“Why won’t you just let it go?” Parker snaps, his usual grumpiness now in full-blown annoyance. “It’s not what you’re making it out to be, and you know it.”
I clear my throat, deciding it’d probably be best to move past this. “It’s time to getmoving.I’d love to grab a coffee on the way.”
Weston meets my gaze, a smile tugging at his lips. “I love the idea of getting a coffee on the way.” The intensity of his gaze leaves my stomach doing a flip-flop, but I chalk it up to moving-day nerves.
“Let’s finish loading all this stuff up, and then we can head over. If you want, you can ride with Brittany? I don’t have any extra space,” Parker instructs, grabbing an armload of bags. Weston picks up the only box left, and I grab my overnight bag.
“Got everything?” Weston turns to me, using his foot to hold open the door as Parker moves out into the hallway.
I nod. “I think so. I mean, if Idoforget something, it’s not like I can’t come back.”
“Well, I wouldn’t give your brotherthatmuch credit,” Weston teases. “He might play the finders-keepers game. Then you’ll never get it back.”
“I doubt anything I own would be seen as valuable to my brother.” I burst into laughter, cackling a little harder as Parker gives me the stink eye from the elevator.
“I know you guys are talking about me.” He grunts, using his knuckle to smash the ground-level button. “I’ve given up on the idea that you two talk about anything other than me.”
“Wow.” I giggle. “Self-absorbed much?”
“Just a little,” Weston chimes, nudging Parker as the elevator starts its descent. It’s a quick ride down, and it doesn’t take long before we’re all cramming what’s left of my stuff into the back of our cars.
“Yeah, you’re gonna have to ride with her.” Parker steps back, his car loaded down. “I didn’t realize how much stuff she’d acquired.”
I shrug as Weston laughs. “I just kept grabbing things from storage.”
“Yeah, and it shows,” Parker mutters, and then gives us both a nod. “I’ll meet you guys over there. And please don’t take too long getting coffee.”
“Got it.” Weston salutes him.
Parker makes a face. “I don’t know why you do that.”
“I don’t know why you don’t.” Weston’s tone is goofy to the point that I can’t help but laugh. My brother and his best friend are nearly polar opposites, and my brother has no idea that he isnotthe fun one.
Or maybe hedoesknow.
“See you there,” I call after Parker as he disappears into the driver’s side of his car.
Weston gives me a smirk as he opens up the passenger door. “I hope you’re a better driver than your brother.”
I roll my eyes. “I think a three-year-old toddler is a better driver than my brother. He’s seriously terrifying to ride with.”
He chuckles, plopping down into the seat. He grabs for the seatbelt and buckles himself in while I start the car and back out of the parking spot. “So, coffee?”
“Absolutely.”
Chapter Ten
Weston
The coffee shop is one of those hole-in-the-wall places that somehow survives in New York, despite charging reasonable prices. Probably because it’sactuallygood. It’s a cozy little place with mismatched furniture and local art on the walls. It’s the kind of place where people actually talk instead of just burying themselves in laptops.
Luckily, the line isn’t too long, which is a small miracle in this city. Brittany stands close enough to me that I can smell her shampoo—something citrusy and light.
Parker would absolutely murder me for noticing that.
Actually, Parker would murder me for a lot of things I’ve been noticing about his sister lately. Like how her laugh starts in her eyes before it reaches her mouth. Or how she gets this littlecrease between her eyebrows when she’s concentrating. Or how right now, with her hair pulled back in that cute little messy ponytail and wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, she somehow looks more beautiful than most women do all dressed up.
Yeah, Parker would definitely have my head on a spike.
