Page 5 of Our Moon (JACT #1)

“I can so choke you right now,” I warn him teasingly, which brings on more hysterics from both of us.

Having forgotten we’ve an audience, I look over to the grill where Trevor and Chase are standing, watching us. Both of them are smiling and shaking their heads at our antics. “Some things never change,” I think I hear Chase say.

“You guys having a party and didn’t invite me?

” a new voice calls out just before a giant splash erupts beside me, splashing water in my eyes and up my nose.

Apparently Alex was smart enough to turn his head or hold his breath, because he’s completely unaffected as I cough and spit water out over his shoulder.

“Y’all know how he is. Damn dog with a bone, I tell you.

Sorry, sweetie,” a petite blonde with a pixie cut smiles at me as she calls out from the back door.

She’s absolutely adorable with a major southern twang going on, but all I can think of is how happy I am there’s another fun-size person like me amongst all these giants .

“Al, that’s Evie, and this doofus,” Alex explains as said doofus surfaces beside me, “is Joey.” The final band member and his wife. I recognize him now that I see him, but I haven’t seen any pictures of her yet.

“Damn! Look at you girl!” His smile brightens his entire bearded face, brown eyes sparkling, and I can’t help but smile back, it’s infectious.

“Come here,” he says as he grabs hold of my arms and somehow pulls me over Alex’s shoulder and into his chest for a big bear hug.

I tense for a moment, but relax almost immediately.

I feel safe, comforted, in Joey’s arms. Kind of like how I feel with Alex and Trevor. Wonder how I’d feel in Chase’s arms…

“Joey!” Evie shrieks, thankfully breaking my thought process before it went somewhere it probably shouldn’t go.

“I’m sorry y’all. I tried to keep him away, but I just couldn’t.

He was just too excited to see for himself that Ally was home.

” With her hands on her hips, she’s shaking her head, and doing a very good impersonation of a disappointed parent.

“It’s all good, Evie,” Trevor assures her. “Kind of figured we couldn’t keep him away too long. But maybe he could give her some breathing room!” He said the last bit a little louder; I suppose in an attempt to get Joey to pay attention.

Joey pulls back with his hands on my shoulders, looks into my eyes, and shakes his head. “Damn, it’s good to see you. ”

“It’s good to see you, too?” I say, though it comes out as a question. He laughs like that’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard and pulls me in again.

“Dude, back off,” Alex scolds with a frown. “I haven’t even hugged her yet and she’s my sister.” I swear if his feet could touch the bottom of the pool, he’d probably stomp them.

“Quit being a baby,” Joey responds. He lets me go, but keeps looking at me. After what Alex said when I caught Chase looking at me, I’m not weirded out by Joey’s stare. I understand that he’s just happy to see me amongst the living.

“Joey, give the girl some space,” Evie tells him.

Joey backs up a little, and I see that he’s fully clothed. It makes me laugh. “You have all your clothes on!”

“Not the first time, probably won’t be the last,” Chase says, I look at him quickly and find he’s looking right at me. I feel myself get warm again.

“Probably not,” Joey admits. “Al,” he pulls me into his side, earning a glare from Alex. “I want you to meet my wife. Evie, this is Al.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, finally,” she says to me with a friendly smile. “Sorry about this one. He just couldn’t wait another minute. ”

“It’s okay. The guys have been telling me all about you two; I’m glad I got to meet you.” I am glad I got to meet another girl. It seems the old Ally surrounded herself with testosterone, and that was all well and good, but I think I need some she-time, too.

“I wish we could stay longer,” Evie says regretfully, “but I’ve got to take this moron back home to change so we can make it to our appointment on time. Come on, ya big goof.”

“You finding out what you’re having today?” Trevor asks.

“No, not until closer to twenty weeks, this is just a standard checkup,” Evie answers.

I drop my gaze to her stomach. Sure enough there’s a tiny bump I’d completely missed before. “Congratulations,” I tell her.

“Thanks, sweetie. We’ll stop by again soon,” she smiles, then turns back on her disappointed parent face. “Joseph! Out! Now!” We all laugh. I like this girl. The guys were right; she’s a firecracker.

Joey swims back over to me from where he was talking with Alex and gives me another hug, this one quick. “So good to see you, lil’ sis.” He winks and lifts himself over the side of the pool, his clothes dripping with water.

“There are some extra towels over there,” Alex says, pointing over to the chair by the door. “And you can run up to my room if you want, grab a change of clothes.”

“Thanks, man. See y’all later!” Joey calls as Evie waves. Then they disappear back into the house.

I pop back up on my float, and as I adjust myself into a comfortable position, I catch Chase staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I boldly turn to face him and quietly gasp at what can only be described as desire in his eyes. Oh, boy. I am in so much trouble.

***

Shortly after Joey and Evie leave, Trevor announces that dinner is ready and that Chase is joining us, which is both a blessing and a curse.

I want to spend more time with this glorious creature, but at the same time, I would rather not look like a drowned rat.

I didn’t have time to shower and change after the pool because Trevor finished grilling while I was still in the pool, and he insisted I not wait and have my steak get cold.

I can’t exactly argue my side with my brother.

I’m formally reintroduced to Chase as we sit down for dinner, and I feel a spark when he takes my hand in his.

The strange, yet very brief, look he has on his face makes me hope he felt it, too, but I can’t be sure.

I keep stealing glances at him throughout dinner, and catch him looking back once or twice.

I can’t say that it doesn’t thrill me to see that I may have a similar impact on him as he does on me .

I catch Alex looking between Chase and me near the end of the meal, and I worry I’ve been caught gawking at Chase.

Shit. What am I doing? Chase is their friend.

Their brother. Does that mean he’s like my brother?

Gross, I don’t want to think about that.

Chase is not like my brother! But how can I so blatantly disrespect my brothers like that, by crushing on the first single friend they introduce me to? I can’t be one of those sisters.

I vow in that moment that I will get over my little infatuation with Chase Baker. Too much can go wrong, and too much is at stake.