Page 35 of I Think He Knows
I lean against a post to watch, and my phone buzzes in my hand. Carter’s calling.
I silence it. I’ll have to call him back.
My phone starts ringing again immediately.
I frown when I see the word “Dad” flashing across the screen. Weird, my father only calls me when he has a bone to pick. And I just saw him this morning at church; can’t imagine he would have missed an opportunity to do so in person.
A text comes through.
Carter:Call me ASAP.
Also weird. And demanding. Carter never uses phrases like “ASAP”—he’s way too laid back for yell-y capitalized acronyms. And am I not seeing him in a couple of hours?
Lana Mae:Just grabbing Legs from her dance class. Call you when I get home.
I barely have time to press send when my phone rings again. Luke, this time.
Our sibling group chat also has multiple new messages:
Mindy:I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it!
Annie:Is it for real? Because if it is, my celeb-obsessed former self is DYING.
Luke:Real or not, our dear father is losing his ever-loving mind right now, so if you wouldn’t mind calling him back there, Lan…
Luke:And also, if it is real, how does Carter feel about Cabo? Because I’m assuming Vegas is out of the question.
Mindy:You are also assuming you’re invited.
Liam:What on earth is everyone blabbering about? I am trying to take an important call, but my damn phone keeps pinging with notifications and interrupting me.
Annie:Welcome to the world of group chats, my love.
Liam:I don’t remember consenting to being a part of this.
What in the hecking heck is going on? I try to step around a smiling dance dad to get outside so I can call some of these people back, but I’m accosted by Lulu 1 and Lulu 2 halfway to the door.
“Lana! There you are!” Lulu 1 shrieks as she grabs my arm. “You’ll have to tell us everything.”
“Yes! How did it happen? I mean, how do you even know him in the first place?” Lulu 2 asks.
I blink at them, wondering if Starbucks accidentally spiked their lattes.
Not willing to take my chances, I smile, shake Lulu 1’s grip off me, and begin to move away. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you’re referring to, but I’m actually in a rush and…”
But then, Lulu 2 flutters her eyelashes and says, “Carter Callahan, imagine.”
Carter Callahan?
The five syllables of his name snag on my eardrums like fabric on a nail, and I stop dead in my tracks.
“You’ll have to spill your secrets, because I have to say, I was shocked.Shocked.” Lulu 1 gushes, her claws digging back in my arm. “You know, he’s my official Hall Pass. My hubby chose Mila Kunis, which is just soooo predictable.”
What in the name of all that is holy is this whacked-out woman talking about?
“For me, It was between Carter Callahan and Henry Cavill, but Henry seems more of the settling-down type so I figured I’d have less of a chance if I ever met him. Carter Callahan gives off that sexy, bad boy, eternal bachelor vibe, you know?” She shakes her head, tutting away. “But I was clearly wrong—obviously!—seeing as he’s getting MARRIED!”
The smoothie cup slips out of my hand and falls to the floor.