Page 90 of Nothing to Tell

“I’ll phone you in the week and we’ll do lunch, just us girls together,” Carolyn said.“And we’ll insist about next weekend.”

Before she could get a word in, Bastian answered, “We’re busy next weekend.”

“All weekend?”Keely asked.“Dirty vacation?”

“She hasn’t decided yet,” Bastian said.“It’s her birthday.”

Keely squealed.“Your birthday!”

“What have you got planned?”Carolyn asked.

“Nothing,” Harper said.

Keely gasped.“You haven’t arranged anything for your girlfriend’s birthday?You’re a sucky boyfriend.”

“I’m disappointed, son.”

“I told her anything she wants,” Bastian said, “she hasn’t decided yet.”

“I’m happy with dinner,” Harper said.

“A big dinner party.”Keely had zeal in spades.“I’m in.”

“She may have meant privately,” Carolyn said.“But we can arrange a party if you would like.”

“We’ll talk about it in the week,” Bastian said.“Don’t pressure her, now we have to go.”

After the last goodbye, Bastian led her through the house to the large front door.His car sat waiting for them, as did the man who opened her door, tres formal.

“We can’t have a party,” Harper said when they were alone inside.“That would mean bringing our families together.”

“So?”he asked, driving toward the gates.

“We can’t bring them together, our families are too different.”

“They’ll have to get used to each other,” Bastian said.

“What if our stories don’t match?”

“We’ll talk about it in the week,” he said.“Gives me an excuse to phone you.About tonight—”

“Bastian I’m serious,” she said.“We can’t bring them together.”

“Everything will be fine, Sweet.I’ve got it under control.”

“They’ll embarrass me.Damon will show up, I don’t want him mouthing off in front of your parents.”

“They won’t think less of you for his behavior.Trust me, Sweet, it will be fine.”

She didn’t share his confidence but when he moved the conversation along, she didn’t persist.He’d get it after they did dinner with her family.That experience would teach him a lot, and maybe send him running for the hills.

THIRTY-TWO

THE PHONE RANG and rang.It felt sort of rude calling knowing that she wouldn’t get through to the person she actually wanted to talk to, but there were no alternatives.

“Hello?”

Okay, a male, definitely not Roxie, but without the smooth charm of Zairn.