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I laugh. “No way. If he wanted me to be there then he’d have invited me, which he didn’t.”
“Perhaps he couldn’t get ahold of you,” she says without any conviction.
“He has my email and cell number, plus I was in his office earlier today so he’s had plenty of opportunity to invite me to a barbecue.” My heart cracks further because he obviously left me out on purpose.
She pauses, and continues, “But the others are asking why you aren’t there.” She’s grasping at straws. “Everyone, but you, is there. You have to come otherwise there’s going to be talk.” She gives me the begging eyes.
“I’m not going Pattie,” I say quietly. “I really need for you to respect my wishes.”
“But you want to be there, so I don’t get why you’re telling me that you don’t.”
I look at her and wonder if she really doesn’t get it. “Pattie, I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted.” I hold my hand out to keep her quiet. “If he wanted me there then he would have invited me. So please don’t ask me again.” I force a smile. “You better head back before you’re missed.”
She tilts her head to the side. “You really aren’t coming back with me.”
I shake my head.
“I’m not waiting any more,” I say sadly, swallowing back my tears. “Would you mind leaving so that I can go back to bed?”
“Um, sure.” She moves to the door. “I’ll, um, tell him . . .”
“. . . that it was his choice,” I finish.
She gives me a brief hug and leaves with a sad glance back to my broken stance.
Locking up behind her, I turn and slide down the door. I wrap my arms around my drawn up knees and let the tears fall.
5
Sawyer
Standing at the grill with prongs in my hand, I watch Pattie as she slips back through the guests. She hasn’t been gone long, but it bothers me that she even disappeared at all. Part of me thought that maybe she’d gone to bring Andie here, except she’s returned alone.
She looks up and I catch her gaze so she makes her way over to me, her arm going around my waist. “Sausages are done.”
“I realize that.” I start taking them from the grill, and ask, “Where’d you go?”
She laughs. “As though you don’t know!”
My heart sinks. “She wouldn’t come, huh?”
Staying silent, Pattie helps herself to a bread roll and a sausage and once she’s poured ketchup and mustard all over the thing, she gives me the narrowed eyed stare that she’s had going on since we were kids. “I don’t know what happened between you both today, but Andie’s heart is broken.”
I hold her gaze and admit, “It’s for the best.” I want to believe those words but my heart is breaking. “I’m an asshole who doesn’t deserve her.”
“Who are you trying to convince? But I will tell you this, you are an asshole if you leave that girl heartbroken when it’s obvious to anyone with eyes how much you’re head over heels for her.”
Shaking my head, I beg, “Sis, please leave it.”
“No,” she snaps. “I can’t leave it because you’re my brother and I love you. You have a beautiful, intelligent girl who loves you, and you’re throwing it all away because of rules. There are ways around them if you want something or in your case, someone enough.”
I close my eyes and see Andie behind my lids. She’s wearing that amazing red dress that does amazing things to her tits and ass, and those legs.
“Okay, lover boy.” Pattie smacks me on the arm. “You better go get her before the vamp coming up, over your shoulders, swallows you up.” She grins as my eyes widen in surprise.
Pattie saunters off with a smirk on her face as I hear, “Professor, I see you’re enjoying the company of your students.”
The woman who Pattie described as a vamp is otherwise known as Janice Long, a Professor in the English Department.
