I shrug and take money for his Coke. “Charli becomes fast friends with everyone.”
“That’s true. She’s a lot like me. Unlike you.”
Ignoring his comment, I set his change on the counter and take the five-dollar bill. “Tip.”
He points at me. “That’s all you get. Quit stealing my hard-earned money.”
I laugh and shake my head. “What do you think I’m doing here?” I ask, holding up the money.
“Thanks again, Cade, for letting me use your trailer. I got everything moved over from the rental to yours, and I promise to get it cleared out as soon as possible,” Lizzie says, coming up to stand beside me. She smells like a mixture of flowers and the harsh cleaner she was using beneath the bar. But I admit, it really looks good. She painted all the shelves and covered them with some sort of grippy stuff that’s removable and washable.
“No rush,” my brother replies. “I won’t be needing it until Memorial Day weekend.”
Her green eyes seem to sparkle just a little more. “What happens then?”
“I ride that weekend,” he says, referring to his four-wheeler.
“Tell me more,” Lizzie insists, leaning forward and hanging on his every word as he explains the large off-road park in Indiana he goes to every year with a group of friends. I’ve been a handful of times, but with my work schedule, I don’t get to go every year.
“It’s pretty awesome,” he says, after telling her all about the property. “We camp for two nights and then come home Monday morning.”
Lizzie nods. “Sounds like fun.”
“You should come!” Cade insists, catching Charli’s attention, and of course, I realize instantly what’s about to happen.
“Oh, I couldn’t. I’ll have to work.”
“No, you have to come! It’s such a great weekend. Even if you can’t come both nights,” Charli insists, inviting Lizzie directly into our inner circle. “Collin’s work schedule is always a little jacked up, so sometimes he only comes for one night. You can come with him.” To me she adds, “Didn’t Chuck usually close down for Memorial Day?”
I don’t reply, because I don’t want to insert myself into this conversation any more than I already have. Besides, how Chuck ran the business and how Lizzie will aren’t the same, and the last thing I’d want to do is step on her toes when it comes to making business decisions.
Lizzie shrugs her shoulders. “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but I know my dad’s place is always closed on major holidays like Memorial Day. Everyone’s at home, cooking out and drinking beer there. It does make sense.”
“Yes! Exactly! So, promise you’ll consider coming. I’m sure you can find coverage on Sunday.”
“I don’t have a four-wheeler,” Lizzie states, but like my sister always does, she has an answer for everything.
“You can ride with Collin.”
The blonde with big curls and the most alluring green eyes I’ve ever seen snaps her attention to me. I shrug, not saying a word, because if Charli wants something bad enough, she’ll fight tooth and nail until she gets it. And right now, she wants Lizzie to be her friend, wants her to go with our family and small group of friends to ride four-wheelers at the off-road park.
I smell a matchmaker at work…
“We don’t have to decide anything right now,” I state, grabbing one of the sanitizing cloths and starting to wipe down the section of bar we’re standing by.
“No, of course not, but I want my new friend to know she’s more than welcome to come for the weekend. It’s so much fun. We tent camp in this big circle and sing ‘Kumbaya.’”
Since I’m stealing glances at Lizzie, I don’t miss her reaction to that one. “What?” she asks, laughing.
“No, I’m kidding. We sing George Strait and Eminem.”
“Nice.”
“All right, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing, but the invitation is there. We’ll talk more as it gets closer. Oh, and you can even stay with me and my friends in our tent.” With that, my sister turns around and heads toward the pool table to join the rest of our group, leaving me, Cade, and Lizzie standing here.
“Notice how she completely monopolized the conversation?” I say to my twin.
He snorts and takes another drink of his soda. “As she usually does.”
