16

Miraculously, my dreams were Kade free. Instead I dreamt that Katy lived in my new apartment and no matter what I did, I couldn't get rid of her. I was getting ready to perform an exorcism when my alarm on my phone sounded. I turned it off and groaned when it started ringing.

"What?" I growled.

"No bagels. If you're going to answer the phone like that, you do not get bagels," Lola said on the other end.

"Yes bagels. All of the bagels. I love you," I replied, rolling over on to my back.

"You better. See you in a few." She hung up and I sat up, scrubbing my face with my hands. I rolled out of bed and threw on a pair of black yoga pants with pockets and a Warner University Alumni shirt. I sprayed my hair down with lavender water and pulled it up in a messy ponytail. After I was done in the bathroom, I headed downstairs. My mom had set out enough eggs, bacon, and fruit to feed an army. I poured myself a cup of coffee and inhaled its scent deeply, willing myself awake.

"Where's dad?" I asked, taking my first sip.

"He went with Jake to get the Uhaul." My mom looked like an older version of Hannah with shorter hair. She was too cute in leggings and a running shirt. I pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"Thanks for letting me crash here momma." She squeezed me back.

"You know you were welcome to stay as long as you wanted."

"I know momma." I had lived on my own for too long, though, to be comfortable living back home. Plus I could feel the comparisons between myself and my siblings beginning to start. A little bit of distance was needed to keep my sanity.

"Hello?" I heard Dean call out.

"Kitchen," I hollered back and he and Brady appeared. Butterflies let loose in my stomach. Brady wore an Under Armor t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, basketball shorts, and a pair of Nikes. His arms were toned and I had to quickly divert my eyes so I wasn't caught staring.

"Hi boys. There is plenty of food here, so dig in," my mom said handing each of them a plate.

"Yes, and Lo's bringing bagels." Brady's eyes caught mine and we shared a smile.

"Hey honey," Hannah purred throwing her arms around Dean, giving him a kiss. She looked like she was ready to do an influencer post for a yoga studio with purple yoga pants and a black sports bra with straps that crisscrossed across her back.

"Hannah, you're gonna freeze in that," my mother said with a frown. Not with the looks Dean was giving her.

"I've got a sweatshirt mom," Hannah assured her, popping a strawberry in her mouth.

"Bagel delivery!" Lola announced, coming in holding two paper bags from the New York bagel place. Before my sister's thigh gap reminded me I needed to lose twenty pounds, I would've been the first to grab one. Now, I found I didn't have much of an appetite and sliced open a grapefruit.

"Bagel?" Courtney asked, offering my favorite everything bagel. I shook my head. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just feeling a little anxious." She put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze.

"I'll save one for you for later."

"Alright, who's ready to pull muscles they didn't know they had?" my dad asked coming into the kitchen, Jake and Chris following him.

"Not gonna be a problem for me. I have no muscles to pull," Lola joked.

"Except for the ones that move your mouth," I muttered. She bounced a bagel off my forehead and I almost spilled my coffee.

"Watch the coffee!"

"Some people's children," my mom said rolling her eyes.

"Sara, this is your show. What's the plan?" Jake asked snagging some bacon.

"I thought I could go with you guys to pick out the furniture from the storage unit while the girls can take over the stuff from my room and the stuff we bought." I handed Courtney the keys to the apartment.

"Good plan. Do you need us to load that stuff up first?" I nodded and we dispersed. My mom gave Hannah the keys to her car and Courtney went to unlock hers. I ran upstairs to pull on my Nikes.

"Whoa your room is very…pink," Brady commented from the doorway. I was sitting on the floor tying my shoes.

"Yeah, I'd say it was a phase but it's turned into more of a lifestyle." I hopped up, warmth spreading through my belly at his presence. I had never had a boy in my room in this house, ever.

"Anything in here you want me to grab?" I nodded and pointed to a pile I had assembled in the corner.

