Love on the Lifts Read online

  After I got ready for bed, I had way too much on my mind to actually settle into sleep. I was still in semi-shock over Sam and Allie, although it sure hadn’t seemed like they were hooked up at the Avalanche. I mean, they danced together, played Foosball together, sat together, and talked together, but they weren’t all over each other—not like Cynthia and Brad had been the night before, anyway. And Sam kept looking at me like he was doing something he shouldn’t, something that I should tattle on.

  And then there was Joe. Good-time Joe who made me laugh and smile. I liked him. A lot.

  When things got really quiet in the condo and all I could hear was the moaning of the wood as the house settled in for the night, I put on my robe, grabbed my quilt, and tried to slip out of my room unnoticed.

  But Joe was still up, the TV on, the volume turned down way low. I didn’t even know how he heard it.

  “I’m going out on the deck,” I whispered. “To be alone.”

  Which I knew made no sense because I’d been alone in my room. But I preferred to do my heavy thinking on the deck.

  “Not a problem,” he said, graciously taking the hint to leave me alone and turning his attention back to the TV.

  I almost asked him to join me. I thought if I told him that I didn’t really want to be alone, but that I needed to think, that he would sit out there and not say a word. From the moment I’d met him, Joe seemed like he always knew exactly what I needed and how I needed him to give it to me. Whether it was silence or conversation or teasing or a kiss.

  And while I didn’t want to be alone, I thought I needed to be alone. At least for a little while so I could sort out my thoughts.

  I crossed the room, unlocked the sliding glass door, and stepped out onto the deck. I wrapped my quilt around myself and curled up in the chair. I dared to glance over at Cynthia’s condo. No one frolicking in the hot tub. Thank goodness.

  I blinked as a snowflake landed on my eyelash. Then noticed that others were falling. We’d have fresh powder come morning. I snuggled down more deeply in my quilted cocoon.

  Then I saw a shadow and Brad was suddenly standing on the back deck, rubbing his arms. He was wearing clothes, but no jacket. Was he crazy? And where had he come from and how long had he been out there?

  “Hey, I’m so glad someone is still up. Is it okay if I go in and get my stuff? I’m going to move in with Cyn for the duration.”

  I thought I should have felt a pang in my heart, but I didn’t. I didn’t feel anything. Maybe my heart had turned to ice.

  “Sure. But I gotta warn you, Sam gets mean when he gets woken up.”

  “Tell me about it. I know all about his sleeping habits.”

  He slipped inside and I bundled myself up tighter, studying the night. It was strange, but I thought I really was over him. Maybe it had been a little silly to crush on him as much as I had. I mean really. What did we have in common? Nothing except my brother. Not exactly heavy-duty bonding material.

  The door opened again and Brad stepped out, holding his duffle bag. “Thanks a lot, Allie.”

  I grimaced not for the first time at the realization that he couldn’t remember my name, then decided I was definitely over the guy. “You’re welcome, Bart.”

  “Brad.”

  “Kate.”

  “Huh?”

  I wanted to laugh. “I’m Kate.”

  “Oh, right. Right. Kate’s the sister. Allie’s the friend. Man, there are way too many chicks here. Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad that I’m hot-footing it next door where there’s only one. Later.”

  With that, he turned and hurried down the steps.

  Hearing the door behind me slide open again, I shook my head. No doubt Joe coming to make sure I was all right, that I had survived Brad’s nighttime visitation with my heart intact. But when I looked over my shoulder, it wasn’t Joe. It was Sam.

  He sat in the chair beside me. “Geez, it’s freezing out here. And it’s snowing! Give me a part of that quilt, will ya?”

  “Go get your own.”

  “Come on, Kate. Play nice.”

  “Why? You never do.” Still, I shifted in my chair and freed up one end of the quilt. He moved his chair closer to me. The quilt was a king size so I could share a little of it.

  “You okay?” he asked quietly.

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Brad. I know you were crushing on him, and now he’s packed it up and moved next door. I wanted to make sure you weren’t having trouble dealing with it.”

  “I can’t believe Allie told you about my crush.”

  “Give me a break, Kate. I’ve known since family weekend. When was the last time you wanted to take a picture of me? Document my freshman year? What? Do I have clueless tattooed across my forehead?”

  Narrowing my eyes, I leaned toward him. “Yeah, I think maybe you do.”

  Even in the shadows, I could see him grin. This was so totally weird. Sitting out here, having an almost normal conversation with my brother.

  “He’s not your type, Kate.”

  I scoffed. “How do you know my type? I don’t even know my type.”

  “Trust me, when you do figure your type out, you’re gonna realize it’s not Brad. I mean, I like him, and he’s a great roommate, but what I want in a friend and what you need in a boyfriend aren’t the same. He’d just end up hurting you. Then I’d have to beat the crap out of him.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “Would you really do that for me, Sam?”

  “You know I would.” His voice was totally serious.

  And I realized that he was so not joking. His revelation stunned me almost as much as Joe’s kiss. No, wait, nothing would ever throw me off balance as much as that kiss.

  “You do know that, don’t you, Kate?” Sam asked. “You’re my sister and I…” He waved his hand. “That L-word. You know.”

  “Love?” I asked.

  “Don’t make me say it, okay? Just know it’s true. I know I give you a hard time, but hey, that’s what brothers do. It’s part of our genetic makeup, a little chip inside our brains that gets activated when our parents shove a screaming baby sister in our face.”

  “Like you’d have a memory of that moment. You were only fifteen months old.”

  “Whatever. Look, I’m out here right now because I’ve been a little worried about you, and I haven’t really been able to get you alone to talk.”

  “You’ve been able to get Allie alone.” And for a lot more than conversation.

  He grimaced. “Yeah, she told me you know about us. Are you okay with that?”

  “What if I’m not?”

  “Then tough. Get over it.”

  “Some understanding brother you are.”

  “I’ve got my limits.”

  “So you really like her, huh?”

  “Yeah. I have for a long time, but geez, she’s my sister’s best friend. How weird is that?”

  “Totally weird. When she described the way you kiss—”

  “What?” Horror echoed in his voice. His eyes were wide, his mouth open.

  “Payback for the snowball,” I said snidely.

  “I already paid you back for that.”

  “So? Maybe there’s a little chip inside a girl’s brain that gets activated when her brother is a jerk and erases paybacks as soon as they happen so we need a steady stream of them.”

  “You’re definitely not playing nice, Kate.” I heard him heave a sigh. “You know, that’s part of the reason I’ve steered clear of Allie. I don’t want her discussing my…moves with my sister.”

  “Yeah, like you’ve got moves.”

  He gave me a cocky look. “Hey, I’ve got moves.”

  I held up my hand. “Definitely don’t want to hear about them.”

  “Definitely don’t want you to hear about them.” He leaned forward, planted his elbows on his thighs, and peered at me. “Seriously, you’re okay with me and Allie?”

  “I question her taste in guys, but