‘I swear to god, Oakley. This is so not funny anymore. If you don’t call me back like right now, I promise I will drive home and tell mom all about your anger issues. Don’t test me,’ I hiss into my phone as I leave what seems like my hundredth voicemail this week.
I know for a fact that he’s been listening to them. There’s no other way he can possibly have more space in his voicemail. I thought after he had left his own voicemail the day after our unfortunate night that this would be done with. But I guess not.
I throw my phone on my bed with a groan. I toss myself down beside it, and my body sinks deep into the mattress. I swing my fist down on my pillow in anger. I can’t believe Oakley is ignoring me just to prove a point. If I didn’t know any better, I would think I am the older sibling.
‘Still nothing, eh?’
A shrug is the only response I can offer Jessica as she moves to the bed and flops down beside me.
‘Clearly,’ I mumble into my duvet, hot breath fanning my face. A hand rubs across my back, making slow circles on my tense muscles. Turning my head to the side, I raise my eyebrows at her. Her hair is done flawlessly and the fancy braided bun resting on the top of her head looks extremely out of place in my messy bedroom.
‘Are you going somewhere?’ I ask, gesturing at her over-lined, dark-stained lips.
‘Yes. We both are. We are going to the Brew tonight.’
I flip over and stare at the bumps on the ceiling, laughing. ‘The puck bunny bar? Are you serious?’ The last time I stepped foot in that place, I had to watch Tyler swap spit with some busty blonde supermodel all night. I ended up getting sloshed and puked all over her. It was by far one of my finest moments.
‘I never joke about a fun time, Gray,’ she scoffs and pushes off the bed. She stares at me with her hands on her hips, shifting her weight between her two feet.
‘Wanna tell me why we’re going to that abandoned shack tonight?’
I watch her roll her eyes before walking into my closet. She comes out seconds later with a handful of hangers in her hand and drops them beside me. I stare as she picks through them, eyeing every piece carefully.
‘This is definitely the one.’ She launches the dress at me. The gold sequins covering the dress were the reason why I had bought it a few weeks ago, and the off-the-shoulder sleeves flatter my body type quite well. I cock my head. ‘Don’t change the subject, Jess,’
She sighs. ‘I heard it’s going to be the hot spot for hockey players tonight.’
A smirk spreads on my lips as she finishes her sentence. Hockey players, hey? This night just got interesting.
‘Which ones?’
‘Uh oh. I know that smirk.’ The shake of her head answers my question . There are only a few that would have invited her. ‘You have a plan, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do. I always do.’
As soon as we step into the humid bar, I can feel the beads of sweat form on every inch of my exposed skin. I always wondered how it got so hot in these places. I mean, there’s barely even anyone in here. I’m pretty sure it’s to get people to buy drinks in hopes of cooling down. Kinda lowlife-ish, honestly.
Jess and I link arms as we make our way through the bar. As we turn the corner, my eyes fall on Oakley’s broad back. He’s standing in between Matt and Adam, one hand resting on Adam’s shoulder while the other leans against the bar-top.
Their laughter is contagious, and I have to suppress my own as I feel it swelling in my chest. We walk up confidently and grab the attention of a few of the players as we pass. No surprise there. The sudden lack of attention the rest of the guys receive from our new admirers draws their eyes to us as they turn around.
‘Little H!’ Adam roars when he sees me, his eyes glazed already as he holds his arms open for me.
‘Hey, Adam,’ I giggle and move into his warm embrace.
‘I’m also here. In case you boys forgot,’ Jessica nags, her hand resting cheekily on her hip. A twinge of annoyance settles between my shoulders but I shake it off.
‘Oh, we didn’t forget!’ A guy shouts from beside Matt, shooting her a flirty wink. I don’t remember his name, but I know Jess will be more than happy to tell me tomorrow morning.
Adam and I pull apart. I turn to face Oakley, my eyes filled with hope. ‘Hi, Lee,’ I murmur. I hate fighting with him. He’s my best friend.
Oakley brushes me off like a fly buzzing in his face. His attention doesn’t even fall on me for a brief second as he moves towards the bartender and orders himself another drink.