"All of that is going." I stepped toward the pile, making sure that all of my unmentionables were safely tucked into my duffel bag. Satisfied it was safe, I turned and ran into Brady.

"Sorry," he apologized reaching out to steady me. His face turned red and I felt mine trying to match.

"Can't leave you two alone for a second," Dean snickered. Brady dropped his hands and I rolled my eyes. "I can leave and come back."

"Just grab something," I muttered fleeing the room.

Half an hour later, I was driving my car with Dean and Brady while Jake drove the Uhaul with my dad and Chris. Dean had insisted Brady sit shot gun in a somewhat loud and embarrassing display of theatrics. Hannah, Courtney, and Lola had applauded while I practically exploded from shame.

"So when is the next date for you two?" Dean teased.

"When are you marrying my sister?" I shot back.

"Next summer."

"What?!" I almost swerved off the road when I whipped my head around.

"Easy killer!" Brady cried out, putting his hand on my leg. It momentarily distracted me and I focused back on the road.

"Are you going to propose soon?" I asked, my voice almost in the range that only dogs can hear.

"Yeah, I was just waiting for you to get here," Dean admitted sheepishly. "I was hoping you'd go ring shopping with me."

"Aw Deanie I would be honored." I bounced a little in my seat. My baby sister was going to marry the love of her life. I was thrilled, even if a little part of me was jealous. For a second, I wondered if I had stayed with Kade if we would already be married. Brady's hand still on my thigh banished the thought. It was warm through the spandex of my pants. "You can totally name your first kid after me." Dean laughed.

"What if it's a boy?"

"I don't see the problem."

***

"Pivot!" Jake barked at Chris as they tried to get the solid oak kitchen table I chose into my apartment.

"The thing is made of fucking wood genius; I pivot and it breaks," Chris shot back through clenched teeth.

It was almost noon. It had been spitting rain off and on all day. Most everyone was trapped inside the apartment in various degrees of being wet while Jake and Chris tried to defy basic physics with my table.

"I just saw the pizza guy pull in!" Lola called out. Courtney and I were the only ones on the outside and we scrambled down the steps to intercept our food. While I paid, I noticed a pretty golden retriever sniffing around the median in front of my building. There was a bench between two trees but I didn't notice anyone around.

"Court, you see that dog over there?" I asked, signing the receipt. She looked over and nodded. "Do you see anyone looking for it?"

"No, but that looks like…" I didn't let her finish, shoving the pizzas into her hands. I jogged over to where the dog was, kneeling down to see if I could get its attention.

"Hey there cutie, where are your people?" I said in a low tone. The dog came right over to me, sniffing my face, then giving me a lick. "Oh wow, you're super friendly aren't ya? Do you have a collar? No, no collar but you look well taken care of so someone must love you." The dog just wagged its tail while trying to give me more kisses.

"Bentley! Bentley where are you?" I froze. No. Fucking. Way. IT'S SATURDAY! Come on give me a break. "Sara?" I looked up and saw Kade jogging over.

"Hey," I said weakly. "Is this your dog?" Kade nodded, holding up a collar and leash. The dog ran over to him, his tail wagging so hard he practically fell over.

"Yeah I took his collar off for a second to adjust it and he ran out the back. Thanks for grabbing him." Kade snapped the color back on before giving him a body rub. "Bentley, you know better. No flirting." Bentley clearly didn't like that idea because he came right back over to me, laying on his back for a belly rub. "You're gonna get all muddy dog," Kade groaned. I laughed and reached over to rub Bentley's upturned tummy.

"He's super cute."

"Yeah problem is he knows it. What are you doing over this way?" Kade glanced over my shoulder to the Uhaul truck. "Are you moving in?" I tried to calm my beating heart, which I was convinced Kade could see through my shirt.

"Yep, we're neighbors." Kade raised an eyebrow and then raised his chin to someone coming up behind me. "Hey man."

"Hey boss." I turned and saw Brady. Perfect.