I found myself jamming the paddle harder and harder, so I pulled it out of the water to slow myself down.
“No, I’m fine. If I could talk to Jazz about it, I’d be fine. I think. God, I dunno.” I sighed. I had said too much, I knew it. I was going to have to come up with something to appease my overbearing and over-protective brother. I’d texted Jazz last night to let her know there was an almost kiss and that I needed to talk to her today. She would find me or text me as soon as she woke up, I was sure. In the meantime ...
“What the hell is going on, Keri Ann?” His tone told me I was going to have to think fast. Or tell the truth.
“God, I don’t know, Joey. You know Jazz and I tell each other everything—”
“Yeah, y’all are a nightmare like that.”
I grinned as I remembered Joey being completely embarrassed and pissed off when he realized Jazz had shared all the details of their first kiss. Not that I had wanted all those details mind you, it being my brother and all. Ack.
The kayak rocked on an undulating wave and a breeze ruffled my hair. I made a decision. “Joey, this is big, way too big, and even though I made a promise not to talk about it, I have to tell you.”
I debated exactly what to say. Joey and I were pretty close, and one thing I did know was he was trustworthy. Jazz would be told. I needed her. But it would be good to tell Joey, too. He wasn’t here, so there wasn’t a chance Jack would find out.
“You’re freaking me out. Do I need to come back there? You’re ok, right?” he asked.
Was I ok? I didn’t know. I was going to break Jack’s secret twice today and hope for the best.
“Are you pregnant? I swear to God—”
“No! Jeez! How did you think I went from not dating to that?”
Joey blew a breath down the line. “Thank God. Wow, that scared the shit outta me.”
“Calm down, it’s not that.”
“Okay then, it can’t be that bad. Hit me.”
“I want to tell you, Joey, but you are going to have to swear to me, and I mean swear, like on Mom and Dad.” I paused letting that sink in. We had always said we would never use them like that unless it was something super serious.
“Shit, Keri Ann, I’m freaking again. Tell me. Now.”
Good. He got it.
“Okay, well, I haven’t told anyone about him because first of all, there’s nothing going on apart from us spending some time together.” If you didn’t count our almost kiss last night. “And second of all, he’s famous, and I swore to keep his identity a secret.”
It sounded really dumb to my own ears, but I knew that since I had just invoked Mom and Dad, Joey was listening. The tide was slowly pulling my kayak back into the Intracoastal Waterway, so I rested my paddle across my lap and settled back.
“Okaaaay.” I could almost hear Joey’s mind whirring a mile a minute trying to figure out what to ask me. “So he thinks he’s famous, or he actually is famous? I mean The Situation from Jersey Shore thinks he’s famous, but I doubt ninety-nine percent of the population would recognize him walking down the street ... or care.” He snorted.
I should’ve known Joey wouldn’t believe me.
“Wait, it’s not him is it?” he asked.
“Shut it, Joey. God, never mind, Ok? Forget I ever mentioned it.” Ugh. Sometimes big brothers were a pain in the ass.
He laughed. “I’m kidding, sweetheart. Look, I don’t want you mixed up with some arrogant jerk. He’d eat you for breakfast. Who is this guy?”
I could tell from his tone Joey had already stopped taking me seriously despite my having invoked our parents. How had I never noticed how condescending he could be? “I’m not a kid anymore, Joey. I don’t think you get to decide who I date.” I was getting pissed off.
“So you are dating him, then?”
“No, I didn’t say that!” I snapped. “We just hung out. I’m getting some stuff for him, and he’s helping me out with the house. He helped me strip the wall paper and ... ” I trailed off, it sounded ridiculous, even to me.
“So this big famous guy is stripping wall paper in our house? That sounds normal, and what exactly is he expecting from you in return, huh?” He sounded like a father, or maybe like a vague memory I had of my dad. “Wait, how old is he?”
“Not what you’re thinking.” I huffed. “And he’s twenty-six.” I needed to end this call soon.
“So, why are you freaking out, kiddo? I mean, you say you guys are just hanging out, right? Is he making you feel unsafe? Who is this guy? I think you better tell me in case I need to whoop his ass ... Do I need to come home?”
I sighed and rolled my eyes, thankful he couldn’t see me. “No, Joey, don’t be an idiot. I’m fine, I’m a big girl. And no, I’m freaking out because I do actually like him, I think, and he is waaaaay out of my league.” I laughed.