Mother called last night and said you were home, I dropped everything and drove in."
"In this weather?"
It was still cold and wet. The rain was expected to start freezing later in the day. Weathermen in the whole northern half of the state were warning people not to drive unless it was absolutely necessary.
"I was careful. By now I know the road between here and Austin better than I know the back of my hand."
He looked at her profile, which had matured since the last time he'd really taken notice of her. "You look good, Sage," he remarked truthfully.
"Thanks." She winked at him saucily. "I
come from good stock." He harrumphed dismissively.
"Don't pretend you don't know we're an unusually attractive family. All my girlfriends used to positively drool over you and
Lucky. They begged to sleep over, hoping against hope they'd catch one or both of you in the hallways partially unclothed, like without your shirts. I think you two are the reason I had so many friends. Girlfriends that is. You scared the boys off."
"You scared the boys off," he said, chuckling.
It had been a long time since he'd laughed, and for a moment it surprised him.
"You never learned the art of flirting, Sage."
"If you mean that I never swooned over biceps, you're right. It just wasn't in me to make out like some dolt had invented the wheel. I couldn't gush and simper and keep a straight face. Thank God Travis doesn't expect that from me."
"Travis?"
"You don't know about Travis? Oh, yeah, you haven't been home when he's come with me."
"You're bringing him home? Sounds serious."
"We're not formally engaged, but it's understood that we'll get married."
"Understood by whom? You or him?"
She shot him a fulminating look. "Both.
He's going through medical school now. We'll probably wait until he's in his year of residency before we get married. He wants to be a dermatologist and make tons of money."