have someone like Rick as a friend. Despite myself, I laughed. “If she gives you the run around for this stunt, you only have yourself to blame.”
“As long as she says yes, it’ll be worth it.”
Four
I have a milkshake in my hand, so I’m surviving.
Rick bought me a milkshake as promised, took me out to replace my phone, drove me to my apartment, and returned to Japan where he belonged. The phone would bother me for a long time; he’d insisted on paying for the entire bill himself, and he had tricked me into showing him my dream phone, something I never would have bought for myself but had lusted after with every fiber of my being.
The pictures it took rivaled dedicated cameras costing thousands of dollars, and I loved taking pictures. It would give me an excuse to do all the little things I’d missed out on because I’d never liked how the images turned out on my cheap phones. My first trip, as soon as I had a moment to breathe, would be to go back to the botanical gardens and explore at my whim rather than Amy’s.
He’d even gotten me a phone with a lot of space so I could take as many pictures as I wanted.
After my brother returned from his honeymoon, I needed to tell him he should’ve married Rick instead of Amy. Gay men rocked, and I’d always have room for more gay men in my life.
Alas, Rick had been clear that a woman held his attention, and she was likely an old family friend. I didn’t understand why he wanted me to handle something so precious. I recognized I’d worked a miracle with my brother’s wedding, as he made it through the day hitched to a chronic thoroughbride.
In some ways, I regretted my hard work. Would they stay married? I had no idea. No matter how much I worried for Mat, he was a big boy, and he could handle his relationship woes with Amy on his own.
My replacement phone rang, and it annoyed me I had squandered the chance to change my number. I might. Later. Depending on who called me and why. I’d also make a date with my service provider to add Caller ID. “Hope speaking.”
“Hey. How are you feeling?” my brother asked.
“I’ve had better days, but I have a milkshake in my hand, so I’m surviving. Aren’t you supposed to be honeymooning rather than calling me?”
“I am honeymooning. Amy’s taking a nap, as she’s not feeling well.”
“I’ve heard there’s a good reason for that.” My brother might forgive me later for taking the wind out of his sails—or spoiling the surprise. I’d wait for a hundred or so years, though.
“She told you about the broken condom?”
Damn. What the hell had Amy been saying about me for my brother to take that tone with me? I went from headachy to bitchy in half a second flat. I also owed Caterina if I ever saw her again. I resisted the urge to clack my teeth and tear into my brother for being rude. “Call it bridesmaid intuition. Morning sickness?”
“Probably. We’re fairly sure she’s pregnant at this point.”
I wondered if Mat knew about the existence of pregnancy tests and how they were used. I’d ask that question later. Maybe. Or not. In fact, I’d let my brother solve his own damned problems for a change. He wouldn’t consider a baby a problem. He’d be throwing a party until the baby was born. “Congratulations, Mat.”
“It’s not really how we intended to become parents, but I think it’ll work out.”
In Mat language, he contained his excitement by a thread, and when that thread snapped, he would go on a joy-induced rampage. For his sake, and the sake of his baby, I hoped they made everything work. “I’m a bad sister.”
“Why would you say that? You did an amazing job on the wedding. Everything went flawlessly, even when you couldn’t make it to the reception.”
As I wasn’t about to confess I’d been thinking terrible thoughts about him, I went with the less hurtful of my general bad sister issues. “I seriously think you should’ve married Rick instead of Amy yesterday.”
“Fredrick? That Rick?”
“There was only one Fredrick on the guest list, so yes, that Rick.”
“Like him, do you?”
Under no circumstances would I give my brother ammunition against me. “Me? I don’t like anyone. I’m a bitchy accountant with a sarcasm problem and surrounded by gay friends.”