The doorbell rang and Brandon kissed my cheek before releasing me, “That’s probably Jeremy, he’s coming with a few cousins, so is it okay if we tone down the baby talk until they leave?”
“I thought you told Jeremy?”
“I did, because I know he won’t say anything. My cousins on the other hand, don’t know how to shut up. They’d probably call my mom before we could finish telling them.” He chuckled and jogged off toward the door.
Bree leaned over the island in the middle of the kitchen and raised her brow, “So Jer knows too?”
“Yeah,” I grunted and tried to reach for the stack of bowls on the top shelf, “I don’t know why we’re making such a big deal about not telling the parents yet, we’ve told practically everyone else. I guess we just want them all here at once, so they can find out at the same time.”
I had just climbed on top of the counter when Konrad reached over me and grabbed the bowls, smirking when I glared at him. He didn’t even have to go on the balls of his feet.
“Damn tall people.” I muttered under my breath.
“Hey sis! Hey Bree,” Jeremy hugged her quick, and turned to do a “guy hug” with Konrad, “Konrad, what’s up man?” He stepped over to where I was still sitting on the counter and I frowned when I realized he was still taller than me even when I was up here, “Trying to reach the bowls again Harper?” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the cheek before whispering, “Congrats sis. I’m really happy for you guys.”
I hugged him tightly back, “Thanks Jer, and thanks for coming.”
“I brought my girlfriend, is that okay?”
“Jeremy, you have a girlfriend?!” His face lit up and he had a huge grin, “Are you even old enough for one of those yet?” I laughed when he playfully punched my arm.
“I’m seventeen, not twelve.”
I got all serious, “Oh yes, of course. How could I ever forget?” I looked around him, “Well where is she? I want to meet this girl who stole my brother-in-law’s heart.”
“She’s with Laura and Kate, but she’s really shy, so Bree” he turned to look at her, “go easy on her, okay?”
Bree put a hand to her chest, “Who me? Shy people are my specialty. Just ask Harper.”
We all laughed and Jeremy eyed me curiously, “Sis, what the f**k are you doing?”
“Language!” I chastised him but started giggling uncontrollably when I still couldn’t get down, “I can’t get back down. I usually can’t even jump up here. How the hell did I get up here Konrad?”
“Language!” Jeremy tried to mimic my pitch as he scooped me off the counter. “God you’re so short.”
“No, the rest of you are just freakishly tall.” I pushed him away from me and went to stand by Bree, since she was much closer to my height.
“Aww, are they making fun of you again sweetheart?” Brandon was grinning when he rounded the corner, “I can’t believe anyone would ever make fun of your height. Because you’re average height, right?”
I glared at him until he wrapped his arms around me with my favorite smile and his dimple flashing at me, “Exactly.” I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed him soundly.
“Uh, one, get a room. Two, Harper I want you to meet Aubrey.”
I peeked around Brandon’s side and saw a pretty girl with pale skin, raven black hair and wide brown eyes tucked under Jeremy’s arm. Oh my word they were cute together. “Hi Aubrey!” I walked over to them and hugged her quickly, dropping my arms and stepping back when I remembered how much I hated being hugged before Bree socialized me.
“Aubrey, this is my sister-in-law, Harper.”
She gave a small wave and blushed when she smiled, oh yeah, we were going to get along just fine. “Nice to meet you Harper, you have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you! Aubrey, this is my best friend Breanna and her fiancé Konrad.” I waited until they said their hellos and stepped back into Brandon’s arms, “And I’m guessing you just met Brandon?”
She nodded and bit her lower lip, trying to curl further into Jeremy’s arm.
“Um, no! Where is the little munchkin?” One of the twins called from the dining room.
I laughed and when Kate and Laura walked into the kitchen, I went to hug them both. “He’s at Mom and Dad’s for the night, figured this would be a little much for him. You girls remember Konrad and Bree?”
Laura jumped over to Bree’s side for a hug and Kate crossed her arms and failed at glaring at me, “I wanted to see my little Liam though.” She pouted and drug her feet to hug Bree.
“Next time,” I promised them, “besides, we have four or five single guys fresh out of the Marine Corps coming today, you really want to be playing with a baby that whole time?”
“Oh my God, really?!” They both said at the same time.
I laughed and nodded. The twins were Brandon and Jeremy’s cousins, only a year younger than myself and insanely beautiful. They had a good half foot on me, had blue eyes and unnatural blonde hair, but they rocked it pretty well. Other than their eyes, I still hadn’t found a way to tell them apart, thank God Kate had one eye that was half blue and half brown, or I’d always wonder who I was talking to.
“Well then!” Kate said and grabbed her sister’s hand, “We’re going to go change into our bikinis!”