ell. “We have company.”
When she sees Isabelle standing next to the bed, she clutches the sheet to her chest. “Izzie! What are you doing? I’m naked! And Zack is naked!”
“I noticed,” Isabelle drawls. “I knocked but no one answered.”
“That doesn’t mean come in!” Josie points out.
Izzie makes a face. “I wouldn’t have but you’ve got company downstairs. Very insistent company.”
“Why would anyone be here now?” Jo glances at the clock on her dresser. “It’s not even ten o’clock in the morning.”
“You’re the early riser,” Isabelle points out. “Gabe knows you rarely sleep in. I’ll go tell him you’re coming down.”
“Gabe’s here?” We ask in unison but Isabelle is already walking away.
Josie’s eyes meet mine. “What are we going to do?”
“Get dressed.” I throw back the sheet and put on the clothes I wore last night.
Josie pulls on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. She winds her hair around her hand into a bun. “I feel like this looks kind of bad even though I shouldn’t feel that way at all.”
I don’t say anything. I have a feeling it’s about to be really bad but I’m hoping that I can get Gabe to neutral territory before he goes nuclear. His issue is with me not with Josie. Not really, anyway.
She opens her bedroom door and then jumps back. Gabe and Sasha are in the hallway.
“There you are! Since when do you sleep in?” I hear Gabe say before pulling Josie into a hug. “And what’s up with Izzie? She was being really weird.”
Then he notices me standing behind her.
“Zack, what are you–“
His eyes slide over to Josie, taking in the wild hair and the slight stubble burn on her neck. I know he doesn’t miss a single detail. Sasha holds out her arms to me for a hug. I accept it gratefully.
“We came by to tell you guys some great news. We’re engaged!” She holds out her left hand to display a massive diamond ring.
Josie hugs her and they do the squealing thing women do when they’re excited.
Gabe is still watching me. The only thing moving on him is the muscle in his jaw. “So, how long has this been going on?”
Josie and Sasha get quiet.
Sasha finally laughs. “Gabe, it’s none of our business. But since we’re talking about it, I’m glad my matchmaking worked last night.”
Gabe looks at her. “You knew about this?”
Sasha glances between us, uncertainly. “Um, yeah. I think anyone with eyes knew about this.”
I can tell that Gabe is about two seconds from losing his shit.
I kiss Josie on the forehead. “I need to talk to my brother. You were going to make pancakes, right?”
Gabe watches the interaction, glowering. I can practically feel the fire on the back of my neck.
She looks back and forth between the two of us nervously. I can tell she doesn’t want to leave but finally, she nods her head.
“Okay. I’ll go make breakfast. Sasha, do you mind?”
The girls leave, pulling the door closed behind them. When I turn around Gabe is staring at the bed. The covers are a mess and my shoes are right next to the bed on my side.