Eli pouted. “Why share with him?”
“Because he didn’t call me a pig.”
“Nope, not out loud anyway,” Owen chimed in as Carla and her brother Rich walked into the bar. “That wasn’t an invite to join us, it was a request for food.”
I slapped a hand over my heart. “I’m wounded.”
Carla kissed Owen’s cheek as he handed her a beer.
“Pax offered to bring us his dinner. Irish stew compliments of John.”
She looked at the container and me. “Can I take the stew and pass on the visit? I love you brother-to-be, but I’ve got plans for Owen and they don’t call for a chaperone.”
“Geez, I swear you’re going to wear yourselves out before the honeymoon.” I looked from Owen and Carla to Eli and Emily trying to make a point. “See what happens when you set a date? It’s like a race to the finish and once you’re married—”
Emily broke in. “That’s why Eli and I have no intention of getting married any time soon. We need lots of practice.”
Eli looked at her. “Now who’s talking?” He gave me a tap. “I’d say get a girlfriend so you’re not so lonely, but I fear that would be an impossible task.”
“Rude.” It was true, though. I had dated women in the past, but I’d never had a serious girlfriend before. I didn’t want one. Women were … complicated. Often chatty and I wasn’t good with expressing my emotions. I didn’t say any of this to my present company because I knew that both Emily and Carla would pull my ear for hours explaining the benefits of a girlfriend.
“Pax, get your head back in the conversation,” Owen said.
“I was never out of it,” I replied smoothly. I pointed to the group. “Don’t forget your roles. You’re the talkers, I’m the listener. Want to quiz me? I can repeat anything you’ve ever told me. Can’t answer to the things you haven’t.”
By their expressions, they knew I was referring to Owen’s panic attacks. Particularly the one he had at the architectural exhibit where I discovered that Eli had known about Owen’s anxiety problems for years, and I’d been kept in the dark.
Before that, I’d assumed we never spoke about such things because there was nothing to talk about. Now I knew we were all idiots who probably needed to open up to each other more often. “You want a word-by-word retelling?” They knew I could do it. Eli scowled while the rest of the group laughed.
“Did you have a look at the plans I sent you for the wedding venue?” Owen abruptly changed the topic of conversation.
I suppressed a scowl. “Yes.”
“And …?”
“And that’s a hell of a lot of work you want me to do.”
“Come on,” Owen protested. “You’re the only person I know who could build what we need as quickly as we need it.”
“No, I’m the only one you know of who will do it for free.”
“May as well keep it in the family, right?”
I sighed with resignation.
“You already knew I’d do it, so don’t act as if you were giving me a choice.”
Carla squealed with delight as she hugged me. “Thanks, Pax. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Building it on top of the creek will be complicated,” I warned. “The design is more elaborate than it needs to be. Simple and sturdy will keep you all dry.”
Owen laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The rest of the evening passed by in an easy conversation that I was happy to listen to. Aside from a sarcastic comment here or there, I had no need to speak up, which sat perfectly in my lane.
As I leaned back and watched my brothers, I thought about how complicated their lives had become. What used to be a Friday night beer with siblings was a coordinating of schedules nightmare. We used to talk about chicks and now the only topic of conversation was flower choices, types of cake, and tuxedo fittings.
I would happily live my life without those problems.
I left the bar alone knowing that single was spectacular—or at least that was my story and I was sticking to it.
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