Page 10 of How to Deal

It’s a little after eight that night when Oliver and I are lying on my bed eating a bowl of Cheerios. He likes sharing a bowl of cereal before bed.

When I’m finished, because he licked my spoon, we discuss my plan in more detail while Oliver drinks the milk left in the bowl.

“I know it may seem wrong, but it’s a good plan, don’t you think?”

Oliver lifts his head and cocks it to the side. I wish he could talk to me. I feel like maybe he might be my soul mate and the relationship would be better if he spoke.

Just as I’m contemplating going to bed early—pathetic I know—my cell phone rings. I know who it is even before I look at the screen. There’s only one person who calls me after 8:00 p.m.

“What, Casey?” I hold the phone against my ear and shoulder, using my hands to pet Oliver. Puppy fur is hard to resist.

“Meet us at the Red Revolver,” she shouts, her voice so loud Oliver jumps into my arms.

“I can’t,” I tell her. “I threw my back out.”

She laughs. “How?”

“Lifting Oliver.”

“He’s ten pounds.” She laughs again, knowing damn well I’m lying. “How did you manage that?”

“Oh, please, he’s at least eleven.”

Casey attempts to change the subject. “Zane is here, and I only have a few weeks of freedom left. Youhave tocome down here with us. It’s your maid of honor required duty.”

Maid of honor required duty? Another one?

Bryan, Casey’s fiancé, is amazing, but Casey is still having prewedding jitters, and it’s apparent on nights like this—while he’s out of town and she’s at the bar. It’s not like she’s going to go home with a guy or anything. She just likes the nightlife.

I can’t blame her. We’re twenty-three. It’s not like we’re old enough to be settling down.

And then she hits me with the hammer. Not literally, but she might as well have when she whispers, “The Madsen brothers are here.”

Did I mention Tathan has brothers?

If I didn’t, it was because I wanted to forget that part. Imagine what three Madsen brothers are capable of. Perfection. Beauty. Sex appeal. The list is essentially endless and anytime I’m in the same room with all of them, it’s like I suddenly have cerebral palsy and drool.

And then I think, how did I not hear Tathan leaving his man cave? Probably because I’m in my bedroom and I can’t hear his door from here.

“Girl, you know you want to come out. All you’re doing is sitting at home with Oliver and I’m guessing you’ve had your cereal already.”

Damn, she knows me pretty well. No matter how hard I try not to admit it, knowing all three Madsen brothers are in one place is incredibly tempting. It’s like knowing a celebrity is at the restaurant you’re dining at and trying like hell not to ask the waiter to move you to a table closer just so you can stare at them and their beauty.

Casey knows how to get to me. Though I despise the way Tathan’s presence controls me, his brothers are less obnoxious and just as hot to look at. Where’s the harm in wanting to lick them. . . I mean stare at them?

They’re a beautiful family. If I were their parents, I would have kept having kids just because they were genetically perfect in every way. The Madsen boys consist of the oldest, James, who owns a restaurant in Scottsdale that serves the most amazing pulled pork sandwich I’ve ever had in my life. I go there just to stare at him because he’s nothing like Tathan other than he’s drop-dead gorgeous. He’s also married so all I do is drool—I mean look.

Kelly is another brother, the middle child, and no one exactly knows what Kelly does besidesoccasionallyshowing up at work, and looking pretty.

And then there’s Tathan. I have no clue what the fuck he does at work unless his number one priority at his job is to make me miserable. If so, he’s doing great and deserves a raise.

Still, the offer to go out is now there, and I want to accept. I really do.

“Please come!” Casey’s begs.

I sigh, trying to pretend like she’s inconveniencing me, though she knows I’ll give in. “I don’t know. Doesn’t that place have a twenty-dollar cover?” Given my shopping habit, and really expensive apartment, I’m habitually broke. If you’ve ever seen my car, you’d know my priorities lie with my clothing.

“Yeah, but it’s ladies’ night. You get in for free.” Amongst the background noise, I can hear Zane bitching about how he should have gotten in for free too. He gets upset about gender-specific deals. He is one of the girls after all.

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