Page 19 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
Chapter 9
Max
Dinnershouldbestartingin a few minutes.Leo, Evan, and I have taken our assigned seats, at Table 3 under a big tent.Mom and Dad are talking with Auntie Doreen, and Jon is flirting with Dylan’s cousin.I can’t imagine trying to pick up a woman when my parents are within fifty meters of me, but Jon isn’t bothered by such things.He leans in and whispers something in her ear, and she appears to be charmed, laughing and touching his arm.
Disturbingly, I’m envious of my brother.Not because I have any interest in Dylan’s cousin, but because Jon probably wouldn’t have a disastrous one-night stand like I had with Kim.
He swaggers over to the table and sits down beside me.
“That’s Mom’s seat,” I say.
“I know.”He lifts up the placard with her name, then puts it down.“But I want to talk to you before she gets here.”He slaps my shoulder.“Who’s that woman you keep looking at?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I try not to show how alarmed I am that he noticed, but my hand shakes as I reach for my water glass.
“Do you mean the woman in the peach dress?”Evan asks Jon, who nods in response.“I noticed that, too.Who is she?”
“Kim,” I grunt, then realize my error.I just admitted to knowing her name.
“Now this is interesting,” Jon says, in that annoying way little brothers have.You know, the way that makes you want to throttle them.
“Not interesting,” I say.“I heard Auntie Gladys call her that.”
He points at me.“You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?”
Evan leans toward us.“I think Jon’s right.Something’s going on.You keep looking at her, then looking away as soon as she sees you.I even saw you hiding behind a shrub at one point.”
Jon doubles over in laughter.Bastard.
“It looked ridiculous,” Evan says, “and that’s not how you’d act with someone you just met today.”
Leo nods.
Jon keeps laughing.
I’m not sure why my parents felt the need to give me three younger brothers.It was truly unnecessary.
“Do you have history?”Jon asks.
“No,” I say shortly, but I’m starting to doubt mydeny, deny, denystrategy.I don’t think my brothers are buying it.
Jon turns to Evan.“Do you believe him?”
“Of course not,” Evan says.
“What about you?”Jon asks Leo.
“No,” Leo grunts.
I shoot him a glare, but he’s distracted by something on the other side of the tent.
“Has she turned you down, Max?”Jon asks in singsong voice that he knows I hate.
“No.”
“Interesting.Very interesting.”He strokes his non-existent beard before snapping his fingers.“I know.You spent the night together, but your performance left something to be desired.”
