My Best Friend's Brother (21 page)

“I do,” I said. “
Please?
”

“Why doesn’t Lilly pick you up?”

“Because her boyfriend’s the one picking
her
up…” Well, that
could
be true!

He raised his eyebrows and opened his new issue of
Writer’s Digest
. “She’s got a boyfriend?”

“Dad, she’s almost eighteen, of course she’s got a boyfriend!”

“And why can’t Luke come pick you up?”

“Well, he’s with Lilly.”

Dad looked perplexed. “Wait! He’s
your
boyfriend, why is he with Lilly?”

“Because they’re twins, Dad!”

“
Twins!
With your best friend? That could get very awkward when you’re older!”

I rolled my eyes. I wanted to say, “It’s
awkward now
,” but that would get me grounded for life, and my sole purpose in life just then was to get the keys.

“Well!” Dad said thoughtfully, “That explains why he had me drop him off at the corner of Sunny Dale Road that night I drove him home!” He shook his head. “I didn’t even suspect.”

It would have been
so
helpful if he gave me this information sooner!

“Dad?” I begged.
“Please?”

He sighed and dug into his briefcase. “By the way, you got a letter from one of those Canadian schools.”

I cut him off in a hurry. “I’ll read it later,” I barked, holding my hands out, giddy for the keys.

He threw them to me. “If it gets icy out there, you pull over wherever you are and you call me, do you understand? Mom or I will come and get you.”

I nodded and put on my boots, my coat, my hat and gloves. “Dad, can I sleep over at Lilly’s?”

“
What
? Luke’s her twin! He lives there!”

“Their
parents
will be there, Dad, you can call and check anytime.
Pretty please?
”

I secretly hoped Luke’s mom didn’t have anything she wanted to discuss with my dad.

Dad sighed and looked through his magazine. Lilly‘s always the one sleeping over; I wanted to sleep over at
hers
for once.

“It’s about ten below. Dress warmly,” Dad warned as if I never asked.

I waited, biting my lip. “So, can I?”

“Can you what?”

I gave him a look.

He scratched the back of his head. “I’m calling her house throughout the night, and her mother
better be there
, understand? If she’s not, I am coming to pick you up, and I guarantee you, I won’t be happy doing it.
Don’t
let me find out there won’t be any parental supervision.” He looked stern. “Does Mom know the number?”

I nodded.

“Okay then, see you before noon tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Dad!” Like a flash I ran out, unplugged the car, jumped in, started it, and backed out of the garage. I didn’t bother closing the garage door. Surely someone else would if they had a problem with it.

The first stop was at the mall for costumes. I saw the ones I wanted the last time I went. Luckily they were still in stock. But this time the store was packed, and the line was long. I picked the sizes I thought we needed and spent the final hundred dollars left over from my summer job.

At 5:52 I turned into the Grizzly Mountain ski resort. My skis were rented by 5:58, and I headed for the expert trail.

In a way I felt silly, meeting him in a place and time he wrote about in a story. I hoped so bad he’d be there.

At the top it was windier than usual. The sun was sinking behind the silhouette of the Alaska Range. The sky was clear—cloudless—with an explosion of color, mostly dark and pale purple, pink, and orange on the horizon. Overhead, the sky was filled with stars that shined brighter by the minute.

Pulling the scarf from my face, I looked around. I squinted and wiped frost off my face. The wind howled. It was so cold I shivered, even under all those clothes.

I skied slowly toward the warning sign I dreaded so much less than a month ago. Someone stood by it. Someone who didn’t wear goggles. It was Luke, with his eyes narrowed from the smile his scarf covered. He pulled it away from his face and waved a pole at me.

“Hi, Amanda!”

I giggled. “Hi, Lyle!”

We met halfway and pulled each other’s hats off. Our hair danced wildly in the wind. He pulled me close and kissed me. It was warm enough to thaw my frozen… everything. My fingers laced in his hair, and his in mine.

I
so
didn’t want him to let me go. It felt like I’d been waiting for this forever. I thought I’d lost him, and it would never happen again. And now it did. And I didn’t want it to end. Ever.

When we parted, he put my hat back on, kissed my forehead, and said, “I like my story better than yours.”

I laughed and hugged him. “I do, too.”

“I’ve missed you,” he breathed in my ear, making my spine tingle. He kissed me again. That breath-stealing kiss that made time stand still, and my heart flutter. We pulled apart just in time to see the sun dip below the horizon.

