Stealing Home(31)

“It’s my sister,” he said.

And just when I thought I couldn’t feel any more ridiculous . . .

“Go ahead and take it,” I said.

“You sure? This is a date—our first date—and what kind of date am I if I answer my phone on it?”

“The kind of guy who’s a good big brother.” I pointed my spoon at the phone buzzing in his hand. “Take it.”

“Thanks,” he said quickly before answering it. “Morning, sunshine . . . wait, it’s three a.m. there—what are you doing up?” His smile dimmed instantly. “Hey, Alex, it’s okay. Just take a breath. What is it?”

Maybe I should have pretended to look out the window or pull my own phone out to check emails, but since he hadn’t stood and walked away to have some privacy, I figured he didn’t mind if I overheard him.

Whatever his sister was saying made his jaw set.

“I never liked that guy to begin with. I didn’t like the way he looked at you. I didn’t like the way he’d leave you waiting to pick you up. I didn’t like the way he treated you period.”

Luke must have been cut off because he looked like he was all set to keep going. Instead, he shifted on the bench, his hand gripping his phone tightly enough it looked capable of crushing it.

“He did what?” Luke’s palm pounded the table, making our cups rattle. He mouthed a quick sorry at me. “I want his number, Alex. Give me his number, because I’m going to call him and have a little chat about ways to treat a girl and ways not to treat a girl. And then I’m going to tell him what I’m going to do to him for hurting my little sister—”

I had to purse my lips to keep from smiling because it was clear just how pissed off Luke was, but watching this grown man about to pummel some kid for hurting his little sister was possibly the sweetest thing I’d ever witnessed.

“Fine, fine. You’re right, I’ll relax. This way I can come up with a plan that will inflict maximum pain for minimum jail time.” Whatever his sister fired back made Luke chuckle. “Yeah, well, it’s like what I told you all. No one messes with my sisters, and if they do, they better make their peace with god.”

Luke took a drink of his coffee while his sister talked. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but she was saying a lot.

“What can I do? Name it. Anything.” He was quiet for a moment, but it sounded like she was too. His fingers snapped. “I know. How about if all of you girls fly out to my game next weekend in San Diego? We’ll hit the beach, down as much ice cream as we can eat, and I’ll take you all shopping.”

There wasn’t silence on the other end anymore. There was squealing. From what sounded like multiple voices. Luke had to pull the phone back from his ear a ways.

“Let Anne know about the plan, and I’ll work out the details with her.” He paused until the shrieking had dialed down a few notches. “And don’t forget, kiddo, no guy is worth giving up your dreams. If you learn nothing else from me, remember that. Don’t let anyone take your dreams from you.” His eyes met mine—there was something purposeful in them. “What am I doing? I’m on a date.” Luke shrugged. “Yes, at five o’clock in the morning. Is there some dating rulebook I’m not aware of?”

Whatever his sister said made him roll his eyes. “No, not with anyone you know.”

Pause.

“Yes, with someone I like. Someone who’s sitting right across the table from me, hearing every word of this phone call.”

Another pause.

“Because you called. When have I ever not answered when one of you have called?” It sounded like he was getting an earful for a minute, then he sighed. “Yes, I promise to try not to mess this up—” He must have been interrupted. “Alexis . . .” His jaw set. “Thank you for the sisterly advice. Now if you don’t have any other boys who need a beating . . .”

I didn’t miss what she said. Not at present. I love you.

“I love you too. Tell your sisters I love them and I’ll check in with them after school.” Ending the call, he slid the silencer on before stuffing his phone back in his pocket. “Sorry about that. Great way to kick off a first date, right?”

“I didn’t mind a bit. Boy problems?”

Luke exhaled. “Always. It’s kind of the norm when I have three little sisters in their teens.”

I wrapped my hands around my coffee cup, debating my next question. Just because I didn’t know all things Luke Archer didn’t mean I hadn’t heard some things. “You’re their guardian now?”

If he felt conflicted about what my question was alluding to, he didn’t express it. “Guardian, mother, father, big brother, pretty much all of it.” He stared into his coffee cup, contemplation creeping into his expression. “Anne has been our saving grace though. She’s an old friend of the family, but now she’s kind of like a live-in nanny. However, if I call her that in front of the girls, they give me ‘the look.’”

“The look?”

“You know, The Look.” He waited for me to process that. “The one the female species has created to turn specimens of the male species into piles of ash. The Look.”

“Oh yes, that one,” I said, playing along.