99. Kitten

Chapter 99

Kitten

The front doorcloses behind Steph, and we all stop talking.

“We’re following her, right?” Meghan asks.

“Uh, duh,” I reply, setting down the pan I was rinsing off.

We were in the middle of putting food away when Steph suddenly had to leave.

None of us said anything to stop her, but it’s obvious her secret boyfriend is picking her up. And we wouldn’t be friends if we weren’t nosy. So we’re gonna find out.

Natalie looks at her phone. “Luke messaged me a few minutes ago saying they’re on their way back.”

“Perfect.” Izzy hands her a container of coffee cake. “We’re not spying; we’re just walking Natalie down.”

“Uh-huh, sure. Let’s call it that.” Meghan wipes off her hands, and we all start toward the front door.

I press my ear to the door, waiting to hear the ding of the elevator.

Natalie has a guilty look on her face, but before I can tell her not to worry, Izzy beats me to it.

“I know this seems crazy, but this is what we do.” Izzy places her hand on Natalie’s arm. “What’s the point of friends if they aren’t all up in your business?”

“She’s right. This isn’t an invasion of privacy. If anything, she’s in the wrong for hiding it from us. Steph should know better,” I tell her. Then I hold up my hand. “I hear the elevator.”

I wait another few seconds before opening the door as quietly as possible.

When I stick my head out into the hall, I see the elevator doors slide closed.

I swing the door all the way open. “Let’s go.”

Meghan rushes out first and runs to the elevator bank to press the call button.

“Want me to carry something?” I ask Natalie.

She has the Blizz stuffie under her arm, the container of food in one hand, and her purse in the other.

“I’m good.” She squeezes the yeti tighter.

The chime alerts us to the elevator opening, and Meghan ushers everyone on board.

I end up in the back corner, behind Izzy and Natalie.

There’s something so similar about the two of them. Maybe it’s the upbringing. Being close with their dads. Working in high-stress careers. But I can see the way Izzy is taking Natalie under her wing, and it’s adorable.

“I know a guy who owns a solar company,” Izzy tells Natalie. “He’s a retired football player, lives here in the cities. I can introduce you if you want.”

Natalie is nodding before Izzy finishes. “That’d be great. Local connections are good to have.”

As the elevator starts to slow, everyone goes silent.

Meghan holds a finger to her lips, then leans out to see if she can see Steph.

“Hurry!” she suddenly shouts, then sprints out of the elevator.

This is probably a really bad introduction to our friend group, but I put a hand on both Natalie’s and Izzy’s backs and urge them out.

It’s so ridiculous. Izzy is in her wedge heels. Natalie with her hands full. And I’m urging us all to run across the nice, slightly stuck-up lobby of my building.

Meghan reaches the doors, then stops.

Her mouth drops open.

“What?” I rush past the other two, fully invested in catching Steph.

“Oh my god,” Meghan gasps. Then she starts to laugh.

I reach the doors and shove them open. All four of us spill out on the sidewalk just in time to see Steph climbing into a car. One that I recognize.

“Alex?” I screech.

Steph freezes, but she doesn’t look back. And a second later, she dives the rest of the way into the passenger seat.

One of my unlaced tennis shoes flies off my foot as I try to run to catch up. But the man with hair the same color as mine steps on the gas the second Steph shuts her door.

Standing there, in the middle of the sidewalk, with one shoe on, I gape.

“Hey, Kitten, what’s going on?” My husband’s deep voice surprises me.

I spin around to find Jackson standing behind me with a smile on his face.

I shake my head. “Oh, ya know. Just your sister hiding a relationship from us.”

His smile drops. “What? With who?”

I point in the direction the car just took off in. “My brother.”

Jackson narrows his eyes. “If he doesn’t marry her, I’m going to kill him.”