jumping.”
Charlie scoffed. “Like that would ever happen! He doesn’t know you too well yet, Syd. How amazing since you’ve known him for so long...”
“Stop giving me a hard time! You and Zoe were exclusive from the first night you met. Everything went pretty fast and YOU were still in college.”
He laughed. “You got me there. Please take it easy, OK? There’s no need to rush into anything.”
“Charlie, we’re just dating. It’s not like I’ve agreed to marry him. You need to relax!”
“That’s pretty funny coming from you.” He was right; the irony was ridiculous. “But seriously, you’re my little sister. It’s my job to protect you and it’s hard to do from three thousand miles away.”
“Don’t worry; Kate considers herself to be your right hand ‘woman’. She’s close enough to help you get the job done.” I smiled. “I appreciate your concern. I love you, Charlie.”
“I love you too, Sydie.” I hated the nickname, but put up with it since Charlie gave it to me the day I was born.
I glanced at the clock and remembered I still had to finalize my outfit for the airport pickup. This might take a while. “I have to run, my brother. Say hi to Zoe for me!”
“Will do. Say hi to Louis for me. Tell him I’ll break his legs if he hurts you.”
I laughed. “Nice. Um...while I’m sure Louis would absolutely show you the proper respect as my big brother...did anyone tell you Louis was a five time national champion in Thai boxing?” Charlie was very smart and certainly strong, but no one in our family had any kind of athletic ability. It was a large deficiency we were all painfully aware of.
“Seriously? He was a paratrooper AND a national martial arts champion?”
“Oh...and a bodyguard.”
Charlie pretended to choke. “Where did this guy come from?”
“I have no idea.” I laughed. “Try to imagine me keeping up with all that.”
“It does paint a funny picture.” He paused. “But if anyone can do it, you can. And you just remember how lucky he is to have you.”
I blushed. “Thanks, Charlie. I wish we lived closer. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” He cleared his throat. “Now, I know you have to go prepare yourself for Louis’ impending arrival, but there’s one thing that we need to discuss.”
Uh oh. I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of this. “What is it?”
“When are you going to introduce him to Kate? I need someone on the inside to further evaluate him.”
“Charlie, I’ve only known the man for three weeks and he’s been out of the country for two of them. I don’t want to freak him out by introducing him to my family already.”
“You know, I could just call Kate directly. I’m sure she would be able to orchestrate an ‘accidental’ meeting’.”
I gasped. “You wouldn’t!”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “Oh, but I would. I’ll give you one more week to set this up. If not, I’ll have Kate work her magic.”
“Charlie!” I whined. Why did I become a five-year-old in his presence? “I’m not ready to prep him for that level of interrogation. Do you know how hard I’m trying to make myself appear normal? This really wouldn’t help matters...”
He chuckled. “It’s so easy to get a rise out of you. Though I miss seeing your face when I reduce you to whining.”
“You suck.”
“I know. It’s my prerogative as your big brother.” Suddenly there was noise in the background. I could vaguely hear Zoe’s voice and some scuffling.
“Syd?” Apparently Zoe had wrestled the phone out of Charlie’s hand. “Don’t listen to your brother. Relax and enjoy yourself. He’s only giving you crap because he misses you so much.”
“Thanks, Zoe. I miss you guys too.”
“We wish you lived closer.”
“I was just telling Charlie the same thing.” I sighed. It’s just so beautiful out here. You
Charlie scoffed. “Like that would ever happen! He doesn’t know you too well yet, Syd. How amazing since you’ve known him for so long...”
“Stop giving me a hard time! You and Zoe were exclusive from the first night you met. Everything went pretty fast and YOU were still in college.”
He laughed. “You got me there. Please take it easy, OK? There’s no need to rush into anything.”
“Charlie, we’re just dating. It’s not like I’ve agreed to marry him. You need to relax!”
“That’s pretty funny coming from you.” He was right; the irony was ridiculous. “But seriously, you’re my little sister. It’s my job to protect you and it’s hard to do from three thousand miles away.”
“Don’t worry; Kate considers herself to be your right hand ‘woman’. She’s close enough to help you get the job done.” I smiled. “I appreciate your concern. I love you, Charlie.”
“I love you too, Sydie.” I hated the nickname, but put up with it since Charlie gave it to me the day I was born.
I glanced at the clock and remembered I still had to finalize my outfit for the airport pickup. This might take a while. “I have to run, my brother. Say hi to Zoe for me!”
“Will do. Say hi to Louis for me. Tell him I’ll break his legs if he hurts you.”
I laughed. “Nice. Um...while I’m sure Louis would absolutely show you the proper respect as my big brother...did anyone tell you Louis was a five time national champion in Thai boxing?” Charlie was very smart and certainly strong, but no one in our family had any kind of athletic ability. It was a large deficiency we were all painfully aware of.
“Seriously? He was a paratrooper AND a national martial arts champion?”
“Oh...and a bodyguard.”
Charlie pretended to choke. “Where did this guy come from?”
“I have no idea.” I laughed. “Try to imagine me keeping up with all that.”
“It does paint a funny picture.” He paused. “But if anyone can do it, you can. And you just remember how lucky he is to have you.”
I blushed. “Thanks, Charlie. I wish we lived closer. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” He cleared his throat. “Now, I know you have to go prepare yourself for Louis’ impending arrival, but there’s one thing that we need to discuss.”
Uh oh. I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of this. “What is it?”
“When are you going to introduce him to Kate? I need someone on the inside to further evaluate him.”
“Charlie, I’ve only known the man for three weeks and he’s been out of the country for two of them. I don’t want to freak him out by introducing him to my family already.”
“You know, I could just call Kate directly. I’m sure she would be able to orchestrate an ‘accidental’ meeting’.”
I gasped. “You wouldn’t!”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “Oh, but I would. I’ll give you one more week to set this up. If not, I’ll have Kate work her magic.”
“Charlie!” I whined. Why did I become a five-year-old in his presence? “I’m not ready to prep him for that level of interrogation. Do you know how hard I’m trying to make myself appear normal? This really wouldn’t help matters...”
He chuckled. “It’s so easy to get a rise out of you. Though I miss seeing your face when I reduce you to whining.”
“You suck.”
“I know. It’s my prerogative as your big brother.” Suddenly there was noise in the background. I could vaguely hear Zoe’s voice and some scuffling.
“Syd?” Apparently Zoe had wrestled the phone out of Charlie’s hand. “Don’t listen to your brother. Relax and enjoy yourself. He’s only giving you crap because he misses you so much.”
“Thanks, Zoe. I miss you guys too.”
“We wish you lived closer.”
“I was just telling Charlie the same thing.” I sighed. It’s just so beautiful out here. You
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