Page 69 of The Retreat

“Do I pass your test?” I ask, putting my hand back on my head to rub the sore spot.

“No, you haven’t seen me in weeks.”

“I was gone for two weeks…” I stare at him.

“And you return and I don’t see you, but your fake husband does?” Is Oliver upset?

I didn’t think that could happen. “I live with Colin.”

“But you don’t make time for me?” Oliver presses his lips into a hard line. “Not even at family dinners?”

“You go to those?”

“I mean dinners with my family and yours.”

I scrunch up my face. “Are you dying?”

“No.” His tone tells me not to test him.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been preoccupied and didn’t know you wanted to have dinner with us.” Or see Colin at all for that matter.

“I sent an invitation,” Oliver snaps.

“A what?”

“An invitation,” he says, over enunciating the words.

“You sent an invitation to my house?” I haven’t seen anything.

“I had Isaac do it. He got embossed stationary and everything.”

I pull my phone out of my pocket, calling Colin. “Did we get an invite for dinner at Oliver’s?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.

“I thought Oliver was making fun of us. It was addressed to me like I’m your wife,” Colin scoffs.

“Is he a moron?” Oliver asks. “There is proper etiquette for addressing invitations. Is no one even civil any longer?”

“Fuck you,” Colin snaps back. “Mr. and Mr. Owen Godfrey,” he mutters, but his voice softens. “Oh…”

“I am literally surrounded by idiots.” Oliver rubs his temples. “Dinner is tonight. Do not be late.” Like he’s James fucking Bond, he throws open the door as the car glides to a stop with his last word, and he gets out in front of his office like he timed it that way.

“That was the weirdest encounter I’ve ever had with my brother.”

“That was the weirdest?” Colin asks skeptically.

“Yes, he hates family dinners with my parents, and now he’s making us come to them? Like we are really married.” I can’t wrap my head around it. “Is he becoming our mother?”

“That is weird…”

“I know. What is going to happen at this dinner, and why is he treating us like a married couple?”

“Now I’m worried. I think I need a new crop top for this.”

“Colin, do not poke the bear. Please.”

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