“A bomb went off,” he says with a little laugh, pointing at the TV.
It’s no longer playing a foreign drama, but rather an old war film.
I take that back. It’s worse. It’s a documentary.
“You changed my show?”
“I wanted to see if you’d notice. It took you forty-five minutes, by the way.”
He’s been sitting there for forty-five minutes? Please don’t tell me I picked my nose or something.
“Well, now you can turn it off.” I say.
He laughs and pauses the show. Thank heavens.
“What if I said there is a love story in it?” he asks.
I raise an eyebrow. “I still wouldn’t watch it.”
“Why? It’s just like one of those chick flicks you read. Except you can actually learn something from this.”
My mouth drops open. “I’m so offended by all the words that just came out of your mouth. Who says you can’t learn anything from a romance novel?”
His head falls back, and he laughs. “Like what? That Prince Charming is always right around the corner?”
I shake my head slowly. “I didn’t know you were such a cynic.”
His smile fades a little. “Consider me a realist.”
A realist who needs to learn a lesson. “I need to go to the bathroom. Why don’t you skip to the romance scenes in this…documentary.” I shudder at the word.
“I knew you’d come around.”
I press my lips together to hide my smile. “Mm hmm.” Instead of going to the bathroom, I raid the mess room. We can no longer do slime in the house for obvious reasons. But water pranks haven’t been restricted, yet.
I grab some pop rocks and a balloon, then go to the kitchen to get us some drinks. Two cokes and a coconut water for Grant after he finds my prank. No one in my family even likes coconut water, but there’s always a few in the fridge just for Grant. If that doesn’t make it clear he’s part of the family, I don’t know what would.
Except, maybe a gold band on his left ring finger that matches the one on mine.
I grab the drinks, sticking the coconut water behind my back for now.
“Want a drink?” I ask, sitting down beside him this time.
Crap, now I’m in the splash zone.
I consider moving, but it’s too late.
“Thanks.” He pushes play, then reaches for the coke. “Wait, did you do something to it?”
“Why would I do something to your drink?” I ask, nonchalantly, sitting back in my seat.
He eyes the coke as if he’s searching for clues. “Because you grew up with three brothers. And the cap has been opened.”
Darn it. I knew he wouldn’t fall for it.
He twists open the lid and sniffs it. “What is that? Pepper?”
I shrug. “And maybe some pop rocks.”