“That’s almost as beautiful as you are,” he breathed.

My cheeks felt warm, even through the frost. I kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Lyle.”

He laughed and squeezed my hand. “Well, I’m freezing my ass off! Wanna go to that dance with me?”

“I don’t think I have a choice,” I said. “Your sister’s been bugging me all afternoon!”

“Oh, yeah?” he said in surprise.

“Yeah!”

He moved some stray hairs out of my eyes. “What else has she been bugging you about?”

I touched his frigid cheek. “Calling you.”

“Wow. So she
does
listen to me!”

“Why, did you bug her to bug me?”

He shrugged with a smirk. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Well, she also bugged me about sleeping over at your house tonight.”

“And?”
he asked with a wolfish grin.

I wrapped my arms around him. “And I just might.”

He pecked my cheek and trailed his mouth to my ear. “You’re getting me all excited.”

I blushed and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Do you have a costume for tonight?”

He gasped and slapped his forehead. “No! I thought I’d go as a handsome stud!” He winked.

“Well, I’ve got something better!”

“No way! What am I going as?”

“You’ll see,” I said, pulling him toward the beginning of the trail.

“If this trail doesn’t kill me, the suspense will!”

“Don’t worry,” I laughed, “it’s perfect for you!” I picked up speed. I pulled my scarf over my nose and narrowed my eyes.

“Watch for moose!”

“Ha-ha!” Then I tried to push him over, but he saw it coming and ducked. And he beat me the whole way down.

~ ~ ~

In Luke’s foyer, I handed him his bag. “You never told me what it is.” He smiled nervously.

“You’ll like it. It suits you.”

“It’s not Peter Pan in tights, is it?”

I laughed and headed for the half bath. Inside, I dropped my clothes and pulled out the glittery white Toga with the gold ribbon shoulder straps and belt, the gold sandals and the golden wreath. The sandals would have to wait for school, and I’d just have to freeze with nothing but a coat over the toga.

It fit like a dream! My reflection in the door mirror made me giggle. I looked awesome!

After putting my hair up in a neat bun and crowning myself, I went into the living room, where his mom waited to see us off. She clapped her hands when she saw me. “Adonia! You look beautiful, honey! I’m so glad you two are together,” she said. “You’re
so
good together!”

“Really?” I sat on the couch. It meant so much to hear her say that.

She nodded. “Really! Now he can stop moping and be useful for a change!”

I giggled. “Mrs. Jacobson? How come you never mentioned him?”

She looked remorseful. “Some things are too hard to talk about, dear. And he didn’t stay put long enough for me to talk to him much, anyway.”

I laughed. “Well, he turned out wonderful!”

She embraced me. “He’s wonderful for
you
, too.”

I squeezed her tight. “I know.”

She squeezed me tighter. “I love you, honey.”

I burst into tears, this time of joy. “Thank you, Mrs. Jacobson.”

She kissed the top of my head. “You know I’m always here for you. And there’s no need to thank me.”

I wiped my eyes. Steps descended the stairs. Seconds later he stood in the doorway, wearing his white toga with the single gold ribbon for a shoulder strap. Gold sandals clad his feet (they fit!), his hair was perfect and his face was beet red.

He kept trying to hide his face with his hand, but finally he put his hands to his sides and asked, with a shy grin, “Um, why are we dressed like the Romans?”

His mom laughed. “You’re a very handsome Roman, Lukasz.”

He rolled his eyes and tore off the tag hanging from his toga. “Greek God,” he read, and frowned. “Did
Lilly
put you up to this?”

I could barely contain myself. “No, not at all!” If he only knew! I sank back into their leather couch and gripped my heart dramatically. I couldn’t get over how hot he looked!

His face flushed and his head fell into his hands, humiliated. “I’m supposed to wear this in public?” But he was hot as hell with those bulging arms!

I had no doubts that he was a Greek god all along!

“Everyone’s wearing a costume, don’t worry! Besides, we match!”

Luke took a few steps toward me and took my hand. “All right. Ready to go, Aphrodite?”

I squeezed his hand and we headed for the foyer.

Once my boots were on, we threw on our coats, I held my sandals, and we stepped out into the cold.

