I put my hand on Boone'schest."I'm sorry."
"Don't be,"he says, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles."He's a lucky man. But I do hope we can still be friends. You're my only lacrosse connection, and Iplanon hitting you up for tickets again."
Ilaugh."Deal."
Thirty-One
Charlie
When I rollout of bed Sunday morning, Matt and Biancaare in the kitchen making breakfast. Well,Biancais flipping pancakes while Matt's hands roam all over her.
"Why are you guys here?"I grumble, opening the fridge for the orange juice. It's not where I last saw it, and when I check the recycle bin, I find the empty carton."Christ,Matt. Buy your ownfuckingjuice."
"Hey,"Mattsnaps, letting go ofBianca, whose face is somewhere between fuchsia and red."What's your problem?"
"Sorry,Charlie,"Biancasays, turning the pancakes over."I had the last of it this morning. I'llpickup another carton."
Idropinto a chair andrunmy hands over my face."No, I'm sorry, B. You can help yourself anytime you want."
"We've got coffee,"she says, pointing to the machine."And extra pancakes."
"Not hungry,thanks. But I'll take you up on your offer of coffee."
"What thefuckis wrong with you?"Mattasks, taking a mug out of the cabinet and filling it with coffee. He plants it down in front of me, some of the hot liquid splashing over the sides."You look likeshit."
"Thanks."I take a longdrinkof the black coffee and wince. It needs a splash of cream, but I don'tcareto get up."Seriously, though. Why are you here?"I thought I'd get the day to mope and figure out what to do aboutPalmer.
"We're spending the day at Rocky Point,"Biancasays."We came back topickup the beach chairs and pack a lunch."
"We'll be out of your hair soon."Mattholdsout a plate soBiancacan flip the finished pancakes onto it."Why, is your girl coming over?"
"She's not my girl,"I mumble into my mug.
I don'tmissthe subtle glance between my brother and his fiancée."You want to talk about it?"heasks.
Biancaturns off the griddle."I can leave you twoaloneto talk. I'll just take my pancake out to the back porch."
"No, no. It's fine."I wave her down in a chair."We had a disagreement last night, and some things were said. I guess whatever I've been doing over the past couple of months hasn't meant anything to her."
"Did she say that?"Biancaasks, dousing her pancakes in the specialty maple syrup she gets from Homegoods, then pushing thebottleof Mrs. Butterworth toward my brother.
"Sort of."I wave my hand in the air."It's a little hazy. I got drunk after she left."
"What did she say?"Mattadds a pat of butter to his stack, then reaches over and drops one ontopof Bianca's. So in sync with one another, it kills me.
"She has a family thing,"I explain."A fucked up family thing. Her ex is marrying her cousin, and there's an engagementpartytoday her mother is hosting. Palmer's been bullied into attending."
Biancahuffs."That's insane. What kind of mother does that to their daughter? If she's hosting anything, it should be a barbeque to flambe that guy's nuts."
"So what are you gonna do about it?"Mattasks.
"I offered to go with her. She told me no."
"Why?"Mattmumbles around a bite of pancake.
"Chew, swallow, talk, babe,"Biancasays. I smirk behind thelipof my mug.
"She dates guys that wear Armani and get $200 haircuts."Iruna hand through my hair."Mom's friend Rosie cuts my hair and the closest I get towearingdesigner is what's on sale at Men's Wearhouse. She said everyone would know Iwasn'ther realboyfriendand that'd make her look more desperate than if she wentalone."