by Ryan Michele
“M&M’s and root beer,” Drew said, getting up from the stool.
“You want to make floats?” I asked with a smile on my lips, remembering when we were kids that was one of our favorites.
“Sounds good.” Drew disappeared toward the bathroom.
The heat of Quinn’s stare warmed the side of my face. I met her gaze, and she had this dopey expression waiting for me. “What?”
“I don’t want you to get a big head, but you’re kind of perfect, Conner Davenport.”
“Kind of? Pfftt, we both know that I was molded from perfection.” I leaned in to capture her mouth. We shared a quick peck because we both needed to brush our teeth. “Get dressed.”
“So bossy. Hey, you know that Carrie will be miffed if we don’t invite her to movie night.”
“Yeah, you can call her from the store. I’m not ready to share you yet.” I had plans for Quinn. Those plans banked on attacking her the second she was out of the shower at her place.
Lashes fluttering, her teeth sank into her bottom lip. The sight had me going hard as a damn rock.
Quinn pushed off the stool and went to change. I cleaned up from cooking breakfast, shoving my dirty dishes into the dishwasher for later.
I trudged down the hallway to my bedroom with a goofy grin plastered on my face. Drew was in the shower, and Quinn was in my room. I had my family back. It had been far too long. A fullness that I didn’t realize was so empty started to repair itself.
Once Carrie arrived our foursome would be complete. Like it was always meant to be. Life and time had sent us in separate directions, but now we were back.
Quinn sat on the edge of my bed fastening her heels.
I went to the closet to grab jeans and a tee. Her arms circled my waist, chin tucked into my shoulder and breathing me in. I stilled in her embrace, letting the moment wash over me, knowing I liked the feel of having her here.
It was where she was meant to be and where she would stay.
19
Quinn
No really, it’s adorable how you blame everyone else for your problems but yourself.
After spending most of my weekend with Conner and Drew, I went home to get ready for my work week ahead. Carrie wasn’t able to do movie night with us, but she was coming over tonight for sangria and tacos. I wanted to pick her brain about my brother and this whole Rebecca wedding situation.
Conner and I were on the same page with it, but maybe Carrie had other insights. One could hope anyway.
The laundry churned in the washer, and I turned the TV on to drown out the sound. I had my schedule open, preparing my workload for the week, when my cell phone started buzzing so fast I thought it’d blow up.
Drew—Warning, sis.
Drew—I called off the wedding.
Drew—I’m fine.
Quinn—For real?
Drew—Yeah, I’ll talk later. But Rebecca is on the war path.
Of course, she was.
Quinn—Okay, later. I’m proud of you for doing the right thing for YOU. Love you, big brother. I’m here when you need me.
I tossed my phone onto the cushion next to me and rolled my eyes. She probably hated that her dream wedding wouldn’t be happening, but I doubted the bitch felt heartbroken at the fact she lost Drew. Which was the entire reason for my brother not to commit himself to her.
I picked my phone up to text Carrie and Conner, though, they both had probably heard. News traveled fast in our circle. I couldn’t believe Drew finally had the balls to call things off. It elated me.
My brother loved Rebecca, but happiness bubbled in my chest because he’d seen her for the monster she truly was. It was about damn time too. She wouldn’t have made him happy for the rest of his life.
All a sister wanted for her sibling was to be with someone who would bring them happiness and respected the man he was. Rebecca wasn’t the one for him. He deserved better, and now he could go and find it.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Loud, angry bangs sounded at my door.
Letting out a sigh, I had one guess who I’d find on the other side. I had no obligation to answer. I could pretend not to be home, but part of me yearned to see the look on her face and smell her desperation. It was catty, but she deserved it.
I looked a mess; hair piled in a messy bun on my head, dressed in one of Conner’s old tees I swiped from him this morning, and a pair of leggings. I didn’t care what Rebecca thought of me. Not everyone sat around looking perfect all the time, nor did I want to.
Twisting the handle, I braced for the onslaught that awaited.
“You,” she screeched, the high-pitched tone piercing my ears the moment I opened the door.
“Come in, Becky.” I didn’t want to invite the crazy bitch in, but I also didn’t want her making a scene for my neighbors to gossip about at their next cookout. And I knew Becky could put on a hell of a show.
Storming past me, I had never seen Rebecca look worse. Her blonde curly hair was pulled into a clip, greasy at the roots. I couldn’t believe she left the house without makeup. Without all the extras to make her look good like false eyelashes, mascara, blush, and lipstick, Rebecca was quite plain. “Cut the shit, Quinn. You know I loathe being called Becky.”
I shut the door and tried not to smirk at the name. “What do you want? You don’t like me, and I sure as hell don’t like you.”
Arms crossing at her chest she huffed and puffed, her gaze shooting venom. “This is your fault.”
“What is?” I kept my face blank.
“Don’t act like you don’t know. Andrew broke off our engagement. He said he was done with me. You put him up to this, hissing in his ear like a serpent. Telling him how much of a cow I am to you, and how much you hate me. That he shouldn’t marry me. You did this. You ruined everything. You just had to show me up on every challenge in Vegas. Wanted to prance around with Conner, rubbing yourselves in my face.”
