Page 5 of Versions Of Us

“I don’t know why you’re so shocked,” Liv laughs. “You’re the obvious choice for the job.”

“I’m just so excited! I’ve never been a maid of honour before.” I clap my hands together in delight. “This is going to be so much fun. There’s so much to plan!”

“Careful, Liv. You have no idea what kind of monster you’ve just unleashed.” EJ jokes.

“Hey!” I retaliate by reaching across the table to give him a light slap on the forearm, then turn my attention back to Liv. “Don’t listen to him. I’m not that bad. I just like to be organised.”

“I know you do. That’s why you’re the perfect person for the job,” Liv says.

“See?” I give EJ a smug look and a cheeky grin and then to Liv I say, “I’m going to plan the most epic bridal shower for you. I can’t wait!”

“Just make sure you don’t forget to actually, you know, hand out the invitations. We don’t need a repeat of your twelfth birthday.”

“EJ!” I shriek, a hand reaching out to slap his forearm again.

Liv’s eyes dart back and forth between the two of us, her forehead wrinkled in a frown.

EJ and I have known each other since we were kids and she’s aware of our brother/sister-like dynamic, but it’s obvious she’s utterly confused.

“Umm, what happened with the invitations?” she asks.

I sigh. “There was an unfortunate miscommunication resulting in a very unhappy birthday.”

EJ smirks mischievously. “Kristen thought her mum had taken care of distributing the invitations. Her mum thought she’d handed them out at school. I was the only one that showed up.”

“It’s kind of how we met actually,” I say. “Maggie had taken their family dog to the vet clinic…”

“Oscar,” EJ interrupts.

“Right. Oscar,” I continue. “And they’d gotten talking. EJ’s invite was the only invitation delivered by word of mouth. Hence, the reason he showed up.”

“Well, to be fair, my mum made me go.”

“Shut up!” I try to glare at him but I’m unable to hide the smile that forms at his teasing tone.

EJ is still chuckling at my reaction when Henley returns, his arms laden with a tray of drinks. He eyes him suspiciously, one side of his mouth turned up in a questionable smirk.

“What?” Henley asks.

“I can’t help but notice – and please, correct me if I’m wrong…” EJ begins. “You never actually paid for those.” He nods towards the assortment of beverages that Henley is now dividing between us on the table.

Henley waves a hand at him. “Take it out of my paycheck.”

“Uh huh.” EJ rolls his eyes, but his lips twist in a playful grin.

“Anyway, what did I miss?” Henley asks, the legs of the chair scraping along the hardwood floors as he sits.

“I get to be maid of honour,” I disclose, my hands still clasped together in exhilaration. I couldn’t contain my reaction if my life depended on it.

I expect Henley to roll his eyes or dismiss my excitement but once again I’m caught off guard by the brief smirk that touches his lips before he hides it behind his beer glass.

It may come as a surprise to many that Alex Henley is a softie at heart, but I’ve known it for quite some time. My eyes find his and there’s a secret message in them, meant only for me.

Alex Henley keeps everyone at an arm’s length.

Everyone except me.

“Obviously I’m going to need a best man.” EJ’s voice pulls his gaze away from mine.

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