Page 22 of Not Part of the Plan
CHAPTER SEVEN
Niko felt the weight of Summer’s judgment when he hobbled into the farmhouse’s kitchen the next morning.
“Someone got home awfully late last night,” she said conversationally to Carter, who was enjoying a cup of coffee at the island while the twins mashed bananas and strawberries between their fingers on their highchair trays.
Meadow spotted Niko and squealed a greeting to him. He booped her nose, stole a piece of banana from her brother, and limped over to the coffeepot.
“Someone’s also walking funny,” Carter observed. “We’re going to have to ask. It’s the neighborly thing to do.”
Summer nodded. “So, Niko. How was your night? Anything you want to tell us about?” She blinked her wide blue eyes in feigned innocence.
“I went to the gym.” He poured the coffee and fought the tremors in his biceps. His body felt like a tractor trailer truck carrying every flu virus known to man had hit it. He’d never had a workout decimate him like this before.
“Not the answer I was expecting,” Carter admitted.
“What did you do at the gym?” Summer prodded.
“What the hell do you think I did at the gym? Learned to macramé? I worked out and overdid it. Happy?”
Summer was unfazed. “You went to the gym by yourself in the middle of the night and pushed yourself so hard you can barely walk.” She eyed Carter. “I think we’re missing part of the story”
Playing along, Carter pointed an accusatory finger at Niko. “Were you alone at the gym?”
“I went there alone,” he hedged.
“Aha! You ran into a hot girl there and tried to impress her with your gym prowess!” Summer was triumphant in her hypothesis.
“And I’m paying the price now. Happy?”
“Did you at least get a date out of it?” Carter asked.
Niko shook his head, sipped the heavenly caffeine. “Struck out.”
“Who could turn you down?” Summer demanded. She opened a cabinet by the refrigerator and fished out a bottle of aspirin.
“Apparently the female population of Blue Moon is immune to my charm,” Niko said.
“No, seriously. Who would you have worked so hard to impress, and who would say no to all that perfection?” she frowned.
“Your husband is sitting right there.” Niko pointed to Carter.
Carter stroked his beard. “Hey. He’s right. I am right here.”
“Oh. My. God. It was Emma, wasn’t it?” Summer yelped. Meadow copied her mother’s tone and shrieked.
“Don’t worry, honey,” Carter said to Meadow. “Mommy’s just being nosey and excitable.”
“Oh, I am so winning this bet,” Summer rubbed her hands together.
“What bet?” Carter asked, plucking Jonathan from the highchair.
“I’ve got action on Niko getting a date out of Emma.”
“How many units?” Carter asked.
“Two.”
He let out a low whistle. “Let’s hope you can pull this off, Romeo. We could use a win.”