I snorted at her ridiculousness. “Drew’s a grown man. If he doesn’t want to marry you, it has nothing to do with me. Maybe you need to go home and take a good look in the mirror, and look inward. Drew finally wised up to what a miserable shrew you are. Have you stopped to think for one second about how you’ve made the wedding all about you and what you want? Did you even for one second think it might be important for Drew to have people in the wedding who mean something to him? No, you didn’t. All you cared about was matching up people’s height for your photographs when the most important thing about the wedding should be marrying the man you’re supposed to love. You don’t love my brother. You only love the idea of this perfect persona you’ve conjured up in your head. You didn’t involve his family in the wedding. You were a total bitch when my mother gave you the most awesome gift at your shower. So yeah, I’m tickled to damn death that he is choosing his own happiness and well-being over a lifetime of misery with you.”
Her mouth dropped. Bottom lip trembling. “I have never…” She trailed off, at a loss for words. The bitch couldn’t even muster up fake tears.
“You’re only upset because you’re afraid of what people will say behind your back. Do yourself and Drew a favor. Suck it up and walk away. You should want more for him. If you ever cared about him at all, you’ll let him go with a clean break. He deserves that after all the bullshit he’s suffered from being with you.”
“I’ll get him back. And when I do, he’ll never, ever invite you into our lives.”
“Good luck with that, Becky. It’s time for you to run along now.”
I moved to the front door and held it open for her. She needed to go before I threw her out.
It took a few moments, and her exit wasn’t graceful. No, it reminded me of a temper tantrum a child would make. Suited her.
“You did not say that to her,” Carrie said, letting out a satisfied squeal while pouring our wine into glasses.
“Hell yes, I did. That conversation was long overdue. I only wished I had laid into her more.”
“You’re so bad. I lo
ve it.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m a total bad ass.” I grabbed the serving tray and carried it out to the back patio, placing it on the table. Carrie followed with our drinks. “Help yourself. I just gotta get the sour cream and guac.”
Carrie scooped up her tortilla chip full of salsa. “Do you think he’s going to stick with it, though?”
“Who Drew?” I placed the condiments next to the tortillas and started building my taco.
“Yeah. He called it off, but do you think he’ll get back with her?”
“You should have come to movie night. If you’d seen my brother laughing and carrying on the way he did, you’d thought aliens abducted him. I hadn’t heard him laugh or seen him smile like that in so long I had forgotten how fun he could be.”
“I’m sorry I missed that.” Her blue eyes glittered, resembling Conner’s, and I found myself already missing him.
“Me too. We all missed you.”
“There’ll be other nights.”
“True.”
“So, you and my brother?” Her brows arched as she shoved more salsa between her pouty lips.
“We’re taking things as they come, but yeah. I mean, I like him.”
“I know.” She giggled, lifting her glass. “A Toast. To happiness.”
I lifted my glass, clinking it against hers. “To happiness. Now we gotta get you a man.”
“I’m good.”
“Carrie … do you know I always had this wild fantasy that I’d marry Conner and Drew would marry you, so it’d always be just the four of us.”
“What?” Her eyes bulged, and her drink sloshed over the rim as she coughed.
Patting her on the back, I laughed. “Geez, don’t die on me. Hear me out. The four of us have always been together. Have you ever thought about Drew?”
“He’s not ready for anything right now.”
“Maybe, but when I told him you weren’t coming last night… He looked disappointed.”
“Really?”
“Mhmm. It got me thinking that I knew who my brother truly belonged with is you.”
“Stop it. Drew doesn’t see me that way.”
“What if he always held back like Conner did with me?” I shrugged. “You know, we should invite them over. We have plenty of tacos and sangria.” I pulled out my phone, firing off the invites.
Carrie shook her head. “Stop that. Just because I played matchmaker to give you and Conner a nudge in the right direction doesn’t mean the same applies to Drew and me.”
“Too late.” I held my phone up, waving the messages in her face.
“You’re such a shit.”
“Don’t act like you never thought about dating my brother, and like you aren’t smiling at the thought of him showing up tonight.”
“Fine. Do I look okay?”
“You’ve got a little salsa on your chin, but you forget Drew has seen you at your worst and at your best.”
“Yeah, I know.” We busied ourselves getting things ready.
Conner was the first to show. “Can’t stay away, can you, buttercup?” He leaned down to kiss my forehead.
“Guilty as charged.”
“What are you two up to tonight? Raising a little hell?”
“We’ve been placing our bets on whether or not Drew and Rebecca make up.”
“So he really went through with it?”
“Mhmm. I was graced with a visit from Becky. She accused me of ruining their relationship. Like I can control what my brother does.”
“He won’t have her back.”
“How do you know?” Carrie questioned Conner.
“When has Drew ever gone back to anything after quitting? Remember when he thought he wanted to play baseball, though, we all knew football was his passion. Or the time he thought he wanted to be a journalist.”
“This is different. Rebecca isn’t a hobby. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the woman.” Carrie downed more sangria while her brother studied her. I could see the dots connecting in his head. I squeezed his hand under the table.
