We ended up ordering our weight in Chinese food and smack-talking all aspects of the movie. And each other. And it was the balm my battered heart needed.
fifteen
Several hours later,I picked my head up off the couch and surveyed the room. Charlie was in one of the corners of the U-shaped couch, snoring like a chainsaw. Will was curled up at the end, his body wrapped around a throw pillow, feet dangling in midair. He was sleeping too. Actually, Jonah was the only one still awake, and he’d switched the show back toThe Witcher.
I watched him for a few seconds, wondering why he was still here. Fifteen years ago, it would have made sense for him to hang out with us all day and all night. But now, he had his own life. His own home. His own TV to watch his current binges on.
He looked over at me with a crooked smile. “I didn’t think anyone would mind.”
“I’m surprised you’re still here is all.”
His smile wobbled. “Do you want me to go?”
“No, I just... what time is it?”
“Eight-ish.”
I looked at my brothers. “Do you think they’re ever going to leave?”
He let out a weary sigh. “No. Never.”
My heart jumped at the sound of frustration in his voice. Did he want them gone as badly as I did? But before I could ask him, Will stirred, sitting up with a big, gasping breath.
He made an unintelligible sound and said, “Didn’t mean to fall asleep here. Shit.”
“I think we all did,” I said around a yawn. “It’s Sunday, though. It’s the best day for naps.”
Will grunted in response. “I should go.”
Thank God. But of course, I didn’t say that out loud. Will leaned over and punched Charlie’s kneecap gently. Charlie sat up with a start, as dramatic and breathless as Will had been. Then he winced and flopped back down.
Will didn’t seem to notice. “It’s late, Charlie. Let’s go home.”
Charlie pulled out his phone and mumbled something nobody understood.
“Thanks for dinner,” I told Will. He hadn’t always been generous enough to pay for the whole order, but dating Lola had been good for him in this one aspect. I was fairly confident they were talking about getting married. And they both worked full-time plus her family had a ton of money. Which meant Will could stop being such an asshole about who paid for what when we went out to eat or got takeout.
Before Lola, we once took my mom out for her birthday, and Will made us split the check three ways, including the tip. When Charlie had tried to throw in fifteen percent instead of twenty, Will had sent him an invoice for the remaining two dollars.
He was being more generous lately though. And tonight, he’d paid for all the takeout. It was a nice gesture, especially after letting Charlie crash at his place last night. Maybe he was growing up. Or maybe my mom was right, and he really did listen to Lola.
“No problem,” Will said. Then he turned to Jonah. “Come on, man, you can walk out with us.”
There was a heavy beat of awkward silence. Jonah glanced at me at the worst possible moment, and I shrugged in response, wide-eyed and pouty. Will caught the whole thing then glared at me, his perplexed expression twisting as he thought hard about what that exchange could mean.
“Unless you’re not ready to go?” Will pushed him. “Were you guys planning to hang out or something?”
Were we planning to hang out? No. No official plans had been made. Did I want to hang out with only Jonah for the rest of my evening? That was an entirely different question with an entirely different answer.
“We don’t have plans, Will,” I said dryly, brushing off his innuendo.
Will looked back at Jonah, who merely shrugged. “If we did, would you feel left out?” Jonah asked him, a smug smirk challenging Will to answer honestly.
“Well, I wouldn’t think it’s very cool. But you do you, bro.”
Jonah glanced at me again. Will’s “bro” language was always a dead giveaway that he was pissed. Sometimes he used “dude” in normal conversation. But “bro” was reserved for the bleakest of circumstances.
“Let’s go,” Charlie groaned. “I forgot my pain pills, and my back is killing me.”
