P.S. I Like You(16)

“Lily plays the guitar,” Isabel said.

“I try.” Was it too late not to let them in my house? “Do you guys want something to drink?”

“Sure,” Gabriel said.

“Isabel, help me in the kitchen.”

She followed me in and when I was sure the guys couldn’t hear, I whispered, “Why would you do this to me?”

Isabel sighed. “I thought that if you didn’t know you were going on a date tonight, you wouldn’t have time to stress. That you wouldn’t practice lines in your mind and imagine outcomes.”

“You thought my awkwardness was from preconceived plans to be awkward?”

“Yes, actually.”

I laughed. “Well, now you know the truth.”

She laughed too. “I guess I do. But come on. Isn’t David adorable? And it’s not like he’s super smooth. You guys fit well.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Give him a chance?”

I grabbed some cups down from the cupboard and scooped ice from the freezer into them. “Why not?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you. I really, really thought it would be better this way.”

I knew her intentions were in the right place. “It’s fine. Here, take these two drinks. Let me check on my brothers. I’ll be there in a minute.”

I opened the door to the TV room. Wyatt and Jonah were sitting on the couch, the rabbit between them. “Hey, I told you to put the rabbit away,” I said. “He’s going to pee and Mom won’t be happy.”

“He’s watching this show. It’s his favorite. When it’s over,” Wyatt said.

I smiled. “You two are strange.” And I loved it. “As soon as it’s over. Not one second later.”

“Okay,” they both sang out.

I went back to the kitchen and filled the remaining two cups with water. Okay, self, you can hold a normal conversation with a group of people without looking stupid. There. That was a good pep talk.

Back in the living room, Isabel had retrieved my guitar from my room and was strumming made-up chords.

“Oh, Lily, come here. Sit down,” she said. “I was just telling the guys you would play for them.”

I froze in the doorway, cups in hands. Not only because I wanted to rush in and take my baby from her and tuck it back in its protective case … I did let Isabel touch my guitar; I trusted her … but I did not want to play. At all. It was hard enough talking to new people, but playing, that was a different level. I taught myself the guitar so I could write songs, songs other people would play. I was not a performer.

Isabel met my eyes and I could tell she instantly knew my thoughts. “Never mind. I’ll keep playing,” she quickly said.

“Oh come on. Isabel’s been bragging about you for months now, Lily,” Gabriel said. “Let’s hear it.”

“I … ” The cups in my hands were slipping. I put them on an end table and wiped my hands on my jeans.

“You don’t have to,” David said, and I gave him a thankful smile.

Isabel stood. “I’ll go put it away.”

“I got it.” I reached out and took my guitar from her. After securing it in its case and stashing it under my bed, I joined the others again.

Isabel was sitting on the floor now, looking repentant. I gave her a smile so she knew I wasn’t mad, and sat down next to her.

“Sorry,” she said under her breath.

“It’s okay.”

Isabel dug her hands into the bin of Legos next to her. “We should have a ship-building competition.”

“Yes,” Gabriel said. “I am the King of Legos.”

“Is that a self-proclaimed title or one that was appointed?” I asked.

Isabel laughed.

Gabriel acted offended. “Appointed, of course.” He joined us on the floor and scooped out a handful of Legos. “By my father.”

As I was about to respond that fathers are not fair judges, Wyatt ran into the room, holding something up. Jonah came in after him, crying, blood dripping down his chin.

Oh no.

“I got it out!” Wyatt announced. It took me a second to see he was holding a tooth and another second to realize it was Jonah’s.

Jonah shoved him in the back. “I wanted to get it out.”

I jumped up and slung my arm around Jonah’s shoulder. “Whoa, vampire, you need to rinse out your mouth after feeding.”

He laughed through his cry, but no one else was laughing. They looked horrified.

“He had a loose tooth,” I quickly clarified. “Wyatt, next time leave his teeth alone.”

“He was being a chicken. Mom said if he didn’t get it out, he was going to swallow it in his sleep.”

Just then the rabbit came hopping into the room. It went directly to David and proceeded to pee all over his socked foot. I wasn’t sure if it was out of reflex or disgust, but David’s foot flung forward, kicking the rabbit a good three or four feet across the room.

Jonah gasped. “You hurt him, meanie!” he cried. More blood oozed out of his mouth and dribbled down his chin with the exclamation.

I might have felt the need to apologize for my brother, but I kind of agreed with him. Who kicked a rabbit?

“Wyatt, take care of the rabbit,” I said, then directed Jonah into the bathroom down the hall to help him clean up his face.