Falling for her best friend's brother was NOT a part of her summer plans...
Karma Fitzgerald never saw Nathan Jenkins as anything other than the womanizing big brother of her best friend, Lanie. That all changed during a summer trip to the beach, wh...
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"So, are you going to tell us what's been going on with you, Karma, or are we going to have to figure it out ourselves?" Lanie pointed to herself. "And let's be real, you know that if anyone was going to find out whatever dirt you're keeping to yourself, it's going to be yours truly."
Setting my spoon down next to my bowl of loaded bake potato soup, I met Lanie's inquisitive stare. This was what I've been trying to avoid. Ever since we were kids the three of us have always told each other everything. Whether it was about a new boy one of us was crushing on, or who was the last that used the other's lipstick.
Everything.
So, as the months continued to pass and I continued to not say anything, I felt sicker and sicker. Guiltier and guiltier.
"It's just the stress of school, L. I'm a senior and it's just a lot of pressure studying for the SATs and stuff." Well, that was the truth. Didn't mean I still didn't feel sick.
Lanie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "That sounds like a load of crap! What do you take me for, Karma? I know something's up with you." She leaned forward again and lowered her voice like she didn't want anyone else in the restaurant to know. "Is it my idiot brother? Did Nate do something? Because if he did then I will go home right now and beat some common sense into him and the idiocy out of him."
Even with all the anxiety I was feeling regarding Lanie's unique intuition and her finding out about USF—and all the guilt about the lying—I couldn't help but smile. My best friend was such an amazing person. She would do anything for the people she loved. Both of them would.
"Nathan didn't do anything," I told her. "He's actually been perfect."
Lanie snorted. "I find that hard to believe."
"Of course, you do," I replied with a laugh. "He's your brother. You two are always butting heads, bickering, and getting on each other's nerves."
"Yeah, because he's annoying."
"Whatever you say, L." My gaze went to the entrance of the restaurant where I saw the door swing open and Harper walk in. She was supposed to meet us here fifteen minutes ago. I waved my hand and she spotted me. "Harper's here," I told Lanie.
Lanie moved over in the booth to make room for her. "Finally," she said when our friend joined us. "I'm wasting away over here from lack of food."
Harper rolled her eyes. "You're always wasting away, Lanie."
Once she sat down and was settled, I couldn't help but ask, "Is everything okay, Harper?"
When she looked up at me I didn't miss the tension in her shoulders or the worry in her eyes. "Yeah. Just my mom being her usual self."
Lanie sat her menu down. "She still trying to plan out your whole life? Doesn't she know it's 2007? They don't do that kinda stuff anymore."
I knew exactly what Lanie was referring to. Harper told us her mom kept dropping hints about what kind of guys she should be dated and eventually the kind she was supposed to marry. Harper wasn't stupid, she knew exactly what her mom was trying to do. It was the main reason they had issues getting along. The more her mom tried to control Harper, the more my best friend rebelled.