He freaked as powdery snow flooded his sandals. “On the other hand, maybe this was not the best idea! That’s what I get for being lazy! Holy shit!” He bounced about, trying to keep his feet from sinking into the snow.

“Have fun you two!” Mrs. Jacobson shouted, waving from the front door.

Burke’s Volkswagen pulled into the driveway just as we made our way to the Jeep.

“Lukasz,” he said a moment later, patting him on the back. We’d actually stopped to say hi to him. “Why
are you wearing a dress?”

“Don’t ask!” Luke laughed.

Burke chuckled. “You’ll come back home tonight, yes?”

“Yeah, I live here!”

Burke nodded. “Yes, thank God!”

“You’re welcome!” Luke yelled.

Burke looked at me. “You look nice in your dress too, young lady!”

I grinned. I absolutely
love
this family! “Thanks, Burke. You look well too!”

He nodded and met his wife at the door. “Thank you!” he shouted back.

Luke opened my door and winked at me. “Better hurry, or we’ll be late for the ball! Not just that, but my toes may fall off!”

~ ~ ~

We got to school at eight. The place was packed with students, teachers, and—ugh!—guidance counselors.

The music was loud, coming from a stage by the far wall of the gymnasium. A 63-inch television was mounted on the wall above the stage, playing music videos, mostly from scary movie soundtracks. The lights were dim, the fruit punch was plentiful, and the dance floor was packed.

We made our way past Bigfoot, Count Dracula, the Cookie Monster, Snow White, Peter Pan, Wendy, zombies, devils, angels, and a few vampires. Frankenstein and his bride were easy to spot, flirting in a corner, stealing kisses. Anna was even with them—a witch—drinking punch and at least
trying
to dance. She looked over my costume and gave me a thumbs-up, munching on a caramel apple.

“Lukasz! Adonia!” Lilly waved our way, on an ultimate sugar rush. Her eyes twinkled and her face was flushed. “What are you two
wearing
!”

We made our way over. “He’s a Greek god, didn’t you know?” I checked him out again. “And I’m his goddess!”

“Aw, how sweet!” Gino teased, giving Luke a high five. “Nice dress, Zeus!”

Luke shook his head and shoved him lightly. “It’s a toga! Don’t make me hit you with a lightning bolt!”

Gino laughed obnoxiously. “Hey, there’s a mountain of candy over there if you guys want some!” He turned to Lilly. “You want more?!”

“I don’t think I could handle more! But if you feel the need, go get me some, cutie!”

Luke wrapped his arms around my neck, pulled me close and kissed me. Wildly.

When we were done, Lilly looked disgusted. “God!”

“What?” we asked jointly.

She shook her head. “That was
so
gross!”

We laughed. When Gino came back with candy for her, she had no problem kissing
him
that way.

“Lilly, that was
so
gross!” Luke mocked.

Lilly rolled her eyes and sipped more punch.

Luke gripped my waist. “You’ve got great taste in friends, Lil!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know!” She pointed into the crowd. “Look, Jenna came as Little Bo Peep!” She laughed.

Anna tapped my arm. “They’re gonna do the
Lambada
soon. Mr. Michaels’ idea,” she said, chewing on a Snickers bar, “you guys wanna join?”

I made a face. “How do you do the
Lambada
?”

Anna shrugged. “Mr. Michaels is there teaching people.” She pointed with her candy bar. “Wanna watch?”

“Sure,” Luke answered for me, pulling me along. “After we get some punch and candy!” We walked past Tom’s corpse on the dance floor, dancing dirty with Little Bo Peep. “She dates corpses now?” Luke laughed.

I shook my head, somehow feeling sorry for her. I felt sorry for anyone who got with
Tom
.

By the time we made it to the other side of the gymnasium, the
Thriller
video came on. Everyone turned toward the TV and started dancing like zombies. Mr. Michaels stood in the corner, a chicken in suspenders. He looked bummed, as all his students seemed to have lost interest in the
Lambada
.

“That reminds me!” I hollered, gripping Luke’s arm. “Can you help me study for a retake in math?”

His eyebrows met. “What! A goddess like you has to take a
retake
? How can that be?”

“Well, I was so miserable and hungry and missing
you
that I failed my midterm!”

He grinned and shook his head. “You’re such a drama queen!”

“So what do you say?”

He sipped some punch and wrapped an arm around me. “I say I love you! So. Freaking. Much.”