‘I probably won’t have time. I’m leaving later today.’
‘Stay until tomorrow,’ Sawyer says, coming into the dining room with Gina. ‘You could go check out G’s tonight. Try Gina’s new sour brew.’
‘She’s not drinking,’ I remind him.
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
‘Hi, I’m Mia,’ she says to Gina. ‘I drove past your place on the way into town.’
‘It’s not great from the outside,’ Gina says. ‘The inside looks a lot better. And the beer is the best in town.’ She smiles at Sawyer as she says it.
‘What the hell?’ Sawyer huffs. ‘I thought you were done insulting my beer.’
She laughs. ‘I’m just kidding, although I do think my sour ale is better than yours.’
‘It is,’ Brody says.
‘Hey!’ Sawyer gives him a look to shut up.
Lyndsay walks in and goes up to Mia. ‘Hi, I’m Lyndsay. Nick’s fiancé.’
‘Congratulations!’ Mia gives her a quick hug, like she couldn’t help herself.
‘Thanks!’ Lyndsay sighs. ‘I’ll be glad when it’s over. It’s been a lot of work planning it.’
‘That doesn’t sound good,’ Nick says, putting his arm around Lyndsay. ‘You make marrying me sound like a chore.’
She kisses him. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I can’t wait to marry you.’
‘Everyone go ahead and sit down,’ Mom says, scanning the table to make sure she didn’t forget anything.
We take our seats and pass around the food. I try to think of something to say before my family starts questioning Mia.
‘So Brody, how’s the house coming?’ I ask.
‘Good.’ He passes the platter of bacon to Kate. ‘We got all the major stuff done. Now we just need to do the painting and whatever decorative things Kate has planned, like putting up shelves. Hanging pictures.’
‘Why are you decorating it when you’re just going to sell it?’ Sawyer asks.
Kate looks at Brody.
He looks back at her. ‘Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.’
‘It’s okay. You can tell them.’
‘Tell us what?’ I ask.
Brody gets a big grin on his face. ‘We’re keeping the house. Kate and I really like it and now that it’s the way we want it, we decided just to live there ourselves rather than sell it.’
‘Does this mean something?’ Mom asks with a hopeful tone.
‘We’re not engaged, Mom,’ Brody says. ‘Not yet.’
She gets an excited look on her face, knowing it won’t be long until they’re engaged. Sawyer will be next, or maybe he’ll propose before Brody. Either way, all my brothers will soon be engaged or married and I’ll still be single.
I never would’ve guessed this is how it would turn out. I thought for sure I’d be married by now with two or three kids. But instead I’m single and can’t even find a girlfriend.
Chapter 11
