Page 97 of Broken Hearts
“What?”
“It’s not that big of a town, and I’d rather Carrie’s family not hear the news from the local gossip.”
“Are you going to tell them?” Adam asks.
“I don’t know. How do you bring that up?” I shake my head.
“Get through the weekend and then…” His words trail off.
And then what? Grow a new heart and brain? Forget this ever happened?
“Thank you guys for being here.” I toss back the liquor. Logically I know I have to be drunk by now, but I feel nothing.
“Are you kidding? We fly together. Quack, quack, quack.” Mav flaps his arms.
“Uhhh, what?” I’m not drunk enough to understand whatever he’s communicating. Or too drunk, hard to say.
“Mighty Ducks!”
“No.” Adam shakes his head. “Never refer to us as the Mighty Ducks again.”
“Why not?” Mav looks crestfallen. “You can be Charlie.”
“Who does that make you?” I ask.
“Please, I’m a bash brother, of course.”
“Of course,” I say, looking to Adam.
Adam’s phone pings. I’m sure it’s Reagan. I don’t ask, just go back to staring down into my beer.
“Heard from Sienna?” Adam asks, setting his phone on the bar. It pings again, and this time I glance down to see Reagan’s name flash across the screen.
“Yeah, she’s been great.” I wish she were here so badly, but maybe it’s a good thing considering Carrie’s parents might think we were still dating.
“I need to book my flight back tomorrow. What time you think?” Mav asks.
“You guys don’t need to stay. I appreciate it, but there’s nothing to do.”
“There’s an eleven o’clock or a five.”
“Five puts us back at what time?” Adam asks.
They’re checking airlines to find the best option and I’m wondering what the hell I’m even doing here.
“Let’s do the eleven o’clock.” I drain the rest of my glass and seriously consider ordering an entire bottle of Captain Morgan.
The heavy silence and sad eyes Mav gives me is the only reason I don’t.
“Isn’t the funeral at ten? We’ll never make it on time.” Adam finishes his beer. “You want another drink?”
“No, I’m good.” It’s my new favorite phrase. Succinct and total bullshit. “Book it. I’ve done what I came here for.”
I stand and stumble over my own feet.
“Woah, there.” Adam steadies me, Mav goes to the other side, and they hold me up.
“See?” Mav grins. He whispers, “Quack, quack, quack.”
