Chapter Twelve
Becky didn't want the night to end. Grant was the best. He ordered pizza even though Mom left them dinner. He let her watch TV until 9:30 and let her have two bowls of ice cream with M&M's on it. He was a much better babysitter than her regular one.
"One more chapter, Grant. C'mon." Becky pleaded, batting her eyelashes at him. "Violet's about to blow up like a blueberry. That's my favorite part and I can read it all by myself now."
He kissed her nose. "Sorry Squirt. There's not enough time. Mom and Dad will be home soon. You were supposed to be in bed an hour ago as it is." Grant pulled the blanket up under her chin. He moved towards the door and shut the light.
She watched him begin to walk out and called out to him. "Grant?" Becky whispered.
"Yeah?" He said from the hallway.
"Why are you so sad?" She asked, her voice completely serious.
It was amazing what little kids could pick up. It was so sweet of her to notice. "I'm OK." He said with a smile as he turned to face her. "Don't worry about me."
"You know what Grant? You shouldn't be sad 'cause you're the best brother ever. Maggie's brother doesn't ever play games with her or buy her pizza or let her stay up late." She gave him a big grin. "I'm really - really - really lucky - you know?"
"I'm lucky too." He replied, his heart melting. "I have to tell you. You're my favorite eight year old ever."
"Grant." Becky snuggled in and held her stuffed bunny close as she laughed at him. She rolled her eyes and said. "You're so silly. C'mon. I'm still just seven."
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Cam stretched and put his arm around Abby's shoulder. She was talking a mile a minute to her sister. Honestly, they spent nearly every afternoon together. How could they still have so much to discuss? He turned to Rafe. "By the way - I need to thank you for letting the girls crash with you. I got rid of the other monster too. Abby and I have the whole house to ourselves tonight." He flashed him a grin.
"And I have a house full of squealing teenaged girls. Gee, thanks." Rafe said sarcastically.
"You're more than welcome." Cam chuckled.
"Is Julia still impersonating Lynnie - because honestly, I don't have the stamina to keep up with that." Rafe's mind began to race at the possibilities.
"Abby got her to give back the contacts tonight. Just look for the brown eyes. You'll be safe. Lynnie would never pull a stunt like that."
Meanwhile on the other side of the table Alison sighed. "Honestly, Abby. My heart is breaking for him. Wait till it happens to Quinn. I swear it's worse than the girls. He's a mess."
"Poor kid. And what did Melissa say?"
"That Chloe's been holed up in her room and that Jack was just as oblivious as Rafe. Abs, I'm not psychic and I saw this coming years ago."
"And you can't interfere…"
"No way." Alison sighed. "I'm sure it'll work out. At least Kate seems to be taking this thing with Danny in stride."
Abby suddenly had a picture in her mind and went almost white. "Ali." She gasped. "You two are nuts."
"What?" She asked confused.
"You're going to do this again?" Abby whispered.
"What did you see?" Alison said with a laugh.
"You. Knee deep in diapers. You're better than me. I'm finished. The twins have taken twelve years off of Cam's life." Abby honestly wasn't that surprised now that the initial shock wore off. Alison's kids were pretty much angels. Her's? Well. It had a lot to do with those Donovan genes, and the influence of their uncles. Abby gave her sister a huge grin. "If we try to have another one I'd lose him for sure."
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"Sweetie? Are you OK?" A girl tapped Kate on the shoulder.
"Excuse me?" Kate replied confused.
"You look like you've seen a ghost and your boyfriend is climbing the walls out there."
Danny is unbelievable. It wasn't bad enough he brought his new girlfriend here. He couldn't leave me alone for five seconds? Kate was livid. "I don't know what he told you but he's so NOT my boyfriend." She insisted.
"Really?" The girl perked up considerably. "Well if he's up for grabs I'm next in line. He's hot."
Girls swooned over Danny all the time. Kate took a deep breath and another glance at the mirror, her temper lit and ready to fight. She ripped the door open and began to talk before she even left the room.
She was so mad she could barely see. "Are you kidding me? Listen Danny - you can cheat on me - that's fine - but don't you dare waltz in here like there is still something between us. Listen to me carefully. We are through."
Guess she wasn't sad anymore, Colin thought with a grin. Man this was a side he hadn't seen. God what a temper. "Good to know." He laughed. "Does that mean you're available?"
"Colin?" She said, shocked to find him still standing outside.
"Yeah." He smiled at her. "Hey - who's this Danny?"
"My ex-boyfriend." She said, more confidently than she felt.
"What's the deal?" He asked her then.
"I didn't mention this on the bus?" She said as she squinted her eyes at him.
"No." Colin shook his head at her.
She started to blush, humiliation setting in. "I was there to see him and I caught him cheating on me. Now he's here. With his new girlfriend."
"What?" His mouth hung open.
The look in his eyes made her nervous. "Colin…"
"He what? Is he an idiot?" Colin was getting angry.
"Oh my God. You sound just like my Dad." Kate began to laugh herself.
Without thinking, he grabbed her hand. "Come with me."
"Don't you have to go on soon?" Kate asked as he dragged her back towards her table.
Danny and Taylor somehow managed to be right there. And there was Lia, throwing daggers with her eyes and more than a few insults at Danny.
"Katie. Please. Call off the wolves." He pleaded with her as he saw them approach.
"Oh poor baby. Are you scared?" Lia nearly spat at him. "Too bad. I'm not nearly done with you and your little home wrecker." She snapped at him.
Taylor looked like she was scared to death. "Lia. Quiet." Lynnie pleaded.
"No way." She glared at her sister. She turned back to Danny. Taylor looked like she was ready to run for the door, which pleased Julia to no end. "You're so pathetic. How about the courtesy of breaking up with your current girlfriend before you move on to the next?"
"Julia. I'm OK." Kate insisted. She turned to Danny and plastered on a grin. "Here for the show?"
"Yeah." Unsure of exactly how to handle this, he decided to follow her lead. "We caught this band up at school and decided to check it out."
"They're great aren't they?" Kate said to Taylor then, noticing that Colin's hand still held hers. She decided to make introductions. "Danny - this is Colin. Colin, this is Danny…" She took a deep breath and added. "Oh and Taylor."
The two guys sized each other up. "Hey." Colin nodded at him.
"Hey." Danny replied, wondering how exactly this guy knew Kate. He didn't like the way he was holding her hand. It seemed very presumptuous and almost possessive to him.
One of the guys in the band motioned to Colin it was time to go. He turned his attention to Kate. "I'm on. Wish me luck." He whispered to her with a sexy smile.
"Good luck." She whispered back as she stared into his eyes.
With a pointed glance at Danny, Colin acted on impulse. He took Kate's face in his hands and kissed her hard and fast on the mouth.
Kate couldn't even breathe. She was so overwhelmed she nearly fainted. Lynnie grabbed Lia's arm to keep from fainting herself. "Oh my GOD!" Lia gasped, unable to control herself.
He didn't care what the consequences would be. Colin never felt better in his life. He gave Kate a wicked grin as he pulled away. Leaving the whole rest of the group stunned and speechless, he bounded onto the stage.