“What do you want on your tacos?” I pushed my chair back, changing the subject.
“Here you guys are.” Drew came around the side of the house. “I knocked for five minutes.”
There was something different about him. The way he carried himself felt lighter. His jaw wasn’t tight like it had been the week we spent in Las Vegas. He was the Drew before getting wrapped up in Rebecca. His shirt was untucked and hair a bit mussed. I missed him so much.
He came to the table and looked down at us.
“Have a drink.” Carrie passed him a glass.
“Thanks, Carebear.” I didn’t miss the wink he shot her way or the way her blue eyes lit up hearing the nickname he used on her when we were kids.
“No problem.”
Drew took up the chair between Carrie and Conner and grabbed a plate. “This is what I needed. Good food and the people I care about most. To new beginnings.” He held up his glass, and the rest of us followed.
“To fresh starts,” Carrie announced, bumping her glass with his.
“New rule. Every Sunday we get together for dinner, or at least once a month.” I looked around the table waiting for them each to agree.
“I think it sounds perfect, babe.”
“I’d like that,” Carrie said, going for more chips and salsa.
“I’m game.” Drew dug into his tacos, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Well, isn’t this cute. The four amigos back together again. I bet you’re all happy that Drew walked out on me,” Rebecca said snidely as she entered my backyard, shocking the shit out of all of us.
As our gazes all snapped that way, a ripple went through us. One of warning and tension. I could almost taste it in the air with her presence. With every step she took closer it became thicker and thicker.
I went to get up, and my brother’s chair scooted back on the cement with a creaking sound.
“No. Allow me. This is my home. She’s not invited or welcome here,” I said to him, motioning for him to sit down. Conner squeezed my thigh as my focus went solely on good old Becky bitch. “Becky, I don’t recall inviting you onto my property. This is a private party. One you weren’t invited to. My brother has made his wishes clear. The wedding is over, and so are you.”
“Andrew is a big boy. He can speak for himself.” Her eyes narrowed on me; the claws were coming out. Everyone, watch out. “He only said what he did because of you.”
Letting out a sigh, Drew got up from his seat, but I interrupted him.
“I didn’t do a damn thing when it comes to you and my brother. I tried. So damn hard. We all did, but you’re a bitch, Becky. I’m just glad my brother figured it out before that damn ring went on your finger.”
She started coming toward me, hate burning in her gaze. Drew stepped in front of her and halted her steps. “That’s enough, Rebecca. I said all I needed to this morning. You have no business whatsoever showing up here tonight and making a scene. Everything is always about you. How you look. What people think about you. Have you stopped to even ask yourself if what I said to you this morning bared any weight? Did you think about my feelings in any of it? Of course not because you only care about yourself. There is no us. There will be no us in the future. I’m moving out and getting an apartment.”
Stomping a foot, Rebecca growled, “Andrew, you don’t mean that. They’ve gotten into your head. You love me. I know you do. I’m fighting for us.”
“This has nothing to do with my family. I don’t want to marry you. Not now. Not ever. Please leave. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m not leaving until we talk.”
“We’re done talking.” Drew took a step forward, and his voice went down to an angry growl. “You walk out of here or I make some phone calls to your parents about the credit cards you took out under their names.”
A gasp left me. You could go to prison for that shit. Like a long time an
d have to pay all the money back, and it wouldn’t be from her parents; it would be the credit card companies going after her ass. Did she even realize how serious that could be?
Hell, did she take any out in his name that he didn’t know about? What else had this woman done? She was obviously capable of a lot.
“You would never do that.”
Drew took a step back, and a small grin tipped his lips. “Wanna bet? I’m done with your shit, woman. I’m done being someone I’m not. I’m done with you. So try me. You don’t leave everyone here or connected to me alone, I’ll have no problem making that call.”
“They’ll never believe you,” she spat out at him.
“Oh, how wrong you are. We lived together, Rebecca. I got the mail and saw the bills. I may have even memorized the account number on the off-chance shit hit the fan. And I may have made a copy of the bill with your parents’ name on it. I also may have seen other things you don’t want others to know.”
“Don’t do that,” she said softly like her number was up. Was it bad I wanted to get up and dance a jig like some drunk man? “I make the payments when I can. I just needed a boost. You wouldn’t give me money. You didn’t want to support me until we were married.”
This woman seriously had no accountability whatsoever.
“Leave me, my friends, and family alone, and I’ll stay quiet,” he responded.
Rebecca didn’t want to give up, though, as she stated, “You’ll be sorry you called this off.”
“I’m only sorry I waited so long to end things.”
“Good riddance,” Carrie muttered under her breath as we watched Rebecca stomp off like a toddler who wasn’t allowed an extra cookie and was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Sorry, guys.” Drew rubbed the back of his neck.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, man.” Conner handed him a beer.
“Did she really do that with the credit cards?” I asked, and Drew nodded. “And you made copies?”
Drew smiled. “Nah. But she doesn’t know that. I loved her and wasn’t thinking clearly. It was just on the pile of shit she fed me every day. At first, she told me her parents knew about it. Then when we started getting calls about the payments, she told me they didn’t.”
