Betty rolled her eyes. “Another get rich quick scheme convention?”
“Something like that,” he growled, forking his fingers through his hair. “I’ve got the rest of the week off, but today.” He grabbed his hands as if in prayer. “You’re a life saver.”
Betty kissed his cheek, his gray-black stubble rubbing her cheek. “Anything for my, big bro.”
Gerard cleared his throat, and Betty jumped guiltily, she’d almost forgotten him. “Gerard, this is Kelly and Briley.” She clapped Briley’s back.
Kelly stepped forward and grabbed Gerard’s hand. “Who are you and how do you know my sister?”
Gerard straightened almost imperceptibly, meeting Kelly’s hard gaze head on.
“I’m--” he started.
“My boyfriend.” Betty smiled at Gerard’s startled expression and nodded at Kelly. “New boyfriend.” She grabbed Gerard’s hand.
Kelly cocked his head. “And why am I just hearing about this now? Does Trisha know?”
Betty ignored Gerard’s burning look. “No, she doesn’t, and besides when did you start getting so chummy with Trisha? As I recall you burned her in high school. Minor miracle she and I stayed friends after that.” She arched a brow.
“Jeez, Betty, chill.” Kelly rolled his eyes. “She was calling looking for you last night, apparently she called five times and went straight to voicemail each time.”
“Hot date.” She winked at Gerard, who suddenly seemed to understand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving it a gentle squeeze. Whoa, did her stomach just flutter? Sheesh, she felt sixteen and unsure again.
“Aunt Betty, is he gonna be my uncle?” Briley asked, brown eyes creasing into a deep frown. He stepped behind her back.
“No, monkey butt,” she said.
“Maybe,” Gerard said.
She shot him a venomous look. He didn’t need to get into character that much, no need to give Briley hope. They both knew that wouldn’t happen. His smile faltered.
Already the sun grew warmer on her back. Betty wore a green tank top and hadn’t yet slathered her desperately pale body with sunscreen, she needed to get her butt in the car before she turned into a lobster.
“Okay, who wants to go fishing?” she raised her voice to an exaggerated pitch, trying to regain the happy vibe of only a moment ago.
She snatched the fishing rod, box, and bag from Kelly’s lax hands and gave him a weak smile. “So yeah, I’ll bring him back safe and sound tonight.”
Kelly still looked like he was trying to work his way through her weak explanation, and if she hung around too much longer, her brilliant brother would see it for the white lie it was.
“Welp, k then!” She kissed his cheek, grabbed Briley and Gerard’s hands, and dragged them to the car.
“Bye, Daddy!” Briley waved happily.
Once in the car, and all buckled up, she waved again and pretended she didn’t see Kelly mouth: Wait!
“Boyfriend?” Gerard’s deep barrel voice did weird things to her insides, made them feel all tingly and fuzzy. She squirmed in her seat. “Hmm…” He sounded amused and heat bloomed on her cheeks.
“Hush,” she whispered, she didn’t want Briley hearing she’d lied. After all, she always told him how bad it was to do that, if he found out she’d lied, he’d hound her about it all day long.
Gerard’s jaw clamped shut with an audible click. His nostrils flared, and her eyes widened when she realized what she’d done. The pendant flared hot against her breast.
“And I mean that in a totally independent non-bossy way.”
He took a deep breath and glared at her. “You swore you wouldn’t.”
She peeked at Briley in the backseat. He was oblivious, staring out the window with a happy grin.
“I’m sorry,” she hissed. “I forget sometimes. But…” she pointedly looked at the mirror and jerked her head, “not here. Cool?”
Gerard thinned his lips. “Non, I’m not cold.”
She frowned and then laughed. “No, I mean is that okay?”
“Why don’t you just say that then?” he grumped.
“It’s called a colloquialism. An informal expression used in common speech and you’re right, it’s total nonsense. Unfortunately I speak a lot of nonsense.” She bit her lip and tapped his forearm. “Still friends?”
The world stretched out like an endless horizon of trees and sky. The robin’s blue sky held barely a trace of clouds.
Gerard nodded. “Cool?” His brows furrowed, seeking her approval.
She fought the grin and nodded. “Good enough.”
“Aunt Betty,” Briley chirped. “I want music.”
“Well, you’re in luck.” She popped ol’ faithful into her radio and cranked it up loud.
Briley clapped his hands and started singing loud and clear. “I love you-”
Her heart soared as she crested the hill. “You love me,” she joined him, her warble strong, but uncaring how badly it cracked. Briley thought she had the voice of an angel, and Gerard, sticking his finger in his ear with a wince, wouldn’t stop her from making her little man happy.
Chapter 12