Read Online The Love List by Jean Joachim - Free Book Online Page B

no
virgin…continue."
    The heat rose higher in her cheeks as she
observed her baby brother's shocked reaction to her bold
statement.
    "Come on, Colin, give."
    "That's it. No more details. Grey and I swore
secrecy about…those trips. I'm not breaking it, even for you."
    "So what are you are upset about?"
    "Grey invited me to stay with him and Carrie
during my February break. That means our Caribbean…uh…trips…are
over."
    "Grey's engaged. You can't expect him to go
'hunting for chicks' with you in the Caribbean anymore."
    "I know! "
    "Oh, oh, I see." Barbara stepped back as his
words came at her like a blow.
    "Those trips meant a lot to me. I learned a
ton from Grey, not only about women, though I'd challenge him at a
bar pick-up now. I was looking forward to going, taking him on,
then he got engaged. Now he can't go because he's tied to some
chick's apron strings. Used to be he'd love 'em and leave 'em, now
he's hog-tied, ball-and-chained, whatever."
    "You miss him, eh?" Barbara moved closer, her
hand hovered over his forearm for a moment before settling
there.
    "Yeah," he said, looking at the ground.
    "You'll have to adjust. Grey was bound to get
married sooner or later…"
    "Why couldn't it be later?" He turned to look
at her, anger flashing in his eyes, wrenching his arm free from
her.
    "Don't you like Carrie?"
    "She's fine. That's not the point." Colin
picked pine needles off a nearby branch avoiding her eyes.
    "You're losing him?" Barbara moved toward the
same tree, her hands idly plucking at a branch.
    "That's how it feels." His hands fell to his
sides, his head bent slightly down.
    "But he's so happy."
    "I know. I feel like a rat. I didn't know he
wanted to get married. I thought he still wanted to screw around."
Colin lifted his head and slowly started to walk back toward the
house.
    "Didn't you know about his marriage
list?"
    "Jenna said something once, but I didn't pay
attention. I thought she was kidding."
    "Grey's wanted to settle down for a long
time. You're not losing him, your relationship is changing, that's
all. Carrie is part of the equation now."
    "And she's already pissed at me…" He formed a
small snowball and tossed it at a tree trunk, scoring a direct
hit.
    "Whose fault is that?" Barbara shrugged.
    "Mine, I know. I was an idiot." Colin turned
to face her.
    "You're mad…"
    "Maybe…maybe more…disappointed." His toe dug
in the packed snow.
    "He loves being your big brother. You'll
never lose that. Give him a chance. Give Carrie a chance…"
    "Like I need another sister, right?"
    Barbara laughed. "If you're still 'hunting
chicks' maybe you do!" Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at her
brother.
    Colin cracked a grin.
    "So you'll give him a chance?" Barbara
persisted.
    "What choice do I have?"
    "Things change, baby brother. At least you'll
have plenty of memories of those wild days with Grey. Not like you
didn't spend time with him." She patted his shoulder.
    "I know. Didn't want it to end, though." He
cast a rueful smile at her.
    "Don't punish him for having a life. Show him
you're okay with Carrie and his marriage or you might lose him."
Barbara moved toward the house, tugging Colin's hand.
    "I'll try." He followed her, leaving the lake
behind.
    "That's all I ask."
    "What do you mean, lose him?" Colin stopped
short and pulled on Barbara's arm, turning her around.
    "Don't make him choose between you and his
marriage." "Oh. Right. Yeah. I won't."
    "Good." Barbara faced him squarely, putting
both hands on his shoulders.
    Barbara hugged him and he relaxed in her
embrace for a moment, his eyes bright with unshed tears. After she
let go, he turned away from her and blinked rapidly while he got
his emotions under control.
    "He loves you, you know."
    "Leave it to a girl to end up talking about
love."
    "I'm not a girl…I'm your sister."
    "As soon as you say 'love' it's the same
thing."
    "Cynic!"
    "Pollyanna!"
    "What have you got against love?"
    "I'm like Grey. Haven't experienced it yet."
Colin started