Page 5 of The Perils of Pretending
He cocks his head to the side and his brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“You tease me just like he does. I never asked for another big brother.”
“Ah. Yeah.” He shrugs likewhat are you gonna do? “I’m not going anywhere. You’ll have to deal with it.”
I roll my eyes at the guy I had a crush on when we first met seven years ago at Brody’s twenty-fifth birthday party. His cocky attitude and pestering cured me of any romantic feelings I had toward him. I still think he’s hot, but my attraction ends there. “You don’t have to be that way.”
“It’s in our DNA. We can’t help it.”
“You should try sometime.”
Max laughs. “The big brother method is alotmore fun.”
“For you, maybe, but not for the rest of us.”
“That’s a debate we’ll have to save for another time. We need to get going or we’ll miss our flight.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What does he meanourflight? Isn’t he just dropping us off at the airport? Now that I think about it, Mom was doing Extended Stay parking so…why is he here?
“What do you meanwe? Where’s Brody?” I need clarification.
He points at himself, me, and Mom’s vehicle idling at the curb. “We, including your mom and brother waiting in the car, all have a flight to catch.”
I eye him. “You’re really coming with us?”
He nods.
I wish we had a few more minutes so I could demand an explanation. “All right. Fine.” But his reason for coming better be good. “Tell me in the car.”
I let go of my suitcase handle and toss my backpack strap over my shoulder.
“Thanks for grabbing those.”
“You’re welcome.”
Max takes my biggest luggage to the back of Mom’s blue SUV.
I lock my door, exhaling.
Grandma and the aunties are enough for me to manage this trip. How in the world am I going to bring my A-game to battle Max’s snark if I’m busy dodging my extended family? And what about my bucket list? How will I enjoy the activities and connect with Dad if I’m ornery the whole time?
This trip keeps getting worse and worse.
Chapter 2
Sadie
Istayontheconcrete porch, quickly texting my cousin group on my mom’s side, aptly titled “Cheaper Than Therapy,” because I can’t stand the injustice of Max’s attendance at ourfamilyreunion and need a place to vent and get validation for my feelings.
Can you guys believe Brody is bringing Max to the Buttcombe reunion? I get why Daphne and Amelia aren’t coming because Daphne’s too far along in her pregnancy, but why does my brother need an emotional support person? Clearly, I wasn’t informed that it was a possibility! Dani, new plan. You can write in Alaska. Get to the airport asap! You’re coming with me!
The responses come in rapid fire.
Poppy
I guess he never lost his inner child and needs the support?
Chloe
