“Ugh, go away, Griffin.” I stalked back to the huge window to glower into the night.
“Even if I could, I wouldn’t,” he drawled. “Besides the fact that we’re having dinner with Max and Ila to discuss our duties at the forthcoming nuptials, I’m enjoying this too much to—”
“Sorry, got a little busy,” Ila called out.
I saw her reflection in the windowpane as she ran down the stairs and pivoted. Max followed. Her face appeared flushed. At Max’s lazy grin, I knew exactly what kind ofbusyhad kept them.
“Where’s War?” Max asked.
“Something came up,” Jack said, finally stopping his torment of me. “Said he’ll stop by later.”
Jack could lay down all the threats he liked, but I was determined to try the list. Well, most of them anyway, because I didn’t want this unexpected awareness creeping inside me. I really didn’t want to be aware of Jack in that way. It was a road leading to disaster. I’d seen girls cry over him at the bar. No way was I getting involved with the king of players and joining that queue.
“Ray, I saw Charli earlier since she couldn’t make it this evening,” Ila said. “Anyway, I took photos of some of the flowers I liked. I’ll show you in a moment—”
“Why didn’t you show Max?” I asked her, shooting Max a curious look. “You should have a say in this, select whatyou’dlike in church or wherever. It’s your wedding, too, you know?”
His scarred eyebrow rose. “Wherever?” He shook his head in amusement, then shrugged. “All flowers are pretty, but Logan doesn’t agree with my views. Now, it’s up to you…”
* * *
Dinner was pleasant enough. Jack didn’t plague me in front of Max and my sister. I suspected he didn’t want them to know what he was up to. It suited me fine. With the wedding discussion over, I had to find a way to leave the loft—minus him.
“You’re moving out of the dorm at the end of the month. Have you found a place yet?” Ila asked.
“I will.”
“Into some decrepit building?” she demanded. “No. You’ll stay with Max and me until school starts.”
“Uh, no.” I rolled my eyes. I loved them both. But no way. “I’ll find something.”
“It’ll be safer, Ray,” Max interceded before we ended up arguing.
Lord. Must we have this conversation with Jack lazing in his chair and watching us with avid interest?
“You worry too much,” I muttered, waving Ila’s concerns off. “Besides, I have Wilbur.”
“Wilbur hates you,” she retorted.
Jeez. Thanks, sis. “True, but we’ve reached an understanding. He doesn’t have to like me to get what he wants, he just needs to be nice.”
“Wilbur?” Jack asked, slowly straightening in his seat.
“You don’t want to know.” Max shook his head, reaching for his water glass. “If you’re lucky, you’ll probably meet him when you drop Ray off.”
Really? I glared at my future brother-in-law. Now, Jack would make sure to be on my tail right to my dorm to meet Wilbur. I refused to be in a confined space with him again. The trip here had been bad enough, and chances were good we just might strangle each other or… I shut off the thought that had my tummy stirring in that odd way again.
Inhaling a deep breath, I turned my attention to my sister. “You’re coming to Mom and Dad’s this weekend, right? It’s the summer festival.”
“Man, I forgot.” Her brow puckered, then she rubbed her cheek. “Ray, I don’t know if I’ll be able to help this time. With work and the wedding—”
“It’s for charity, sis. Pleeeease?” I begged.
She sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
“Didn’t you have one during spring break?” Jack asked, casting me a puzzled look.
Seriously, what was wrong with him? I cut the bane of my existence an annoyed glare and bit back the words that almost spewed out about being born with a silver spoon because I wasn’t a petty person—or at least I tried not to be. But Jack tested my God-given patience.
