Page 19 of Beach Vibes
“I wanted to,” Teddy said easily.
“You look out for me.”
“We look out for each other.”
That was true, she thought. Even as kids, they’d been close. Physically they didn’t look that much alike. Jana shared her mother’s blond hair and slight build, but Teddy took after some distant relative no one knew about. He was tall and well-muscled, with broad shoulders. His daily practice of yoga and his devotion to all things healthy meant he always looked fit. Something Jana could admire on her good days. On the days when she struggled with her schedule, her homework and the fact that going to college at eighteen would have been a whole lot easier, she occasionally thought about force-feeding her brother Cheetos, just to even up things.
Okay, not really, she thought with a smile. Teddy was her rock. When she didn’t know what to do with Linnie, he was the one she turned to.
“So, tell me about the guy. Rick, was it?”
“Uh-huh. He was great. Sweet and funny. I like him.” She angled toward her brother. “I told him about Linnie’s dad.” She wrinkled her nose. “The not knowing part, and he was fine about it. He didn’t judge.”
“There’s nothing to judge,” Teddy said firmly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. The test of your character was what youdid after you decided to have Linnie. You did it all, Jana. You’re a great mom.”
She let the praise wash over her. “Thanks. In my head I know you’re right, but sometimes I can’t get the rest of me to believe. It’s embarrassing to admit I was so irresponsible. It’s not my fault my birth control failed, but did there have to be that many nameless guys?”
She sagged back against the sofa. “When I tell the story, I’m never the hero. I’m that slutty girl who got pregnant.”
“No trash-talking. You’re my sister who’s a wonderful mom to a great kid.”
“Yeah? Name three other women you know who partied like I did and got pregnant.”
“You’re not a lemming.”
She laughed at the unexpected statement. “That’s true. I’m not even sure I know what a lemming looks like.”
“They’re small and furry.”
“That’s hardly a specific description.”
He flashed her a grin. “It’s the best I can do.” The smile faded. “So you like him?”
She nodded. “He was funny and attentive. He didn’t just talk about himself. There was definite sparkage, but we probably shouldn’t talk about that.”
Teddy grinned. “Probably not. I’m glad the date went well. I assume you’re going to see him again.”
“That’s the plan.”
Teddy stood and stretched. “Then I’m happy for you. Bring him around so I can meet him.”
She rose. “I think I want a second or maybe third date first.”
They hugged. “I’ll get the lights,” she told him. “See you in the morning.”
“Night.”
Teddy headed for his part of the house while she turned off lamps before heading to hers. She quietly checked on Linnie,who was sound asleep in a sea of stuffed animals, before retreating to her own room. She’d just finished washing off her makeup when her phone chimed with an incoming text. She glanced at the phone, then smiled.
I know I should wait a couple of days before reaching out, but I can’t stop thinking about you. When can I see you again?
* * *
Hope stirred. After being so careful, after the disaster that was Paul, after trying to do right by her daughter every minute of every day, it seemed she just might have met one of the good guys.
* * *
Beth watched as her friend devoured half a sandwich, moaning slightly between bites.
