Chapter 21 #2
“Well, I guess since everyone is out here, it’s time for a quick toast!
” Mark clambers to his feet and raises his beer to me.
“Bud, I’m so happy for you that you’ve finally released yourself from celibacy hell and snagged one heck of a catch.
” The whole group giggles, and I can feel the blush creeping up my neck.
I wish I could see Sydney’s face. It’s probably as red as mine.
“Sydney, thank you for taking a chance on our best friend and being patient with him. We were starting to get desperate on ways to make him smile, and the set up dates weren’t working…
like at all…” More snickers at my expense.
Meh…I don’t mind. They’re not wrong. I had zero interest in going on any of the dates they tried to trick me into.
I just wasn’t ready, until I met her. Sydney stepped into my clinic with those kittens and flipped the switch on my dim world, illuminating every nook and cranny in colors I never dreamed of painting with again.
Now my canvas holds infinite possibilities.
“Anyways,” Mark continues, “Congratulations you two on moving in together. We all look forward to many years of fish fries and driving each other insane.” It’s not lost on many of us the look he shares with Ava.
Oohh, shit. Ava clears her throat and takes a large gulp of her wine.
Garrett and Trystan openly guffaw and raise their beers before chuckling like a couple of teenagers. The rest of us follow suit.
“On that note, let’s talk about what all we’re packing for next weekend,” Trystan pipes up, effectively changing the subject and cooling the rising tension between those two.
“That’s our cue for more wine and dessert,” Sydney notes as she and the other ladies push their chairs back and mosey to the kitchen.
“Perfect timing! I’m out,” Ava pouts, looking down into her glass as if more will just magically appear.
“Maybe another glass will lighten you up a little,” Mark taunts, and we all snap our heads that way like we misheard him.
“Eat a bag of dicks, Mark.” Ava flashes him a look of disgust as she shakes her head and walks through the French doors, leaving Mark gaping like a fish. The other three of us guys are openly dying at her feisty display, loving how that just made Mark’s head explode.
“You asked for that one,” Garrett says on a sigh, leaning back into his chair in all his manly glory. He’s growing on our little group. Maybe he’d like to come fishing with us one of these days.
“So, why couldn’t Brynleigh make it?” I ask Mark.
“She had a date,” Mark says low, like he doesn’t much approve of the guy. I notice Trystan freeze midsip out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t call attention to it.
“You don’t like this guy?” I ask, knowing that Mark rarely approves of anyone who looks his sister’s way.
“He’s a freaking douchebag. The last time I met up with them, I caught him eyeing everything with a pair of tits anytime Brynleigh wasn’t looking. He didn’t once do anything nice for her. Hell, I didn’t even so much as catch him reaching to grab her hand. She deserves more. He’s bad news.”
“How long has she been seeing him?” Trystan throws in there, looking mildly uncomfortable.
I’m kind of glad Mark’s not really looking too closely at him.
If I dare say so, he’s still interested in her.
Mark didn’t know Trystan back when he and Brynleigh had a fling years ago, so it’s probably not even crossing his mind, and we never talk about it.
I’m still not sure what actually happened between the two of them.
“Only a couple of months. I’ve tried to mention the red flags to her, but she doesn’t want to hear it.
She always says that I never think any of the guys she dates are good enough for her.
She might just be right. After she miscarried that baby years ago from a one night stand with some military dude, which by the way she still won’t tell me who it was, I just want her to be happy. That was a horrible year for her.”
This is news to the rest of us. Mark’s never shared that, and I’m not too sure Brynleigh would love that he openly aired her past like that.
I notice Trystan shift funny in his chair.
When I look over at him, I notice his face has lost its color.
Oh fuck… No way. Was it his? Is this what happened?
Did he even know? Trystan’s eyes dart to mine, and he clears his throat.
We will be having a discussion about this.
“I’ll be right back. Gotta piss,” Trystan stands a little too fast and catches the back of the chair before it tips over. “Whoops.”
“So, food for the trip. What are you thinking?” Mark asks, oblivious to Trystan’s strange behavior.
I give a quick look to Trystan that hopefully conveys that I want to talk about this later before putting all my focus back onto our trip.
Mark would lose his ever-loving mind if he suspected what I do right now.
Trystan slips into the house with Mark none-the-wiser. For now…