Page 19 of Broken Dreams
“I figured after last night you’d take a break. How did things end with Mr. Married-With-Two-Kids? Is tonight your second date?” I ask, genuinely curious how she’ll explain this one. Rowan and I went to dinner at Sugarlips and Addison was there with yet another disastrous date.
Interesting, since I never thought Addison was the kind of woman to sleep with another woman’s husband, but what the fuck do I know? I have seen cheating far too often in the military to be fazed by any of it.
She glowers at me. “No, no second date since his wife probably wouldn’t like it.”
“That’s a shame, he seemed like he had potential,” I joke.
Addison rolls her eyes. “I used to think you were charming.”
Brynn laughs. “Think again. I didn’t realize you guys knew each other so well.”
“Elodie and Jett are in the same class. We met and I told you I brought her to work when her car broke down.”
My sister gasps. “Oh! That’s right! Sorry, I’ve been in the middle of an arbitration the last two weeks and my brain is a little scattered. Plus, I’m studying for the bar exam.”
“Come to think of it, I’d say we’re friends. Right, Addison?”
She glances at each of us and nods. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“See?” I say, feeling quite triumphant. My sister wanted me to make friends, and I did exactly that. “I have a friend.”
Addison tilts her head. “I think I’m missing something.”
“Just my asshat brother who refuses to move on with his life, that’s all.” She waves me off. “Are you here with anyone? If not, you can sit with us.”
“I would love to, but my dates are here.”
“Dates, as in plural?” I wait for clarification.
She laughs. “Yes, Devney and Chloe.”
A date with her friends. I feel stupid now.
Brynn looks around. “Oh, they’re here too! I didn’t know they were coming this year.”
Addison nods. “They’re somewhere. This is our favorite thing in the town.”
“The play?” Brynn asks with wide eyes.
“It’s truly like a train wreck you can’t look away from, but they try. So, we come, sit near the front, clap loudly, and do our best to enjoy it.”
I turn to my sister. “You said it was good.”
“I said it was entertaining,” she corrects.
Great, I let her drag me out for a play that is apparently terrible but entertaining.
“You also said moving to Sugarloaf would be a good idea.”
Addison grins. “I love it here, but it takes a bit until you find the fun.”
Find the fun? What the hell does that even mean? I don’t have time to find fun, I need to find four million dollars, that’s what I need.
Brynn leans forward. “He’s really afraid to open himself up. He’s trying to land this investment, but he isn’t seeing that if he does what they want and what I want, he’d be killing two birds with one stone.”
I’m going to kill her with one stone. “Brynn,” I warn. “Seriously, enough.”
I don’t need to look like some loser in front of anyone here.
