“Yes,” he huffed. “I’m beingsuperweird.”
“Not a date,” I confirmed. He was being so strange my feelings weren’t even hurt. I was more worried he was having a stroke. “I’m going back to the office. Oh, and I’m taking that raise, but I’m going to work some extra hours to earn it.”
“Do what you need to do,” he said. But he stood there gazing out of the garage for a solid minute. Not moving even a little.
“Uber weird, Nick!” I called out to him. Finally, he jerked himself out of whatever trance he was in, and turned back to work on the car in need of his help.
12
Nick
“Get Ready With Me! You’ll never believe where I’m going. I’m notjustgoing to a ball. I’m notjustgoing to Versailles. I’m notjustgoing to a ball at Versailles! I’m going to the, wait for it, Grand Masked Ball! Holy forkin’ shit! So…we have three choices. First choice. Remember that Lanvin gown I found at that vintage store in Marais? The burnt orange column dress with the funky ruffles…well, I had it tailored and I was able to get that little red wine stain out of the hem. Though, honestly, I kind of loved that stain, you know? The woman who wore that dress in 1972, she liked a good time. Anyway. Are you ready? How amazing is…this?”
In the videoNora stood in her bathroom in Paris, surrounded by black and white tiles with gold fixtures, and she stepped back from the camera and dropped her bathrobe to reveal her orange strapless dress that fell in one long sheet down her body. There was a ruffle at her knee and another one at her feet – I didn’t understand it, but she was so happy in that video.
I skipped down to the next video, which, arguably, was my favorite. Nora wore a deep blue ball gown that some modern designer had given her for the event, that hugged her waist and made her tits look awesome.
“Can you believe it? I’m literally Cinderella.”
The knock on the door startled me. Instantly, I swiped off the app and tossed my phone on the couch like it was a snake.
It wasn’t unusual for someone to knock on my apartment door after hours. There was always someone in town who needed a jump or a tow. It never bothered me. Being the lone mechanic in a small town was similar to being the town doctor. Always on call, really.
Right before I opened the door, I had a weird sense of déjà vu that took me back six years ago. When it had been Nora, standing there, on her birthday asking me to…
“No,” I barked at myself and yanked open the door.
“A little harsh there, bro.”
Wyatt stood, arms crossed, on the landing just outside my door. It was always so startling seeing one of these guys up close. It wasn’t just because I usually saw them on my television or because they were so damn big. Like they were a different species kind of big.
It was that I couldn’t stop the thought that crossed my brain every single time.
Brother.
“I wasn’t talking to you, I was…never mind. What are you doing here?”
“Syd had to fly back to L.A. for the weekend.”
“Okay?”
“Liam’s got a game tonight.”
None of this explained why he was at my door. “So?”
“Dad’s at Liam’s game,” he said, as if that was a perfectly logical answer.
“But why are you here?”
“What are you talking about? I’m here to watch the game with someone.” He bent over and picked up a six pack of my favorite local beer and a bag of potato chips. “Sour cream and onion. If we’re actually related by blood, they’ll be your favorite.”
They were.
Still, I tried one last time to dodge what I imagined he thought might be a bonding experience. “I don’t remember saying anything about being open to unexpected company.”
“You didn’t. But I’m all alone in this town.” He made a pathetic face which looked ridiculous on him.
“Give me a break,” I said, but I opened the door all the way and took the beer from him.
