Strangely Normal - By Tess Oliver Page 0,30

over my shoulder. “Where are those tennis courts?”

“Across the lawn and down a slope of grass.” She looked in the direction of the courts. “Someday we’ll make it out there. Do you play?”

“Yeah. It’s a sport I actually like. I’ve only ever played at school, of course. We decided not to renew our county club membership this year,” I laughed.

“Believe me, those memberships come with a lot of rules as my rather promiscuous rock star dad discovered one day. He was stripped of his membership, and I’m pretty sure he’s on every country club’s no entry list from here to New York.”

I looked over at her. “Really?”

“Yes. Apparently sex in a golf cart” she lifted her fingers into an air quote “is frowned upon.”

“Finley,” Jude called from the pool area.

“Over here, Jude.”

He came dashing around the hedge as if someone was chasing him and from the look on his face it must have been the devil. He slowed and quickly regained his usual cool composure once he saw his sister was all right. He strolled toward us, flanked on each side by an Irish wolfhound, which only enhanced that breath stealing aura that surrounded him.

“A long, black frock coat and some tall black boots and he could be Mr. Darcy of Pemberley,” I said out of the side of my mouth. He seemed to always sense the impact his presence had on me and I really hated that.

He lifted his phone. “Where’s your phone, Doolittle. I was trying to call you.”

Finley pressed her hand against her pocket. “I left it in the kitchen.”

Jude stopped at the end of the hedge and took a double glance at it. Then his green gaze focused on me, and I flashed him a confident grin.

“You went past the hedge,” he said.

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Finley quipped. “And I’m not making you lunch if that’s what you’re out here for.”

“No,” he hesitated, “I was just worried about you. You didn’t answer your phone. But I can see you’re fine.” He turned and left. Damn, if he didn’t look just as good walking away as walking toward.

“That’s cute that he was worried about you,” I said.

“I suppose,” Finley said. “I think it was less worry about me and more curiosity about my new friend. I can see the way he keeps an eye on you.”

I stood and brushed the grass from my bottom. “Yeah, like someone keeps an eye on a pimple growing on their forehead.”

I reached down and she put her hand in mine. I pulled her to her feet. “Say what you will, but I know my brother.” We walked back to the hedge. Finley stopped and looked back over the grass. “It was a small accomplishment, but that was good, Eden. Thanks.”

CHAPTER 10

Finley and Some Pig trotted into my room while I was still in bed. Finley slid under the covers. “Becky is coming tomorrow,” she said.

I stretched and yawned. “Who’s Becky?” I glanced at the clock. “It’s ten? I can’t believe I slept so late.”

“Yeah, I was wondering if you were ever going to get up. Becky is my tattoo artist. Well, she’s not my tattoo artist, but she does all the family tattoos.”

“So she’s the official King family tattoo artist. That is an auspicious title indeed.”

“I know, right? She said she’ll do a spray of stars on your shoulder at no charge. And I have to convince Jude to draw me a picture of Some Pig for the tattoo. I was thinking of putting a little suit and tie on him.”

I sat up. “Or you could just let him look like a pig.”

“You think? Maybe.”

“Did I hear voices downstairs earlier?”

She slid out of bed. “Cole had a bunch of food and beers delivered for his party. Oh yeah, the main reason I came in here was to tell you that your mom called. We had a long chat this morning while you snoozed.”

“She did? Is something wrong?”

“Step off the panic button, my friend. Nothing is wrong. They’re going up north to check out some fry cook job for your dad, and they’ll be back in three days. Oh, and let’s see, I talked to Sophie, and it turns out that Parker Smith, the boy who liked to push her, actually really liked her. And he gave her a candy necklace on the last day of school, but Janie licked it and now it’s too sticky to wear. I explained to her that stickiness was one of the pitfalls of jewelry made from