Annie clapped her hands. “Then we’re at least going out to get drunk. Neither of us have been wasted in a really long time!”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “There’s a reason for that, Annie. Remember the last time we got so wasted that we passed out while eating pancakes at Bob’s Diner?”
We both burst out laughing as we remembered the owner, Bob, waking us up and calling us a cab.
Annie wiped a tear from her eye as she laughed. "Poor Bob. He asked us never to come back again. Then, we promptly showed up the next day to give him I'm sorry hugs."
“Well, we’re not doing that again,” I said as we both continued to laugh. “I woke up with syrup all over my bedsheets!”
“And I woke up with a bacon strip in my hair!” I said, holding my stomach.
Annie put her hands on my shoulders and rubbed them a bit as she gave me the little sister pout she always used when we were kids. “Can we please go out Friday night? Pleeeease.”
I let out a big sigh, realizing that I really could use a fun night out. I narrowed my eyes at Annie, who was mouthing the word, "please," over and over again. Glancing out at Caley, I knew that if I didn't start to build a life outside of the wholly damaged one I had, it would begin to affect her too.
“Fine,” I finally agreed, wrapping my arms around Annie. "This better be one banging night."
Annie giggled. "I got you."
I shook my head, leaning it against hers. "That's what scares me.”
2
Jake
The sun shone brightly into my office. So bright, in fact, that I had to cover my eyes when turning around in my seat to face the computer screen. I really needed to remember to have my secretary pull the blinds before I came in.
“Are we all in agreement then?” I asked into the phone.
I had been on a long call with board members and was eager to get off, my head pounding and stomach rumbling.
“Yes,” they replied in unison.
“I’m hopeful this upcoming board meeting will go smoother than our last one. Absolutely no hiccups. Understood?” I really hated it when we got together and it was pure chaos, I had no time for that.
They all agreed, and I clicked the button to end the call, rubbing the bridge of my nose at the same time. I pulled open the top drawer of the desk and grabbed the jumbo-sized bottle of Ibuprofen, glad that I had at least a little quiet time before diving back into work. Of course, no sooner than I had swallowed the medicine and unwrapped my granola bar, my phone rang again. This time it was my cell. I leaned over, squinting to see who it was, and I was relieved when my brother's face popped up on the screen.
I took a bite of my makeshift lunch and smiled as I nestled the phone between my ear and shoulder. “Richard, what’s going on?”
“You tell me. You’re still coming out to see me, right?”
I smiled as I pictured my older brother sitting out on his deck, living a happy life as a bachelor. “Are you kidding me? River Valley has been calling my name for months now. Are you sure you have the space for me, though?”
“It’s just me, man. I have more than enough space, you’ll see.” Richard lived alone in a new home with three guest bedrooms, all with adjoining bathrooms — or so he had told me. “Mr. Bachelor. Do you think you’ll ever settle down?”
I thought about all of the females that Richard had been with, and after each one, he had walked away, simply stating they weren't the right one.
He laughed. “At my age? Are you kidding me?”
“Oh, c’mon. You’re the one who inherited Dad’s good looks. There must be plenty of women in River Valley that are just dying to take your last name.” I chuckled as I clicked open my email, multitasking.
“People always say that I look just like him, even though I don't see it," he replied. "Glad I developed a different personality. He’s tough.”
I snorted. "Yeah, especially when you aren't the perfect son. Ahem…you know, like me."
Richard laughed. “I think he loves me more than you. You know, just enough to make you feel you’ll never be good enough.” Richard cleared his throat, “But not enough to leave me more in his will."
I shook my head, chuckling, knowing it was probably true. "Whatever, you can have it, I'll take the part of Dad that's content with only seeing me every so often."
