“Is that who that was outside before?” The blonde nudges the brunette. “Their brother?”
So they were watching the house earlier, too.
“Yup. Their older brother. He’s not from around here.” So don’t get any ideas, honey.
Back off.
Her face falls. “Oh.” She’s thinking of her next question. “Are they all related?”
“Yes, there are four brothers—three of them live here.” Why am I telling them this?
A guilty pit forms in my stomach when they begin nudging each other as if my sight were impaired and I couldn’t see them elbowing one another in the rib cage twenty feet in front of me.
Silly girls…
“Well, we live over there and just wanted to say hi.”
I smile pleasantly. “That was nice of you.”
My expertise is with kindergarteners, not horny collegians on the prowl for fresh meat.
I’m not sure how much information to supply; Duke is private, but I have no idea how his brothers feel about it.
“Do you know what year the guys are?”
I nod. “Two freshmen and one sophomore.”
“Two freshmen?” The blonde laughs. “Did one flunk a grade?”
Oh Lord. “No, they’re twins.”
I swear to God, their eyes light up like the Fourth of July, the word TWINS setting off an elbowing frenzy giggle fit if I’ve ever seen one.
“Twins?” The blonde—no lie—licks her lips like a lion already sizing up its prey. Twins must be a magic word these days.
“Do they play sports?”
Lord, would they stop pimping me for information? It’s giving me anxiety.
“Um.” I stall, not wanting to give away the farm, worried I’ll get in trouble if the girls come back later and tell Dallas, Drew, and Drake I spilled all the beans. Can’t they go home so my blood pressure can return to its normal state?
Behind me, I hear the screen door creak open.
“Posey.”
I turn.
Saved in the nick of time, Duke is standing on the porch, holding the door open, shielding the sun with the back of his hand.
“Yeah?”
Duke's face is expressionless as he watches the two girls before speaking, judging them. For a few moments, he does nothing but stare the lot of them down, and I wonder what’s going through his head. Does he think they’re hot? Is he interested in one of them? Or is he irritated they’re lingering?
Three of his big fingers tap the doorjamb.
“None of us can figure out how to get that fitted sheet thing on Drake’s bed.”
They need help figuring out how to make the bed?