Page 21 of Two Is Better Than One

"Three hundred?"

"Yes."

"For each of us?"

"Yes."

"I go to brunch on Sunday, and they are going to give me three hundred dollars… to go to brunch?"

"Yes."

"Am I eating brunch?"

"I doubt it. Why are you being stubborn about this I thought it was a no-brainer. You're trying to invest."

"I guess the money's a no-brainer," AJ said with a shrug. "Thanks."

"I'll tell them you're in," Casey said. "You've got to be there at nine-thirty on Sunday."

***

It seemed like more than a day and a half had passed after that. AJ stayed busy all weekend, and by the time Sunday morning rolled around, he felt like it had been a week since his cousin had asked him about brunch.

He drove Casey over there, and they met the girls at the hotel. The girls and Brooks were all going to the brunch, and they talked about different things regarding the host and what to expect. AJ would drive separately while everyone else rode with the driver. When it came time for Summer to leave, everyone would go with her and AJ would be the one to stay with Allie and drive her home.

Casey seemed to be fine with his plan even though he clearly had a thing for Allie. He wasn't showing it at all today. He acted completely professional the whole time—not smiling and carrying on like he did Friday in the parking lot.

AJ watched brunch from the side like a fly on the wall, and one thing he kept noticing over and over again was that he didn't like Garrett Coleman. The guy was the center of attention at this party, and he didn't deserve it. He wasn't interesting or funny, or even nice. He was so excited about Summer going there that AJ wondered if he even liked Allie. But, no. Everyone seemed to like Allie. Even Casey couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

It didn’t matter. He wasn't going to say anything. He would make sure Allie got to and from here to there safely, and he would get paid. That was that. It was a job and nothing more.

But then he would focus on her again. She had on a little dress. He had never seen her in a dress, and he found that it was difficult to concentrate when he looked at her. All day, he acted like a complete professional, and to do that he had to maintain little to no visual contact at all with Allie Stockton. He talked to Summer more than he talked to Allie.

And then just like that, Summer was calling it a day, and leaving. AJ had been sitting on the other side of Brooks, and he moved when Brooks, Summer, and Casey left.

He took the spot next to Allie. "I'm glad they finally left," she said. "I haven't talked to you all morning."

AJ smiled nonchalantly at her, and she pulled back and studied him.

"I liked you the last time we hung out. You smiled more and you talked to me more. You were friendlier."

"I'm just here working," AJ said. "I'm not trying to mess things up between you and Garrett… or Casey."

"One, Garrett knows you’re here working, and two, I don't like him. And what about Casey?"

"I thought you liked Garrett," AJ said.

"I don't. I hoped I would have fun today, which I have, but I didn't stay here because I like Garrett. In fact, I'm ready to go. The only reason I did stay later than my sister was that I was hoping I could hang out with you for a minute after this."

AJ wanted nothing more than to spend time with her, but he remembered his cousin's face at the condo.

"I have a… a thing with my friends," AJ said in spite of himself. "Casey told me this would only be a few hours today."

"Yeah, of course," Allie said, obviously offended. AJ could see disappointment in her expression and it caused his chest to tighten.

Garrett had walked away for a minute, so they had been free to talk, but he came back just then and sat on the other side of Allie.

"I actually have to go," Allie said, turning to Garrett. "Thank you so much for having us. Everything was wonderful."

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