AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“
Drew wasn’t fucking lying. You’re all grown up, kid.”
“Yeah, well, nearly ten years will do that,” I grin. I give Nash a hug and invite them inside. “How are you guys? What have you been up to? It’s been forever.”
“Same old shit, just older doing it,” Nash laughs. He rubs his beard, his green eyes sparkling.
“You don’t look that much older,” I giggle. “Get rid of this, and you’ll look eighteen again,” I say, touching his facial hair.
“Yeah, well, you’ve certainly changed. Looking good, Aubrey,” he replies with a wink.
“Oh, God, not you, too.”
I turn around to see Max limping into the room. He hunches over as walks, but the smile on his face masks the pain he’s obviously feeling. Again, I force the protective sister in me to back off instead of waiting until he’s safely sitting on the couch before I join him.
“Geez, Max, not everyone wants to jump me,” I retort, flopping down next to him. “Calm down, okay?”
“You’re my sister. It’s my job to drive the guys away from you.”
“Where were you last year then?” I joke. My whole relationship with Nate was a mistake. If only my brother had been around then to warn me, maybe I wouldn’t have had to break a guy’s heart for being exactly what I should want but still not wanting any part of what he had to offer. Not that I would’ve listened, though. In fact, I’d have probably done just the opposite if only to annoy him.
Drew walks in and throws his jacket over the back of an armchair. I watch him as he saunters through the living room and into the kitchen.
“Anyone want a beer?” he calls out. The guys mutter a chorus of yeses, even Max. I narrow my eyes at him.
“What?” he shrugs. “It’s Saturday night. Besides, it’s not like it’s going to kill me.”
Sighing, I turn my attention back to Drew as he flops into the armchair.
“Come on in,” I say, the sarcasm dripping off my tongue.
“The door was unlocked,” he replies, his tone defensive.
“So?” I retort. “You don’t just waltz into someone’s home like you own it. What if I’d been wandering around naked?”
He glances at his phone. “Then I’d be concerned, considering I knew the guys were coming and I was running half an hour late. What’s with the mood, Aubs?” His lips tug into that irresistible smile. “That time of the month?”
“Don’t you dare do that, Andrew Ditner,” I gasp. I pick up a coaster from the coffee table and hurl it at his head. “I bet every time a girl doesn’t agree with you that’s what you think.”
“Not true,” he replies, chuckling. “Chicks always agree with me.”
Sam groans and pops open his can. “As fun as watching the sexual tension between you two is,” he begins, crossing one leg over the other, “was there a point to asking us here? You made it sound pretty important, and Laura is pissed I’m missing her friend’s engagement party.”
Max eyes me suspiciously as I clear my throat. I don’t have a response, and the daggers Max is staring at me doesn’t help my unease. It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve been with these guys, and even though I’m still Max’s little sister, I’m an adult just like them. The age difference doesn’t seem to matter as much as it did when I was barely a teenager wanting to tag along with my brother and his hot-ass friends.
“Where’d your accent go, Aubs?” Nash asks, jumping in to help divert the uncomfortable attention given to me. Thank God. “It’s like you’re all American now. You forget about your family down under?”
“You know I could never forget you guys. I had to Americanise, I guess. Do you know how weird it was being the only kid in high school who talked funny?”
“Excuse me,” Sam butts in and stares me down. “We don’t talk funny, they do.”
“You’re right, Sammy. They’re the weirdos,” I agree, taking a sip of my beer.
There’s nothing else to talk about regarding my accent. I could strike up a conversation about University in the States, but somehow, I think Max will see right through it, and my case won’t be helped. I know what I have to do to break up the uncomfortable silence, but I was hoping to let them get a little more drunk before I told them my plan. Oh, well. Here goes nothing.
“So,” I say, glancing at Drew, “we had an idea on how to raise the cash to get Max into the trial.”
“Hold up,” Max interrupts. He looks from Drew to me, confused. “What trial?” I look between Sam and Drew, hoping one of them will share the news with Max. I want to, but I only looked it over for a little while—they have to know much more.
