“Yes, and even better reality.”
She slaps her book closed and sits up. Her hair is in a messy ponytail, some of the loose blonde strands fluffing around her head. “Do tell.”
“Jasper and I hung out again last night,” I tell her, biting my lip to try to damper my blinding smile.
“What?” she gasps, her jaw dropping.
She swings her legs over the couch and hops up, running into the kitchen.
I nod excitedly. “He took me to eat at this diner. I’d never even noticed it before. It was delicious.”
“You’re like … glowing.”
I fix myself a bowl of Fruity Pebbles cereal—the breakfast of champions.
I lean a hip against the counter and my spoon clangs against the glass bowl when I dip it in.
“I like hanging out with him.”
She grins and sits on one of the stools. “I think you more than like him.”
“Maybe … but I’m just getting to know him. I don’t want to rush anything just because this is new and exciting. I have to keep my head.”
She snorts. “For a guy that hot, he can have whatever he wants, my head, my hand, my underwear. Just take it.”
“Harlow!” I screech and flick my spoon at her.
She dodges the flying milk and cereal. Perry skids on the floor, excited to lap it up.
She shrugs. “What? He’s seriously go
od looking. Like an Abercrombie model.”
“He’s not that … Okay, he kind of is, but in a real way, not a stone cold let me smolder at you way.”
She snorts. “I low you.”
I shrug. “What can I say? I’m very lowable,” I joke. “Anyway” —I take a bite of cereal— “he’s teaching me to surf today. You wanna go?”
She crinkles her nose. “And be your third wheel? I don’t think so.” She shakes her head. “Besides, I have to finish this book today and start my summer essay. Remind me again why I decided to take all honors classes?”
I laugh. “Because you’re a smarty pants.”
She groans. “Yeah, well apparently not smart enough to realize this was a very bad decision.”
“You’ve done it the last two years too,” I remind her, pointing my spoon in her direction.
“It just keeps getting harder and harder,” she complains.
I shrug. “It’ll be worth it.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She sighs. “Still, I’d rather be learning to surf with my hotty pants potential boyfriend.”
I snort. “We’re nowhere near that point, and might never get there, besides if you want a hotty pants boyfriend I’m sure Spencer would jump at the chance.”
She blushes and mumbles something before hurrying from the kitchen back to the family room and her waiting book.
I could tease her about it, we’re sisters after all, but we’ve always had a little bit more respect for each other than that. Maybe it’s because I got sick, or maybe it’s just how we are, but if she likes him I can’t mock her feelings. That’d be wrong of me.