Page 7 of Deal Breaker
“Aren’t you driving up with Autumn?”
“No way. If you want me at the rehearsal dinner, there’s no way I’m driving up with the three of them. With Jodie’s navigating skills, we’d be lucky to be there in time for the wedding itself.” The thought of being stuck in the car with the three of them made me shudder. Even though we were older now, sibling tensions still kicked in. Especially in confined spaces, like a car. If all of us wanted to attend the wedding, it was definitely a good idea for us to travel separately.
“Oh, I want you at the rehearsal dinner. We’ve got some sick things planned.” Joshua chuckled, and instantly I knew there would be drinking games.
“Come on, buddy, we have to be super responsible at the dinner. You want to get married, right?”
“Of course I do!” He let out a hard breath. “Okay, okay, we’ll be responsible.”
“It’s okay for you, you’re marrying the love of your life. I’m stuck with my sister and all her friends.” The thought was only slightly terrifying. “I must really like you if I’m putting myself through that.”
Joshua laughed. “Drink enough, Max, and you won’t even notice.”
The foreman shouted something at me, gesturing to the silent drill at my feet.
I waved back at him, knowing I’d been talking too long. He didn’t mind us taking a break, but I didn’t want him to think I was slacking on the job.
“Gotta go, I’ll see you on Friday.”
“Looking forward to it. It’s going to be epic.”
I laughed as I hung up. Only Joshua would describe his upcoming wedding as epic.
* * *
“Areyou sure you don’t want to drive up with us?”
I had Autumn on speaker while I rustled up some dinner. Well, more like leftovers supplemented with whatever happened to be in my refrigerator. I hadn’t had the chance to go grocery shopping, and with the upcoming wedding, there didn’t seem much point in buying stuff I wasn’t going to eat before I went since it would go out of date by the time I got back.
“I’ve got the rehearsal dinner, remember? So I need to be therepromptly.” I emphasized the last word.
“Have you got a problem with Jodie’s driving?” accused Autumn.
“No.” That part was actually true. I wasn’t bothered about a woman driving; I simply wanted to be at the Holiday Springs resortbeforethe festivities kicked off.
“Then what?”
Glad we weren’t video-calling so she couldn’t see me roll my eyes, I lied. “Spending that long in a car with you and your friends would be hell.”
“Well, that’s just lovely, isn’t it?” huffed Autumn. “Why don’t you like my friends?”
If anything, it was the opposite which was the problem. I liked Sophie a little too much. Even if she didn’t know and I couldn’t admit that to anyone. I could barely admit it to myself. “You know I like your friends. I tolerated them enough when we were younger.”
Autumn grumbled down the line. “And I yours. Joshua, for one.”
“Remember Friday night sleepovers?” I shoved some chips and dip into my mouth, crunching noisily.
“Me and Soph watching movies and eating pizza. You and Joshua playing some dumb video game. Fun times.”
“Online game, please.”
“Oh, don’t make it sound even more geeky than it actually was. Honestly, it’s a wonder either of you ever got girls to be interested in you.”
She had a point. Thankfully, we’d both grown up and grown out of the gaming phase once we’d joined the football team. Although I didn’t let on, I sometimes had a go onGrand Theft Auto, only for old times’ sake.
“So, you’re definitely not coming with us?” pressed Autumn.
Sometimes I wondered if my sister ever actually listened to a word I said.
