AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Atticus’s forehead wrinkled in obvious consternation, clearly not hearing the sarcasm in my voice. “It has to be impressive, you know, given her world.”
“Annie won’t care one way or the other,” Soren said, stretching his legs over the rim of the firepit.
“Agree, she’s not like that. For whatever reason, she just wants you, not the ring.” Thad tugged the zipper of his light jacket closer to his neck. Although the calendar told us spring had come, the moment the sun disappeared, it cooled significantly.
“I care,” Atticus said.
“I would too,” Rafferty said, getting up to help himself to a beer from the outdoor refrigerator. “You can’t look cheap in front of all her fancy friends.”
“I just want her to have the best of everything,” Atticus said.
“She has you, therefore, she does.” Thad lifted his beer bottle toward our oldest brother.
“Thanks, bud,” Atticus said.
“Still, she needs a big fat diamond,” Rafferty said. “Think of the award shows she has in her future.”
“Totally agree,” Atticus said. “My girl needs some sparkle on her gorgeous hand.”
Soren grumbled something under his breath that none of us could hear. No one asked. We loved him, but he could be a real buzzkill at times.
“Anyway, I wanted to run some things by you guys.” Atticus sat forward, leaning over his knees. “And it’s somewhat delicate.”
“Delicate?” Soren asked, grumpily. “Why?”
“I can’t have all four of you be my best man,” Atticus said. “And I don’t want anyone to feel bad.”
“We’re not a bunch of high school girls,” Soren said. “No one cares about the prom.”
I laughed. “Prom?”
“You know what I mean,” Soren said.
“I’d like Rafferty to be my best man,” Atticus said.
“Really? Me? I’d be delighted.” Rafferty grinned and squared his shoulders. “I already have a lot of ideas about how we could make the big day really special.”
“Are you sure you want him?” Soren asked. “He’s going to take over the whole thing.”
“I will not,” Rafferty said, lifting his nose in the air. “I’ll think only of what the bride and groom want and then execute it perfectly.”
Soren rolled his eyes. Thad chuckled.
“Not a better choice among this motley crew,” I said. “In my humble opinion.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Atticus asked me. “You’re the second-born, so it would logically go to you. It’s the way things are usually done.”
“You know I couldn’t care less about how things are usually done.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “Anyway, Rafferty will kill it. He’s the man for the job.”
“Thank you,” Rafferty said, a gleam in his eye that told me he was already working on the seating chart in his mind. “I appreciate the confidence.”
“My thoughts were along the same line,” Atticus said. “But I do have a job for you, Casp, should you choose to accept.”
“I love you, but I can’t be your flower girl,” I said.
“But you’d look so cute with bows in your hair.” Atticus took a swig from his beer bottle. “Seriously though, I want you to be the officiant.”
Officiant? “Like the one who marries you?” I asked. “Because last time I checked, you had to be an officer of the court or a preacher.”
