God, he just does not give it a rest.
“Do not give him my number, Tori. I’m serious.” If nothing else, my time with Brady has shown me how much I don’t want to be with Eric. Why is he still calling?
“Are you positive? He’s rich and really hot. Maybe you should give him another chance. Unless he has a little weenie. Does he have a little weenie?”
I nearly choke. “Victoria, I’m paying a shitload of money to help you attend that private school. Don’t they teach you any manners?”
“Whoa. Look who curses now, Little Miss Stick Up Her Ass.”
Seriously? All I’ve done is help my little sister, and this is the thanks I get?
“Whatever. I gotta go. But next time you need clothes or money for some dumb formal dance, don’t call me.”
“C’mon, Katherine, you know I’m joking. I’m sorry!”
I shake my head. Tori and I haven’t been close in a while. I’m seven years older, and I get a little irritated because she gets away with murder. My parents had me on a tight leash, and she gets to stay out to all hours because she looks angelic. But I know my parents are always comparing us. She’s not the student I was, so she gets the “why can’t you study harder like Katherine” speeches.
That’s what I loved about Mel. She was the big sister I should have had. Not that I don’t love Tori, but I just wish we could be close like Mel and I were.
When I get off the phone, I wish more than anything that I could talk to Mel about Brady. I wish I could pour out my heart to her because she would know what to do.
After spazzing out all day at the diner, I’m relieved to come home and find Brady just as warm and sweet as he was last night. Part of me was afraid that he’d be different after so much intimacy, but no. He’s affectionate, kissing me on the mouth when I walk through the door, hugging me once I tug off my coat.
He tells me he’s going to Skype with his parents. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it.” Well, he might. I lean up and kiss his cheek. “Watch. It’ll be fine. They’ll be relieved.”
“God, I hope so.”
He strides down the hall, and I try to busy myself in cleaning the kitchen. After a quiet ten minutes, I hear laughter coming from the office, so I know the hard part must be over.
I’m about to check Izzy’s diaper when Brady calls my name. I pick her up, and when we peek into the office, he’s all smiles.
“My parents want to see the baby,” he says, motioning for me to come over. I walk over to hand her to him when he scoots a chair next to his.
Oh, God. I’m not even wearing makeup. Lovely.
I push up my glasses and sit in front of the screen.
“Izzy is getting so big!” his mom squeals when she sees the baby. His mother is a beautiful woman with light brown hair and big blue eyes. She looks so much like Cal, it’s almost painful. “Hi, baby!” she coos.
Izzy claps and says, “Hi, hi, hi,” and grins as I bounce her on my lap.
Then his mom notices me, and her smile widens.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd.” I wave at them, hoping I don’t look as stupid as I feel right now. Maybe Brady could have given me a little warning that he wanted me to video conference with his parents.
“Well, aren’t you the prettiest thing! And please call me Rebecca,” his mom says. She nudges her husband. “Jonathan, isn’t Katherine beautiful?”
Her husband’s dark green eyes are intense like Brady’s as he stares through the screen, but then they crinkle in the corners when he offers me a warm smile. “You’re the poor girl who has to put up with my son? I hope he hasn’t been too much of a handful. He can get a little pissy sometimes.”
I laugh and turn to Brady, who’s frowning. “Really, Dad?”
The baby crawls out of my lap into his, and he gives her a sweet kiss and turns her to face the computer.
Nodding, I motion toward him. “He can be a little prickly sometimes, but I find that feeding him helps.”
Brady rolls his eyes, and I nudge him. He doesn’t say anything. Instead, he reaches down and grips my thigh, and I laugh and try to get him to stop. It’s not fair for him to tickle me in front of his parents.
They obviously can’t see anything but me writhing around like a crazy person while Brady sits there pretending to be innocent.
I grab his arm and in my firmest voice say, “If you don’t stop, I’m not making you dinner.”
He immediately pulls his hand away and shakes his head, the whole time keeping a straight face. “We can’t have that.”
When I turn back to his parents, they’re watching us with rapt attention. I cough, feeling uncomfortable.
His mom offers me a warm smile. “We’re so grateful you’ve been there to help. Brady says he wouldn’t know what to do without you.”
My face heats, and I laugh nervously. “I’m sure he’d manage.”
“Well, we’re relieved, especially now since he gets the honor of adopting this sweet little darling. Hopefully, she’ll raise hell just like he did as a child, so he can get a taste of his own medicine.”