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She doesn’t correct me, though, so I consider that a step in the right direction.
“This place is pretty cool.” I motion to the scenery.
“You never answered my text.”
I play it cool. “What text?”
She rolls her eyes, takes the coffee from my hand and takes a sip. “I saw you read it, Oliver. Read receipts are a thing.”
“So that’s why every girl knows when I don’t reply. I better fix that.” Her grip tightens on her cup, and I see heat flare in her eyes.
“You seem better.”
Do I really?
She eyes me for another second. “You still haven’t told me if you’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” I reassure her. “Sally?—”
“Sis, is this dude bothering you?” a voice catches both of our attention.
Glaring down at me is a tall man with a trimmed beard and a fade haircut that leads into thick, curly black hair. In his arms wiggles probably the most adorable girl to ever exist.
“Sissy Sally.” The girl lets out an excited giggle as she reaches for Sally.
“Stand down, Richie. This is Oliver.” Sally pats his arm and takes the girl into her arms.
Richie nods like he already has the rundown of who I am before he sits down with his own latte. “You better treat my sister like a princess.”
A blush coats Sally’s cheeks, but I keep my focus on her brother. In a serious tone, I say, “I would never treat her any other way.”
“Good shit.” Richie grins as he takes a sip of his drink. He looks at his watch and then curses.
“Bad word!” the little girl in Sally’s arms yells, and Richie looks at both of us sheepishly.
“Laura is going to skin me alive if she starts saying that at home.” Richie takes the girl out of Sally’s arms as he stands up.
“Duty calls?” she asks before getting up and giving her brother a hug.
“It’s a busy time of year, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t text me about the house. I can see if I know a repair guy nearby.”
I furrow my brow at Sally as she sits back down. I can tell she’s trying not to look at me now.
“What’s up with the house?”
“Nothing, just some stuff is broken, and we need to do repairs,” she says nonchalantly. “I did kind of almost fall through the roof.”
“Are you okay?” I shoot out. “Did someone take you to the clinic in town?”
“Oliver, I’m fine. I didn’t actually fall through. It was just my foot.”
“I’ll come over when we get back and patch it for you.”
She stiffens at my words. “That’s asking too much.”
It’s not enough, especially after what I’m going to ask her to do for me.
“We should get going.”
