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He snorted. “You think I’m being a dick?” Josh tugged a teacup in front of him and stretched across the table for the coffee carafe. “I’m not the one running away to Chicago.”
“Chicago?” Mavis wrinkled her nose as she wiped sugar from her lips.
Austin slouched in his seat and rolled his eyes. “It’s not a big deal. It’s not permanent.” He dragged a hand through his hair.
“It is a big deal though, Austin! Don’t minimize an accomplishment like this!” Lauren scooted her chair in his direction and frowned at Josh.
“Wait, you’re serious?” Mavis shook her head. “I move back here.” Her finger tapped the table. “And then you move there?”
“Look, it was really unexpected. I never thought Boyd and Bernstein would offer me the job.” His gaze fell to his lap again. “I just can’t turn it down. They could make me a partner if I do this right.”
“How long?” Josh stirred a spoon around his coffee.
“A year? Maybe? I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like this before.” He snorted. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“You’ll be great, Austin. There’s no doubt.” Lauren reached forward and squeezed his hand, a smile spreading along her lips.
And you do need to get out of here. These two are something else.
“Austin the Midwesterner...” Mavis giggled, bringing a teacup of coffee to her lips. “You’ll need a warmer jacket,” she said with a wink.
“Eh, Casey can help me.”
She choked. Coffee spattered the tablecloth, coating the casserole, fruit, and bear claws. Mavis coughed, tears welling in her eyes as she inhaled. “Did you just say Casey?” Her eyes narrowed. “MyCasey?”
Austin grinned. “I’m sorry,yourCasey?”
“You still talk to her?”
Austin flashed a smile. “Why? Jealous, Mavs?”
Josh sent an elbow flying, jabbing his brother in the gut. “Knock it off.”
“Oh, my God, you people are insane.” Lauren rose from her seat, resting her hands against her hips.
Austin leaned around her. “You know, Princess, believe it or not, I’m not moving to Chicago to piss you off! It’s a job opportunity.” He huffed out a breath and rolled his eyes. “And Casey isn’t yours, okay? She’s just helping me move, giving me a place to stay for a little while until I can figure it all out.”
“A place to stay?” Mavis dropped back in her seat, working her way around Lauren’s body to glare. “Dear Lord, Austin! You can’t be serious right now! My apartment? My old room?”
“So, what if I am?” He glowered, folding his arms across his chest.
A bubble of laughter fell from Mavis’s lips as she stood and marched out of the room. “You’re fucking unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath.
Her sandals flip-flopped away down the hall as Mitch stuck his head around the corner, a carton of eggs in his hands.
“What’d I miss?” he asked.
Our last family brunch.
