Page 9 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend

“Good for Betty,” my mom says. “She’s just thrilled to have both her kids under one roof at the same time.”

“Oh!” The peeler flies out of my hand and clatters into the sink. “Natalie’s here too?”

“Of course, dear. She’s home for the whole summer.”

Natalie Slater, Beau’s little sister, always had it out for me. I never knew why she hated me so much, but she once threatened to serve me brownies baked with Ex-Lax. Needless to say, I steered clear of her after that. Mom plucks the peeler from the sink and gives it back to me, along with a healthy dose of side-eye. “Are you all right, Kasey?”

“I’m fantastic,” I chirp. “So, you were saying, Nat’s home for the summer. What’s she been up to?”

“Betty says she’ll be finishing her undergrad this year, and her nursing degree at the same time.” My mother examines a potato with a smudge of dirt on it. She takes her time rinsing the potato before she resumes her slicing. “Apparently she’s planning to work in pediatrics. In cancer wards, I think.”

“Wow. Another Slater hero.” I glance at my mother.

“Betty’s a little worried Natalie will want to move out west. Like you.”

“Oh, wow.” I wrinkle my nose. “I hope she doesn’t.”

“Why ever would you say that?”

“When we were kids, Beau and Nat Slater were pretty awful to me, Mom.”

She raises an eyebrow. “I didn’t think Beau was all that bad.”

“Oh, come on, Mom.” I resume peeling to avoid her gaze. “He and Brady were terrible.”

She shakes her head. Cluck.Mrs. Chicken Claus is back. “Maybe when you were kids. But your brother’s grown up quite a bit in the past few years. He’s become a good man. And Betty says Beau has really come into his own too. You’ll see.”

“I can’t wait,” I mumble.

My mother hefts the pot up and carries it to the stove. “You know Beau’s like you.”

“What?” Gah! I almost slice off my finger with the peeler. “Beaulikesme?”

“I said, he’slikeyou. Barely home.” There’s a whoosh from the stovetop as the gas burner ignites. “And by next week, he’ll be gone again. Poof.” I look over my shoulder, and my mother shakes her head. “Poor Betty.”

“Sounds like you and Mrs. Slater have been talking quite a bit lately. When did you two become so friendly?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She sighs. “Maybe after we both had one of our birdies leave the nest and hardly ever come back.”

Huh. I guess my mother misses me even though I’m not a doctor. Or a standup comedian for that matter. “Mom.” I wait for her to meet my gaze. “I reallyamhappy to be home.”

She smiles. “I’m happy about that too. And before I forget, Betty and I made plans for all eight of us to watch the fireworks over at their place on the 4th. So be sure you’re free.”

My stomach twists, but my mom can’t see that. “What if I wanted to see Molly? Or Emma? Or Claire?” I’m blurting out names in a strangled rasp.

“You can see them at the A-Fair, Kasey. The rest of this week is about family.” My mother resumes cutting potatoes like she didn’t just blow up my life. “Betty and Neil still live in the house right on the lake. I imagine the fireworks are quite a spectacle from their yard. Did you ever watch over there, Kasey?”

“Are you kidding?” I swallow hard. “Brady never let me be around him and Beau.” A flush comes into my cheeks. “Not that I ever wanted to be around him and Beau.” Stupid cheeks. They always give me away. Unless my throat gets there first.

“Well, you’re going to be around them plenty this week.”Tsk. “I already told Betty we’d all go, and the Grahams always follow through on their RSVPs. Also, I invited the Slaters here tomorrow night for hot cocoa and caroling with your cousins.”

WHAAAAAAT?

Now my insides officially explode. Why are the Grahams and the Slaters suddenly attached at the hip? I want my hips as far from Beau’s as they can get. I flash my mother a desperate look, but she’s got her eyes glued to her knife. “Are you really going to let Beau Slater ruin my 4thof JulyandChristmas?” I choke out.

“Don’t be dramatic, Kasey.” Her lip curls up on one side, and it sounds like she’s actually humming. What on earth is happening? My mother’s on my side.

Isn’t she?

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