Page 57 of I Choose You

I waved him off. “Whatever. Not my business.”

“Damn right, it isn’t.” He slumped in one of the chairs facing my desk. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Brooke will be my date to the wedding events.” I figured coming out strong and honest was best.

He frowned. “Brooke? Oh.” He snapped his fingers. “The one from high school. I knew it! You mentioned her and then acted weird when Dad made up that no hooking up bullshit.” He frowned again. “Wait, are you just hooking up with her there?”

“No. I’ve arranged for her to be my date.”

“You arranged? You mean you asked her to be your date?”

Technically, but no. “Yes.”

As he rubbed the back of his neck, he grimaced.

“What?”

“That will be kind of awkward, won’t it?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Not for me. For you? Maybe.”

His grimace twisted, and a spike of satisfaction hit me. It felt good to see him squirm.

“Dammit. You can’t find anyone else to bring?”

“Nope.” I hadn’t tried, and I didn’t want to. If I brought someone else, I knew I’d spend the whole time wishing it was Brooke. She was the one I wanted at these events.

“Damn it. This will suck.”

I nodded. “Again, for you, maybe it will.”

“You’d do that to me? You would stoop that low and bring her to the wedding and stuff, what, just to spite me?”

“Consider this, Kody. People make decisions that don’t revolve around you and what you want. Bizarre, isn’t it?”

“Why do you want to bring her though?” He rolled his shoulders and scowled. “I know you said she’s hot or something now, but why does it have to be her?”

She didn’t have to be my date. “I want her to be my date.”

He hung his head so low that his chin rested on his chest. “But it’s going to be so fucking awkward. You don’t want to cause drama at Dad’s wedding, do you?”

I scoffed. Whatever drama or awkwardness that could happen, it would be his fault, not mine. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been such an ass in high school.”

* * *

Twelve years ago…

“I’m telling you, there’s no way they’re going to state this year. No way.” Kody slashed his arm through the air to further make his point.

“They could,” I argued, sliding out of the truck and shutting the passenger door. As I followed him to the stadium’s entrance, I rubbed my knee. The idiot just couldn’t learn how to cruise. He had a lead foot that had already gotten him two speeding tickets. Dad had been livid about those—two within one month!

I’d just be grateful if he could brake smoother so I wouldn’t crash my knees against the dash.

We were still sharing the one truck. Kody wanted me out of his truck and I was eager to find my own ride.

Something with more leg room, for sure.

“They’re not going to state. I’ll be surprised if they get into regionals.”