Tonight I let my brothers drag me out for drinks at Hastings. When Max mentioned Heidi was going to stop by as well, I sent a quick message to Lily.
JUDE: Drinks at Hastings with my siblings? Could be a good chance to put on a show.
LILY: That makes me feel like a Vegas showgirl. I’m not busting out the go-go boots for you, sir.
JUDE: Part of me really wants to know if you actually have go-go boots.
LILY: Only part of you?
JUDE: Well the other part of me is worried that if you do, that means my sister does. And that’s an image I don’t need.
LILY: Prude.
JUDE: Older brother.
LILY: My, my, Jude. Look at you, being borderline flirty with the banter. We’re bantering. I’m impressed. Wait. Are you smiling?
Damn it, my lips are turned up. It feels weird, like the muscles haven’t been used in a long time.
JUDE: Of course not. I don’t smile.
LILY: Uh-huh.
JUDE: Listen. Are you coming to the bar or not?
LILY: Kat and I were already planning on it. She’s been texting with Heidi.
When Beckett, my chauffeur for the night, and I arrive at the bar, Sawyer, Max, and Heidi are already there, a pitcher of beer and a stack of glasses on the table. They’re in the middle of a conversation but abruptly stop when we walk up.
“Well, if that isn’t a sign you were talking about one of us, I don’t know what is,” I comment drily, sliding into a chair.
“We were discussing Beck’s collection of glasses. Did you know he has a pair for each day of the week?” Sawyer says, poking fun at his twin.
To his credit, Beckett doesn’t rise to the bait. He pours a beer and slides it across to me, then without missing a beat, he crumples up a napkin and chucks it at Sawyer’s head.
I lift my glass in acknowledgment of his impeccable aim, then turn my attention to Heidi. I don’t know Max’s girlfriend very well. They only really figured their shit out right before my accident. But she seems nice, and she gave the oldest Donnelly another chance when he almost screwed their entire relationship up earlier this year. They might have had an unconventional start to their relationship, what with Max hating her guts for reasons I still don’t fully understand, but now they’re in that disgustingly corny honeymoon phase where they can’t keep their hands off each other.
Watching Max and the way he can’t seem to keep his eyes off her, the little smiles that cross his face without warning, the way they’re always touching somehow, makes me wonder if Lily and I are doing enough to sell our relationship. I’m sure no one expects us to be like these two, but are we affectionate enough?
Fuck knows, I’m not averse to more affection. The woman is crawling beneath my skin without even trying, and I just want more. If I thought there was a chance in hell of her wanting the same, I’d pursue it. But what the hell do I have to offer as a washed-up hockey player with a busted leg and sour attitude.
“How do you like working at the hospital as a full-fledged doctor? I’m guessing you don’t miss Max bossing you around.”
Heidi’s eyes glint at my question. “I prefer him bossing me around in other places, so yeah, it’s good.”
I shake my head with a slight grimace. “Things I didn’t need to know about my brother.”
Heidi just laughs as Max glares at me. “Your time is coming, brother. Lily’s on her way, isn’t she?”
Of course, the stink eye I give him rolls off him, unfazed. Brothers never pass up an opportunity to give each other a hard time, so I know to take him at his word. It’s our first time acting as a couple in front of my family. And given Lily’s history with us, this could get challenging.
“A table full of Donnellys. This looks like trouble. Handsome trouble, but trouble, nonetheless.”
My head whips around at Lily’s flirtatious voice. There’s no reason for my heart to speed up. But it does.
“Dude, what’s wrong with your face?” Sawyer grabs my chin and forces my head to swing around. “Guys. Jude’s almost smiling. Holy shit, the world is ending.”
I wrench my head out of his hand and glower at him. “Fuck off.”
