Bro Code(2)
How sad is your life that you take your wife to a random bar on a weeknight for your anniversary? I’d like to picture myself pulling out all the stops if I was in his position.
Nick continues, his tone turning sour, “The next eighteen years of his life are going to be spent saving up for college funds. I'm lucky I got out before that.”
Honestly, Nick's parents are the only happily married couple I know. Has to be a generational thing because everyone else I run into from high school and college seem to be mired in misery, fighting with exes or trying to scrape the pieces back together before their kids notice. If I've learned anything, it's that settling down is a mistake. It’s almost like no one really wants to commit, and they'll be hellbent on dragging you into a mess because neither side seems capable of being honest about what they actually want.
The single life gives me an advantage at work. Every weekend I watch as the other lawyers at the firm duck out early to try and squeeze in some family time amidst the ninety-hour work weeks. It's not something I have to worry about, and I know if I put my time in, it'll be rewarded. Sure, I spend more time at my desk going over assignments from the partners who are out to drinks with our clients than in my own bed, and my gym membership keeps slipping back further and further on my to-do list, but I'm so damn close to the top. Once I make partner, I've got the foundation for my future set in stone.
But all work and no play definitely makes a dull boy, as they say. Needing an outlet for all those hours spent with my eyes glued to my computer screen drafting contracts, I afford myself an occasional night of fun when I can get it. Admittedly, it's been a while since I did the horizontal mambo. There's just too much work, too many deadlines, and the goals I want to achieve, and I sure as hell won't let anyone take the top spot from me. There will be plenty of time to get laid after my promotion.
“Ah, shit.” Nick's glaring at his phone, squinting at the screen in the bar’s dim lighting. “Ava just got in, so my mom wants us both at the house already.”
“Wait, she's going to be there, too?” The question slips out of my mouth before I think better of it, but Nick just laughs.
“Of course, she is. She just gave up her apartment and moved back in to be closer to the plant.” Nick counts a couple of bills out of his wallet to pay his half of the tab; I drop my platinum card on top of them. “Let's get square and I'll drive us over.”
I think the drinks we had have gone to my head. I'm looking forward to seeing Ava as much as I'm dreading sleeping under the same roof as her.
Fresh snow covers everything as we head out of the bar, little white flakes still falling across the parking lot. It's clean, untouched in a way that never lasts in the city, and for a moment I just stare at the blanket of pristine white that seems to almost shimmer in the moonlight. It's strange how you have to leave a place to find something you appreciate about it.
I chuckle to myself as Nick starts cursing and wiping the buildup off his windshield. He's never really appreciated the weather here.
“Remember when we used to have to shovel all this out of your driveway?” I ask.
“I remember you shoveling it because I told you it'd be great cardio,” Nick jokes, grinning while getting into the driver's seat. “Then Mom came out and yelled at me because you were doing all the work alone.”
“And who got paid double? I did.” Smirking back at him, I ignore the middle finger Nick thrusts my way before he gets us on the road.
Constant traffic and people everywhere are what I’m used to in the city, but out here there's nothing but long roads and trees on either side, broken up by the occasional field or house. And huge expanses of starry sky. Someone with a plow hitched to his truck must have been working late, because the asphalt is scraped clean all the way to Nick's parents’ house.
The place looks cheery with smoke floating from the chimney and lights glowing in the first-floor windows. I recognize his dad's old truck sitting in the driveway. Crazy that he's still driving that thing. A light dusting of snow covers it like it hasn't been moved in a while.
“Home sweet home.” Nick parks behind the truck, then kills the engine so we can get out.
I ring the doorbell while Nick pockets his keys, and a second later the front door swings open. Nick's mom greets me with a smile and the biggest hug I’ve ever gotten from anyone before doing the same to him, and I swear I see tears in her eyes as she claps her hands as she looks at me. The excitement of me staying here has put that joy on her face. I feel a little relieved that I'm not imposing.
“Barrett, I'm so glad you're staying with us.” She glances back over her shoulder. “Ava, come say hi to everyone!”
Ava? Oh, fuck me. I haven’t had enough time to mentally prepare for her being here, to silently chastise my dick to keep it in check, much less having her mom throw her in front of me as soon as I walk in the door. I’d just wanted a few minutes to ready myself for the reality.
Maybe she's changed. Hell, maybe she even went and got married and Nick didn't bother to say anything about it. I'm drumming up every excuse in the world to keep my blood from humming at the thought of Ava, because the last thing I need is my best friend roasting my balls like chestnuts because he realizes I'm into his sister. Really into her.
“Everyone?” Ava's voice carries to the doorway. “Who is every-”