I even asked Becca what a physical relationship with you would mean. Like, what do we do, and how would it work, because?—”
He peeled my hand away from my face and was looking at me, bewildered. “You asked Becca? My sister? Your girlfriend?”
“Ex-girlfriend,” I supplied weakly.
“You asked my sister about what sex with me would be like?”
I winced. “Well... yeah. I told you she was cool with this. She basically told me to do this.”
“Shetoldyou?”
He began to pull away, so I ran my hand into his hair and tugged on it, keeping him from getting up and making him look at me. “Hey. She told me to pull my head out of my ass. She told me to look inward, to be honest with myself about my feelings for you.”
He sighed. “It’s my sister . . .”
I nodded, because oh boy, yes, I knew that. “And then shetold me to not talk about us having sex because, and I quote,” I said using air quotes, “‘Ewww, that’s my brother.’”
Luke stared at me, then fought a smile. “Was she really okay? I don’t know how I’ll face her.”
“She’s fine,” I said. Then I had an idea. I found my phone and pressed FaceTime.
“Jesus, Blake. What are you doing?” Luke hissed at me, just as the call connected.
“Please tell me you found him,” Becca said.
I smiled at the screen, then panned to show her Luke’s face. “Yeah. I found him.”
“Oh, thank god,” she said.
I handed Luke the phone but spoke so Becca could hear. “He’s worried that you’ll hate him.”
Luke shot me daggers, but he eventually looked at his sister. “Hey,” he said.
“I don’t hate you, Luke,” she said quietly. “How could I? I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew I was never his number one choice. What Vana said kinda hit home, and...” She sighed. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Luke. That all being said, you are a dumbass.”
He let out a teary laugh. “Yeah. I know.”
“But so is he, so you’re a good match for each other, honestly.”
“Thanks, Bec,” I said flatly.
Luke scrubbed his hand over his face. “I couldn’t bear it if you hated me. I never meant to hurt anyone. I need you to know that.”
“I know that, but I appreciate you saying it.” Then she sighed. “I’m glad you’re okay, Luke,” she said again. “Call me tomorrow and we’ll talk some more. I’m heading out to dinner with the girls.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you, Blake, for finding his dumb ass. And forletting me know. I’ll tell our moms he’s not dead in a ditch somewhere. They’re both worried.”
Luke groaned. “I’ll call her tomorrow too.”
“Good. Now I can tell you’re lying in bed together and that’s something I don’t need to think about, so I’m gonna go.”
I snorted. “Thanks, Bec.”
She smiled as she ended the call, and Luke sighed as he handed me back my phone. I took a hold of his face and kissed his forehead, then his lips. “Told you she was okay with us. Do you feel a bit better about that now?”
