Page 107 of Crew
I looked up at that. "Really?" I turned to my brother. "Don't take our cousin for granted. It's not fair if he's the only one handling the bar."
The guys got all quiet.
I knew why. Everyone probably did.
It was rare for Channing to be questioned.
And my brother wasn't disturbed. He shrugged, picking up a water. He grinned at me, winking. "You worried about me, Bren? Don't want me to isolate myself?"
I flushed. Asshole. He was taking a shot at me.
I twisted forward so fast, my chair scraped against the floor. "Never mind. Do what you want."
I grabbed my water too, sipping through the straw until half of it was gone.
Conversation died, and I knew it was my fault. I should've let the guys pepper Channing with questions. I should've just kept my mouth shut, but I hadn't. And now it was awkward.
"I'm sorry." Channing's words were soft.
I tensed, but didn't turn toward him.
"I didn't mean that how it came out," he added. "Scratch has been busting my balls for being too involved with things going on. That was the reason for the bad joke."
Moose snorted. "You should never joke, Chan. Ever. You're the worst funniest person I know."
"Worst funniest?" I could hear my brother smiling. "We doing this same joke? Let me say my part. 'You need to go to college, Moose. Get a real education.'"
"Ha! Says the guy who barely finished high school." Moose slapped a hand on the table.
"Agh!" The server had approached, her order pad in hand. She jerked at the sound, and the pad went flying. It landed in front of Zellman, who started cracking up.
"Oh. Oh my gosh!" She scrambled for it, but Z was already reading from it.
"Look, guys." He pointed at Jordan. "You're 'tl gy'." He pointed to himself. "I must be 'wrd gy." He twisted around in his chair. "Is that for weird or word? Because I'll own up to both. Or, no. Wait." He plucked the pencil from her hand and crossed out something on the pad, scribbling another word. "There. I'll be 'fny gy.' Funny guy. That's my role generally."
Jordan snorted, even Cross was grinning.
A softness zinged me and I said, "We know you have layers, Z. You just hide them better than everyone."
Everyone stilled around the table.
Jordan and Cross watched Z for his reaction. My brother and Moose fell silent.
