I could hear the concern in his voice. Even though I had made it clear that family comes first, Jake knew that I was head over heels in love with her when we were together.
"Hell no! Are you crazy? I can't think of a single thing that I want to hear from that woman. She's nothing but a time-waster."
Jake breathed a sigh of relief. After the waitress took our orders, we sat back and started discussing the wedding.
"I can't believe it's only two days away. It seems like only yesterday that I was proposing to Julianna in the park."
I nodded, remembering that day well. Annie, Caley, and I had been there too. "You know, you joke about me being an old man. At least I won't be an old, married man!"
I playfully punched him again, and Jake shook his head.
"That's true," he said with a grin. "But, I'm genuinely happy."
I smiled and looked at my baby brother, remembering all of the crazy stories I'd read about him online before he came back home. He used to have dozens of women at his penthouse suite. There was even a rumor that he had an affair with an associate's wife, although I didn't believe that for a minute.
"You do seem happier than you've ever been. I'm so proud of you, man. You're about to have it all, plus it's great having you back in town. I may not always say it, but I love you, bro."
Jake nodded and reached across the table, squeezing my shoulder hard. "One day, you'll meet Mrs. Right, and all of those strippers will be nothing more than a memory. Especially when you meet a woman who can be even sexier behind closed doors… if you know what I mean."
"Ugh, it sounds so boring!”
Jake burst out laughing.
We ate our lunches discussing all of the details for the combined bachelor-bachelorette party, and I had finally gotten over the fact that Jake didn't want any strippers.
Right after I gave the waitress my credit card, Jake's cellphone started ringing. He pulled out his wallet, but I waved it off, encouraging the waitress to run it through for both of our meals.
"Hillard," I heard him say into the phone.
Hillard was Jake's best friend from San Diego. The two of us never expected him to be with Julianna for more than a few weeks, let alone move back to River Valley and get married.
My phone went off too, and I saw that it was a text from our father.
"I have to go to deal with business," I whispered.
Jake told Hillard to hang on a second. "Listen, enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you tomorrow night, okay? It's going to be one hell of a party!"
We gave each other fist bumps, and I left.
I got into my car and drove over to our father's house. It was where we ran the business from most of the time. Dad liked being able to wake up and go straight to work. In contrast, our mother was finding his everlasting presence a bit annoying. He was always at the office when Jake and I were growing up, so being together so much was a significant change.
I could hear them arguing as I walked up to the door.
"You turn the coffee machine off if the pot is empty," my mom yelled. "Otherwise, it'll crack, and this whole house could go up in flames!"
I laughed a bit as I headed in the front door, picturing her throwing her arms up in the air disgusted.
"Alright, alright," my dad said. "I'm sorry!"
"This is the tenth time that I've had to tell you this," she said in an even louder tone. "Sometimes I think you just want to burn this place down!"
"And how are Mr. and Mrs. Costanza?" I walked into the kitchen, hoping they'd get my cheesy Seinfeld reference, but it was clear they didn't get the joke.
My mom wrinkled her nose and asked, "Who are they?"
I just shook my head at her with a chuckle as I pecked her on the cheek. Then my father put his arm around my shoulders, and we walked into his office.
"I love your mother, but sometimes she drives me crazy." He whispered and took a deep breath. "Anyway, son. Only two days and your little brother ties the big knot!"
