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“They’re cuttlefish, dear brother. And murder, all over a girl you’re not really with? Didn’t think you’d be the jealous, overprotective type, Dex. Damn, she must’ve made quite the impression.” He shrugs and licks his fingers, officially turning my stomach.
“I said don’t talk to me.”
“To be fair, I made you step up your game,” he says. “Mom bought it, so now you have to shore up your little wife lie. Everyone comes out of this a winner.”
I grit my teeth. “Dragging Mom into it wasn’t part of the deal, jackass. I’m blaming you when it’s over and she has her heart smashed up over it.”
“I know, I know. Fuck. You wanted to keep this whole thing quiet, but do you think Haute’s really going to buy that if our own family doesn’t know?” His grin has never looked more punchable. “Look, Bro, she’ll get over it.”
I don’t want her toget over it.
I especially don’t want to involve Junie in any family drama more than strictly necessary, but that ship has sailed. And knowing my luck, it’s about to catch fire and capsize.
“I don’t know what your problem is,” Patton continues, snagging a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “This is a big night for us and Parisian Oasis. Looks like I’m celebrating alone.”
“You want to know my problem?You’remy fucking problem, Pat—”
“Guys.” Archer shoves a glass of champagne at me. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but Pat’s right, Dex. This isn’t the time or place. We’re here to kick off a success, never mind the quirks. Let’s not blow it over personal shit.”
The man is right, but that doesn’t make me any happier about my little brother’s fuckery.
“Yeah, okay. It’s all good, wiring aside,” I say.
Patton frowns. “Wiring? Oh, we’re not just going to roll with it?”
“This is a win,” Archer continues, ignoring him like the ass-clown he is. “And we’re toasting it, all right?”
“Fine,” I say, throwing the champagne back. “Look at me, celebrating.”
“As for you, Pat,” Archer says, turning to Patton, who frowns, disconcerted, “you need to stop letting your big mouth get you into trouble.”
“Oh, so it’s my big mouth that’s the problem?”
Archer raises an eyebrow and glares at him.
“Fuck,” Patton says, good natured all over again. “I guess you’ve got me there.” He sends me a quick, unrepentant look. “Sorry for telling Mom you’re engaged and getting you in waist-deep shit, I guess.”
“The engagement is as real as your half-assed apology,” I snap.
“Oh, right. Sorry for telling Mom you’refakeengaged and getting you in deep shit.” The smile slides from his face as he grabs a martini from a passing tray. “Man, this Haute deal is a giant pain in my ass.”
“Don’t you know it,” Archer says.
“A pain in all our asses,” I agree, setting my empty glass down. “If we didn’t need Haute to sign off on this, I’d be tempted to find one of his old friends and have him bumped off.”
“Dex, not funny,” Archer snarls, gesturing to the growing gaggle of people milling around a short distance away.
“Bad joke. Sorry.”
We should be milling, too, but I’ve never been less in the mood for casual conversation with strangers.
I roll my eyes and Patton grins at me. I don’t grin back, but it’s something.
Almost like we can share the same oxygen again, or at least band together against Archer when we need to.
“You know,” Patton says, “if I could do it again, I might have thought a little harder about the whole deal.”
I try not to snort.
