Page 16 of Brick Wall
“Thanks.” I hop out of the kayak and place my paddle into the boat.
I walk not two feet forward and notice my brother Ryan already in front of me, with Sebastian trying to catch up behind him.
“Hey, Sebastian! This is my sister, Annie. Have you met her?” Ryan says enthusiastically.
“Wait… Ryan is your brother?” Sebastian questions as he finally catches up to us near the water’s edge.
“Yes,” I admit. “Ryan is my second oldest brother.”
“Wait, you already know each other?” Ryan questions.
“Goldie is dating Bryce,” I share.
Ryan’s eyes go wide, and that’s precisely why I didn’t tell him. He would hang out at my apartment or bother me to introduce him to Bryce and his teammates. I don’t know why he has an unhealthy obsession with the Boston Revs. He was a professional athlete himself, albeit briefly. He’s been around professional athletes countless times, especially since he ownsa fitness gym. However, he’s a big fan of Sebastian, so maybe that’s why.
“I didn’t know that!” Ryan says with a massive grin on his face. “Well, my sister here isverysingle, and she makes the best chocolate chip cookies. Maybe you should ask her out. It’s just a suggestion,” my stupid brother says with the energy of a golden retriever that ate all the Halloween candy.
“Wait,” Sebastian says, confusion on his face. “I thought you said your brothers were protective?”
“You’ve talked about me!” my brother practically squeals, but then he (finally) runs farther down the beach, and I roll my eyes.
“Oh, they are, but they also have the sense of humor of ten-year-old boys,” I explain to Sebastian. I’m pretty sure their development stunted some time in high school or college, but I keep that tidbit to myself.
He raises his brow but stays silent.
“My legal name is Anita,” I admit. “Annie is a nickname.”
“Okay…” He stretches out the word.
“They want us to marry.”
“Uhhh.”
How to make a man stutter and turn forty shades of red with one sentence? Mention marriage right off the bat to a man you barely know. Check.
“So, my married name would be Anita Goodick,” I explain further.
Let’s see how many shades of red we can get him to go.
Nothing. He’s not really getting it, I see.
“A-nit-a Goo-dick,” I slowly draw out the words. “Oh my God, I need a good dick!” I impatiently yell after his blank stare. I never said patience was my virtue.
I definitely said that too loud since I’m now getting some looks. I hear my stupid brother snicker from the distance.
Sebastian chokes on his water just after he takes a huge sip. Maybe I should have timed that better, but he also previously rejected me, so maybe I timed that perfectly. I can be a petty bitch when I want to be.
“Um, wow,” is all he says. I don’t blame him. It’s a lot.
“My brothers recently figured it out, and now they are shipping us pretty hard, just so you are aware. There was a whole family group chat on the subject. I apologize in advance. Please ignore all their matchmaking schemes.”
“Matchmaking schemes, huh? How old are they?”
“All in their thirties, but don’t let them fool you. They are serious when they want to be. And they want to make Anita Goodick happen.”
He’s silent for a pause. “Anita, huh?”
“Yeah, my mom named me after her best friend, who passed away suddenly when she was pregnant with me,” I accidentally overshare. “It’s a pretty name, but I don’t think she realized it doesn’t pair well with some other names.”
