Chapter 13
Kate
“Hello,mydarlingsister,” Lauren singsongs into the phone before I can even say hello when I answer her call. Someone sure is chipper today.
“What do you need?” I balance my phone on my shoulder while I continue wrapping the present in front of me. I can’t believe Christmas is already here.
She gasps dramatically. “What? Can’t I just be calling you to say hi?”
I know Lauren too well, and yes, she calls all the time just to chat, as do I. There have even been times when we FaceTime just to be near each other as we go about doing other things. We’re weird, we know. But today is different—I can hear it in her voice that she wants something. My twintuition radar is flashing, telling me to be on alert.
“Of course you can, but the question is, are you?” I’m met with her silence, and a victorious smile spreads across my lips.
A heavy sigh comes through the phone. “Fine,” she huffs. “So, Finn’s company is hosting its annual Christmas party on Friday.”
“Yeah, you’ve been talking about it since Thanksgiving.” A perk of working for myself is that I don’t have to deal with all that hoopla, but listening to her talk to our mom about details of the event, I can’t help but be a little jealous and wish I was attending.
“Right. So remember all those times growing up I covered for you, no questions asked.”
I knew that one day that would come back to bite me. I’m kicking my sixteen-year-old ass right now. Why do I have a feeling that I’m not going to like what she’s about to say, but also, because she’s Lauren, I’m not going to be able to say no? And worst of all, she knows that.
“Will you just spit it out already?” I snap. I’m pretty sure it will have come and gone by the time she says whatever she needs to say. I can’t decide if her reluctance to ask is a good thing or not.
“I need you to go.” She pauses. “As Jax’s date.” Her line goes silent, and I have to pull back the phone to make sure she didn’t hang up. She’s probably holding on with bated breath to hear my reaction.
I bark out a laugh, grateful that I didn’t have anything to drink in my mouth because I would have spit it right out. “I’m sorry. It sounded like you just said you want me to go on a date with Jaxon.”
After he helped me the day the twins were born, I thought we had made a truce, so to speak. But I must have just dreamed that because he’s all but avoided me since. Which I have to say is quite impressive, living directly across from each other and being tied together through Lauren and Finn. I don’t know why I’ve let it bother me, but Jaxon McAdams has wedged himself under my skin, and I’m just not sure how to handle that.
“I did. I mean, not a date date, just accompany him.”
“Then hire a hooker,” I snap. It was the first thing that popped into my head. Not necessarily the most logical idea, but sounds a lot better than me going on a date with him.
She must be out of her damn mind if she thinks this will do anything but blow up in her face.
“Kate, I’m serious,” she scolds.
“So am I,” I retort. I peel myself off the floor and head into the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine. Any more of this crazy talk and I’ll need something to take off the edge.
“How do I know this isn’t some ploy to get the two of us together? I already told you that was never going to happen, especially since he’s back to having that stick up his ass.” Did I, for a second, think after the hospital that it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, at least having him as a friend?Yeah, and I blinked, and it went away.
“No, I promise.” She pauses, and I’m tempted to switch the call to FaceTime so I can have a visual of her making that promise and not with her fingers crossed. Can’t say that I fully believe her words. “Look, it’s important to Finn for Jax to be there, but Christmases are tough for him. And I figured if we’re there as a group, then he won’t feel like a fifth wheel.”
“Again, my idea of hiring a hooker feels pretty fitting here. It could even be a two-for-one deal—a date for the party and his Christmas present.” A wave of jealousy passes through my veins at the thought of another woman on his arm. I swallow it down and chase it with a swig of red wine.
“Come on, sissy. You know how what that’s like.” For years, I’ve been the odd man out, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. At least he’s easy to look at. Now, if only he would keep his mouth shut. Besides, do I really want to sit at home wondering who he ended up taking?
I lean back against the counter and sigh. “That’s a low blow.” I push off the counter, and my body goes rigid. “And Jaxon just agreed to all this?” I swear I get whiplash from his mood swings. One minute he wants to pretend I don’t exist, and now he wants me to be his date? “Why do I find that hard to believe?” I scoff. If he was going to want somebody by his side that night, I highly doubt I would even be in the running.
“He, umm…” She fades, and I picture her looking around, avoiding eye contact, even though we aren’t physically together.
“Lauren Elizabeth Reynolds.” I do my best impression of the one and only Liz Lawson—able to strike fear into anyone with the use of their full name.
“He doesn’t know, okay?”
“What?” I screech, and I wonder if he heard the vibrations from my high pitch from across the street.
“Just hear me out, okay?” she pleads. “If you already agree to it, and we already have Denise agreed to watch Andy along with Liam, then he’s out of excuses to say no.”
I laugh awkwardly. This is unbelievable. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Please,” she whines, and without even seeing her face, I know she has puppy dog sad eyes and is pouting into the phone.
I’m just about to decline, not wanting the backlash this plan will cause, when Lauren adds, “There’s an open bar.”
Damnit. I’m no lush, but I would be certifiable to turn down a party with delicious food and free alcohol. It appears she’s used the same tactic with me she and Finn are using with Jaxon. An answer for every excuse. Well played, sister.
Lauren knows she won with my heavy sigh, and I can picture her smiling big into the phone and doing a happy dance.
“Fine, but your husband is buying my dress.”
“Deal,” she agrees a little too quickly. I wonder how her husband will feel about that.
“And for my hair appointment.”
“Whatever you want. Kelsey and I have spa appointments earlier that day, so you can join us.”
“Fine,” I huff. “For the record, I am only doing this for you. Don’t get any funny ideas and pull something like this again. He better be on his best behavior.”
“I’ll make sure of it. I can’t wait to tell Finn,” she squeals with excitement.
The corners of my mouth can’t help but tip upward as well. Less for the fact I’m being forced to be around him and more about the fun I’m going to have spending my brother-in-law’s money.
“Love you, sissy.”
I roll my eyes when I hear her smooching into the phone. “Yeah, yeah, love you, too. Come shopping tomorrow, and bring your hubby’s credit card.” I hang up before she can object. No going back now. It was part of our deal.
Looks like I’ve got a date with the devil at the end of the week. Then again, he hasn’t agreed yet, so there’s still time for hell to freeze over.