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Her tone irritates me just as much as that knowing tilt to her head. Our cousin Martin is getting married next week. I politely declined the invitation to attend.
“Camp starts the Monday after that,” I explain.
“Which means you could’ve made it,” Oakley annoyingly persists.
“Well, that was never going to happen,” I bite out. “You know I hate weddings.”
“I do know”—she nods her head a few times—“which just proves my point. You hate weddings. You refused to go to your first cousin’s ceremony next weekend because it’s too close to the start of camp. Yet here you are, flying in for this one. I think we both know why you’re really here. She stands at five feet ten inches, has long blonde hair, and is standing right over there. Case. Closed.”
“You’re so freakin’ annoying sometimes.” I roll my eyes and empty my glass.
“I’m only annoying because I’m right,” she says smugly. Her turquoise eyes shift across the room, where Madison is still dancing with her stepdad. Everything about her expression and tone softens as she watches her friend. “She has a way of drawing you in, doesn’t she?”
I follow her gaze. My lip quirks when I see the smile lighting up Madison’s gorgeous face. Her essence is consuming, and her happiness fills the entire space.
“I still remember the first time we met,” Oakley reminisces, a faraway look in her eyes as she revisits the past. “It was first grade. Billy Blankenship was picking on me on the playground on the first day of school. Madison walked right up to him and pushed him even though he was twice her size. She narrowed her eyes and told him to shut his mouth or she would shut it for him.”
I chuckle. “I can actually picture her doing that. I think I saw the same exchange between her and a customer at Cheerz a few weeks back.”
“Some things never change.” Oakley smiles, and surprisingly, there are tears in her eyes. “She’s just the best, Ollie. She’s always been my ride or die, and she always will be.”
“I know.” I swallow down the lump that has suddenly formed in my throat.
Oakley looks me straight in the eye after blinking away the tears. “Treat her good.”
I don’t answer. The words are stuck in my throat, but I hold her stare. Then, I nod.
“You might have to chase her a little from time to time. She’s a runner, like you. But she’s worth the effort. And that’s the same thing I told her about you.”
“So, you’re not mad about it anymore?” I ask, swirling the melting ice cubes in my glass. “Us, getting together?”
“I was never mad.”
I narrow my eyes, silently disagreeing.
“Okay,” she breathes out. “Maybe I was a little mad at first.”
I scoff.
“But,” she continues, “I got over it. And now, I can’t think of anything better than having my best friend and my favorite brother together.”
“I’m your only brother,” I remind her.
Chase walks over and sits on the other side of my sister with two bottles of beer, setting one in front of Oakley. She takes a small sip.
“Thanks.” She winks at Chase, her hand landing on his thigh as if it belongs there.
He tips his chin and avoids my smirk.
Oakley turns her attention back to me. “I’ve always looked at Madison as a sister …” Her tone is suggestive and smug, like she’s picturing the day when Mads and I will be in this same setting, but at the center of the ceremony.
Chase’s brows shoot up to his hairline. “What did I miss?”
I ignore my friend. “Slow down,” I warn Oakley. “You’re getting a little ahead of yourself.” A lot ahead of yourself. “No one’s getting married anytime soon. Well … except Celeste. And cousin Martin.”
“Never say never,” Oakley says with an irritating grin on her face as she pokes the bear. She leans back until she’s resting against Chase.
I decide things are getting far too serious and it’s time to lighten the mood. So, I reach over with my glass and tap the top of her bottle. Her hand tightens around it as the fizz starts to spill over the top, and she yanks it to her mouth, choking down the liquid until it stops overflowing. Chase chuckles behind his lager, trying to hide his reaction. Oakley glares over her shoulder at him.
