“Not too long. The beginning was the hardest part.”
Picking up Matt’s drink, Aiden took a healthy sip before gesturing toward the bride and groom, who were dancing. “Adam looks happy, but I’m still shocked he didn’t invite Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Shannon.”
“Order your own.” Matt took what was left of the drink back from his brother. “Didn’t Theo tell you why Adam didn’t invite his parents?”
Aiden shook his head as he gestured for a member of the waitstaff to come over. “The brewery tour was the first time Theo and I had spoken in weeks. But Jake filled me in on the why. Can’t say I’m surprised by Aunt Shannon and Uncle Benjamin’s behavior, but I’m still surprised Adam excluded them.”
Matt tried to digest his brother’s statement while Aiden ordered a drink.
Once the waitress took Aiden’s order, she looked at him. “Can I bring you anything?”
Thanks to his brother, his drink was almost gone. “I’ll have another Manhattan.”
“What did you do to piss off Brianna and Theo? I noticed he hasn’t spoken to you all day, and she’s been sending dirty looks your way since the reception started,” Aiden asked once they were alone again.
Matt finished what was left of his drink before filling his brother in on what Brianna had done and his conversation with Theo before the ceremony.
“Brianna does whatever she wants.” Aiden paused when the waitress set down their order. “But I’m surprised she was trying to help someone else. She seems too self-centered to do something like that.”
He’d had a similar thought that morning. “It’s what she said, but it doesn’t mean it’s the truth.”
“She doesn’t need the money, so she’d have no reason to sell them. At least on that, I’d believe her. But I also wouldn’t trust her not to do it again, regardless of what you said to her this morning or what Theo might have said after you left. She listens to only one person—herself.”
Aiden’s comment prompted him to scan the room again. Unlike last time, he found Brianna and Theo sitting with a cousin. Judging by Vivian’s face, she’d prefer to be in a dentist’s chair getting a root canal.
“How well do you know Brianna?”
During his visit, Theo mentioned that their brother hadn’t spent much time with Brianna. However, Aiden’s comments, both now and during the cruise, gave Matt the impression that he’d spent more than enough time to form an honest opinion.
“Well enough, unfortunately. I don’t know why Theo is still with her.”
Liv’s comment from the other night came to mind. “The sex?” Anyone else, he’d say it was for the money or the connections. People were willing to put up with a lot when money was involved. But Theo didn’t need a wealthy girlfriend or the connections.
Aiden’s hand paused with his glass halfway to his mouth. “I don’t care how incredible the sex was, I still wouldn’t stay with her. She’s… I don’t even know where to start.” Before continuing, his brother took a sip from his drink. “You spent some time with her in Maine. What did you think of her?”
“I wasn’t a fan either. She fits Theo’s usual type in a lot of ways, but there was something about her that I really didn’t like.”
“Did your girlfriend get along with her?”
Matt considered his question. “I wouldn’t say they didn’t get along. They didn’t argue, but it was obvious Brianna didn’t like Liv. Thankfully, Brianna didn’t interact with us much. She spent most of her time on the phone.”
“Sounds like something she’d do.”
Theo and Aiden not getting along was unheard of. Sure, they had their disagreements, especially growing up, but usually within a day, they were back to being the best of friends. For them to have gone weeks without speaking, something significant must have happened between them. Should he butt his nose into the situation or let them deal with it?
He honestly didn’t know. “Are you still coming back with me tomorrow?” Matt asked while he considered whether to get involved.
“Yeah, I’m not expected back in the office until Thursday, and I’m anxious to meet Liv. If you’re relocating and asking her to move in, she must be special.”
Matt already knew Liv was special. He didn’t need his baby brother to tell him.
Aiden nudged Matt’s arm with his elbow. “Poor Viv. She looks miserable.”
Matt glanced at his cousin, who was still sitting with Theo and Brianna. Although he hadn’t thought it possible, she looked even more unhappy now than the last time he’d looked her way. If anyone needed rescuing, it was Viv.
When it came to dancing, he was indifferent. But if he asked Viv to dance, it would give his cousin a reason to leave the table without appearing rude.
Pushing back his chair, he took another sip from his drink and stood.
