ME: I’m serious. You guys need a break and nobody else is going to give you one. I’m self-employed and work on my own schedule. Just give me notice so it gives me a chance to look over everything and you to make sure you aren’t working.
KAI: Are you serious?
ME: Yes, I’m serious. You guys clearly need to talk. Seb will understand and if not, I’ll sic Holley on him.
KAI: That’s a threat right there.
ME: I’ll find you a place to stay and book it for you. Send me your card details and I swear I won’t use it to call Chinese sex chat lines.
KAI: You’re the best.
ME: You’re buying me dinner that night.
KAI: I’ll prebook your pizza.
ME: Thank you. I appreciate that.
KAI: Not half as much as I appreciate you, Tori. Look after my girl tonight.
I smiled at my phone.
ME: Been doing that for years. You look after mine.
He responded with a picture of him lying in bed next to a sleeping Tegan. She was glad in a fleecy onesie with one arm sticking up like Superman while she sucked on her little pink pacifier.
KAI: Will you let Ivy know she’s okay? I don’t want her to worry but I don’t want to bug her. Jasmine is coming over in the morning if Tegan isn’t feeling better.
ME: I don’t think you can bug her.
KAI: You’ve ever experienced the whole toilet seat conversation in our house.
I grinned.
ME: I got it, don’t worry. Send at least twenty more photos between now and the morning so she won’t wake me up at two a.m.
KAI: You got it.
CHAPTER FOUR – COLTON
rule four: online dating isn’t for everyone.
or anyone. fucking nobody.
“This is bullshit.”
My sister hit me with a withering look. “Colt. You’re over Amber. What does a little dabbling in online dating hurt?”
“Well, given that your own escapades ended up with you sleeping with and then basically living with my best friend, quite a lot.”
“All right, point made, asshole.” Kinsley turned the laptop toward me. “Just try it.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Colton.”
“Don’t Colton me. I’m older than you.”
“Yes, and I was expecting a niece or nephew by now, so the least you can do is check out an online dating website.”
“I don’t believe that’s a part of the brother-sister contract,” I said dryly.
“It should be,” she muttered. “You’re thirty. Come on.”
“What does being thirty have anything to do with it? I had a long-term relationship. We were together for almost ten years. It’s not my fault that in the end it didn’t work out.”
Regret flashed in her eyes. “I know. I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy, Kinsley.” I took the laptop from her and set it on the coffee table. “I promise you.”
“You would say that even if it weren’t true.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I admit that if I wanted dating help you’d be the last person I’d ask—”
“I resent that wholeheartedly.”
“—But I wouldn’t lie to you.” If you ignore that I’m sleeping with Tori. “I am absolutely fine the way I am, and I’m not ready to date. Not seriously. So give me a break, yeah?”
She stared at me for a moment. “Does that mean you’re dating casually?”
Was a half-truth still a lie?
“Somewhat,” I replied vaguely. “I’ve had a few dates. Nothing serious, just some fun.”
“You sound like a twenty-one-year-old. You shouldn’t be having fun now.”
I got up and walked into the kitchen, shaking my head. “I’m thirty, Kinsley. I’m hardly on my deathbed. If I go into a date with someone and she knows I’m not looking for anything serious right now and we’re both on board with that, there’s no issue.”
She sighed. “So you’re sleeping around.”
Around my house, yeah.
“Listen to me.” I stopped in the doorway and looked at her, gripping the sides of the frames. “I know you mean well. I know you’re only trying to look out for me the way you think is best, but I’m okay. I’m just fine. If I tell you that, you need to trust that I’m telling you the truth.”
She peered over at me, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Aren’t you lonely?”
“With Grandpa asking me for tips on how to woo the new resident at the senior home and living in a fishbowl of gossip?”
“Colton.”
“No. I’m not,” I said honestly. “I enjoy my own company and occasionally that of other people. Besides, it’s hard to be lonely when you keep coming over here with women you think I should date.”
Kinsley pursed her lips. “You want me to back off. It’s fine. I understand.” She grabbed her purse from the floor and her book from the table and got up. “I’ll leave you to your own company.”
I laughed and didn’t move. I was blocking the only exit from the living room.
She cleared her throat. “Excuse me.”
“Pull your bookmark out of your ass, sis,” I said, looking down at her with my lips curled. “I am not telling you to back off. Just… ease it up a little.”
She pouted.
“I’m okay,” I insisted. “And I need you to believe that, okay?”
“I just… Everyone is pairing off and you’re single.”
“I’ve been in a relationship for most of the time all you guys have been single,” I reminded her. “I think I can survive a few months being alone. If I need your help, I promise I’ll ask.”
She paused. “I’m being an annoying little sister, aren’t I?”
“I cannot tell you how annoying without hurting your feelings.”
“Ugh.” She hugged me. “Fine. Okay. I’m sorry.”
I returned the gesture. “Don’t be sorry for caring. Just go care about someone else for a little while.” I laughed and released her. “And no, I’m not bringing your pizza up to Josh’s.”
“Oh, please.”
“Nope. I’ll tell the pizza guy to take it up there, but if he doesn’t, you’ve gotta come get it.”
“Fine.” With a long-suffering sigh, she finally left me to it.
When I heard the sound of the front door locking into place, I thanked whoever made doors that couldn’t be opened from the outside unless you had a key.
My sister did not have a key.
There was a very good reason for that.
I leaned against the door. If she was going to push the idea of me dating, I was going to have to come up with a better excuse. While I didn’t give a damn if everyone knew Tori and I were sleeping together, I knew she didn’t want anyone to know.