****
Too shocked to speak, I watched Walt open the tiny broom closet in the cabin and drag the vacuum out. He whistled as he unraveled the cord and plugged it into the wall. A kick of his heel on the machine, and it started up. He commenced rolling it back and forth over the small living room rug.
I wasn’t sure what I was thinking when I stormed over and yanked the plug from the wall. I wasn’t thinking. I was just feeling.
Walt whirled around. “Hey! What’d you do that for?”
“Lindy?”
“That’s what I said.”
“My sister.”
“Last I checked she was your sister. Yeah.” He plugged the vacuum in. I yanked the cord out again. Walt frowned at me, blinking rapidly. “What the hell is your problem?”
“You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re just busting my balls.”
Walt walked toward me, coming so close I took a step back. “You have a problem with me dating your sister?”
“No. Yes. Why would you want to?”
“Why would you want to date my brother?”
I flushed. “Because.”
“Great answer. Pithy.”
“Because Shea’s kind and charming and we like each other. And he asked.”
Poking his index finger into my chest, Walt said, “Bingo!”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t even know her.”
“I’ve known her as long as you’ve known Shea.”
I had no response. He was right.
Walt glanced at the vacuum, at me, then headed into the kitchen instead, kneeling and pulling bleach spray from under the sink.
I followed him, watching as he began scrubbing the sink and countertops. “You’re not kidding. Lindy really asked you out?”
Walt turned the faucet sprayer and splashed me.
“Hey!” I choked, wiping my face with my tee shirt. “What the fuck?”
Chuckling, Walt continued cleaning. “Just trying to cool you off. You seem a bit heated.”
“I just can’t believe Lindy would ask you out.”
“Oh thanks. That’s flattering.”
“No, I mean...not that you’re not....”
He shut the tap off and faced me, arms crossed over his chest. “Go on.”
“Not that you’re not attractive. Or likeable or whatever. I just didn’t think you were her type.”
“What type is that?”
“Forget it. I’m gonna clean the bathroom.”
I went and grabbed the mop, hearing Walt chuckle. “You seem bothered, Mr. Applegate.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” I opened the wooden door to the small bathroom, using a bit too much force, and it banged against the wall. I grabbed a can of cleaner and sprayed the sink.
“You don’t seem fine.”
I turned abruptly, finding Walt right behind me, standing in the doorway. “I am fine. Can you back up please? This bathroom is tiny.”
“Just think,” he said. “What if things work out, and Lindy and I get married?”
The cleaning spray dropped from my hand. “Married?”
He shrugged, brown eyes twinkling. “You never know. Then you and I wouldn’t just be bros. We’d be bros-in-law. How cool is that?”
“That could never happen. Now can you please back up? You’re like a fifth wall. It’s claustrophobic.”
“Of course it could happen!” he said. “Or, I could marry Lindy, and then you could marry Shea, and we’d be double bros-in-law. Or would that be...bros-in-laws-in-law?” He rubbed his chin, frowning. “Not sure. Is there a legal term for it?”
My eyes narrowed. I noted the twitch of his lips, the dimple creases on his cheeks. “You prick. You are fucking with me, aren’t you?”
Reaching out, Walt grabbed my face in his hands, grinning. “Yes, Julien.” He ruffled my hair then stepped back. “I’m fucking with you.” Laughing, he turned and went back to the kitchen.
I followed. “Wait...really?”
His back shook as laughter rolled out of him. Turning, he pointed a finger at me. “You should have seen your face.”
“You asshole! So you’re not going out with Lindy?”
“I’m not going out with Lindy. She’s already dating some guy, by the way. You might want to check in with her life now and then. She is your little sister after all.”
“That wasn’t funny. You’re not funny.”
“Oh, I’m funny.”
“You’re a fucking—” He sprayed me with the faucet hose again, and I lunged at him, ripping it from his hand. “I’m gonna murder you,” I said, but couldn’t suppress my laughter.
“No, you’re not.” He slipped his arm under my knee, lifting. “You’re not fast enough.”
“Let go of my leg.” I laughed as he dragged me out of the kitchen, forcing me to lean on his shoulder and hop on one foot. “Walt, let go!”
“Okay, if you insist.”
He let go and I teetered over, landing on the scratchy sofa.
Walt smiled down at me. “Now you know how I feel.”
I sat up, smiling. “About what?”
He walked away. I watched as he plugged in the vacuum. “You dating my little brother.”
My heart skipped and heat rushed to my face. “Wait…what?”
Walt reached into his pocket and tossed something at me. “Think fast!”
I caught it, then looked down at the Peppermint Pattie resting in my palm. My breath hitched. I looked over at Walt, who smiled at me before turning away. The vacuum roared to life, and he went at the rug again, ignoring me. I stared at him, but he remained focused on his task.
I looked at the candy, turning it over in my fingers. Bringing it to my nose, I inhaled the minty scent as ancient memories surfaced, catapulting me back to junior high. Remembering the warm brush of his fingers as he’d pass me in the hallway between classes, discreetly sliding a Peppermint Pattie into my hand. The thrill I’d get that he’d thought of me, remembered my favorite candy.
I looked over at him now, his back to me as he vacuumed. “Walt,” I called out. He ignored me, though I was certain he heard me.
Finally, I got up, sliding the candy into my pocket, and went back into the bathroom to finish cleaning. Confusion, my old companion, had returned. With a vengeance.