His rejection sends a piercing pain throughout my chest. My heart pounds against my rib cage. I can feel numerous sets of eyes fall on me as I stand in place, my eyes dropping to my feet in an attempt to push back the oncoming tears that are just aching to be shed.
‘Follow him,’ Adam says, his voice dropping low so only I can hear him as he gently rubs my arm. Looking over at him, I force a fake smile on my lips. I take his advice and follow my brother.
I find him leaning against the bar with a long neck in his hands. His baseball cap is pulled low over his eyes as he hangs his head. Tension ripples off him in thick, painfully angry waves. I join him nervously. ‘You here for a specific reason, Gracie?’ The tone of his voice is sharp and commanding.
‘So he does speak!’ I grin and sit down on the empty barstool beside him. The slightest tug on the corner of his lips brings the slightest glimmer of hope back.
‘I assume from the lack of angry calls from Mom that you didn’t tell her anything.’ He looks surprised, but he shouldn’t be. I would never snitch on him. Not really.
‘So, you did get my messages,’ I point out before flagging down the bartender and ordering a beer. When one is quickly slid in front of me, we both lift our bottles, gulping. Awkward silence covers us like the most miserable, scratchy blanket.
Our relationship has never been awkward. Yes, we have had our fair share of fights—mainly due to his overprotective nature, but things have never been this bad. I’m still not even sure how we got here, to this standstill.
‘Look. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry you found out the way you did, and I’m sorry you disapprove of it.’ I sigh and down the rest of my bottle. He stays silent, his eyes focused on the mystery drink splattered across the bar-top.
Taking a much-needed deep breath, I collect my footing and shove the empty bottle towards the bartender and step down from the stool. If he wants to play it like this, then we will. I’m not getting down on my knees to beg him for his forgiveness. This is my life.
As I readjust my purse on my shoulder and whip around, more than ready to get the hell out of this situation, he calls out my name. ‘Sit. Please,’ Oakley begs, lifting his head for the first time and bringing his eyes up to meet mine. The hurt in his eyes is enough for me to set aside my own feelings and repair what I broke between us. I nod and sit back down. I place a hand over his where it rests on the dingy countertop.
‘Talk to me, Lee. Let’s figure this out.’
He pulls his hat off with his free hand and rakes his fingers through his hair. He shakes his head once and slips the hat back on before smoothing out his overgrown beard.
‘I’m sorry for the things I said to you. I was an awful brother and you didn’t deserve any of that.’
‘Damn right, I didn’t deserve it,’ I tease and lightly bump my shoulder against his. A small dimple appears on his right cheek as a smile starts to take over his features, lighting up his face. ‘Next time though, it won’t be me you’ll be dealing with. It will be Mom,’ I threaten.
His smile drops and is replaced with a shaky grimace as his eyes bulge. Grinning wide at his newfound distress, I give myself a mental pat on the back. ‘You’re evil, Gray,’ he says with a click of his tongue. Our laughter brings a warmth to my chest that I’ve been missing this entire week.
‘Can you promise me something, though?’ I ask when our laughter dies down. The dreaded question now hangs in the air, darkening the mood slightly.
‘Anything,’ he promises without hesitation.
‘Fix things with Tyler. For me, for Ava, and for you. We both know you need to go home,’ I say gently, my hand squeezing his tightly. He sighs deeply, staring at me with regretful eyes as my words sink into him.
‘I will.’ He swallows with a tight grimace. ‘This has been by far one of the hardest weeks of my life. This isn’t what I wanted.’
‘It isn’t what any of us wanted. Which is all the more reason to fix this.’
‘I promise I will fix this. Okay? Just trust me,’ he says, his signature confidence instantly convinces me that he’s serious as it finally makes its glorious return. Everyone knows that a confident Hutton is a force to be reckoned with.
‘I love you, big brother,’ I murmur into his shoulder, soaking up this moment for as long as I can.
‘I love you too, little sister,’ he replies, placing a kiss on the top of my head and resting his cheek where his lips were just seconds ago.
Maybe I was too easy on him, and perhaps I forgave him too quickly after all of the things he said to me. But the only thing I’m sure about right now is that no matter how much we go through together, it will always be us against the world.
