Daniel nodded. “Aubrey trusts you implicitly, and I trust her judgment.”
“If there’s anything I can do to make things easier or more comfortable, I’ll do my best to help.” Julie squeezed my hand under the table and smiled at Daniel. “I wasn’t joking about the A-plus,” she added.
He shook his head and laughed, but then his smile disappeared as he squinted across the room. I looked over my shoulder. Penny and Jeremy were in line for drinks, and Penny was in the midst of an animated conversation with Matt. I’d had no idea Matt was planning to come by.
Brad turned to follow Daniel’s dark gaze. “Who the fuck is that?” he asked with a scowl.
“That’s Aubrey’s roommate, Matt Miller. Apparently he made a bit of an impression on Penny when we were at Canoe a few weeks back.”
I rolled my eyes at Daniel and looked back to see Penny laughing and touching Matt’s arm. My God, she was an outrageous flirt. Matt was lapping it up, smiling widely and leaning in to whisper in her ear. Beside them, Jeremy watched with interest.
“You might want to start advertising for a new roommate, Aubrey, ’cause he’s gonna have trouble signing the rent checks with two broken arms,” Brad said.
“You want some help?” Daniel said, glowering across the table at his brother.
“Wow, what’s with the hate for Matt?” Julie asked me.
“I think they’re a wee bit jealous,” I whispered, though I knew for a fact that Daniel’s jealousy of Matt wasn’t exactly wee.
“He’s looking really good,” Julie said, continuing her appraisal of Matt.
“Yeah, he’s hitting the gym pretty regularly. You know, boxing, lifting weights, running.”
“You know the guy who’s with him?” Brad asked.
“Yes, that’s Shawn Ward. Completely harmless,” Daniel said.
Oh, the irony. Daniel was worrying about Matt and discounting Shawn as a threat. Meanwhile, according to Matt, Shawn was considering making a play for me.
“Fuck, give me a break,” Daniel muttered, looking contemptuously over Brad’s shoulder. I glanced behind me to see Matt helping Penny and Jeremy carry the drinks back to our table.
“Look who I found!” Penny exclaimed as she maneuvered back into her spot on the bench. “Guys, this is Matt, Aubrey’s roommate.”
Brad muttered an unenthusiastic, “Hey.”
“Yes, we’ve met,” Daniel answered cursorily.
Matt seemed oblivious to their disdain. He put the two drinks in front of Penny and said, “Hey, how ya doing?” to no one in particular and then made a beeline for Julie, who jumped up to accept his hug.
“How are ya, dancing queen?” he asked, lifting her at least a foot off the floor.
Julie squealed. “I’m good. How the hell are you? You look great!”
Matt stepped back and smiled, shrugging. “I’m hanging in there. You know how it is.”
“Do you want to join us?” Julie offered.
Matt looked around the table. Daniel and Brad were still frowning.
“Thanks, but Shawn and I are meeting some people at the Brunswick House in a bit. We just came by ’cause Shawn wanted to show his support. I should head back. But let’s get together soon, okay? Get Aubrey to set something up.” He ruffled my hair affectionately as he spoke. Daniel wasn’t impressed. Matt wasn’t helping my case in the slightest.
“Okay. We’ll have to do something soon,” she said.
“Absolutely. Okay, have a good night. Penny, guys, nice to meet you. Aubs, see you for pancakes at eleven.”
Oh God, Matt. Shut up!
“Cheers, love.” Penny flashed him a beautiful smile.
Matt turned and made his way through the crowd, rejoining Shawn on the other side of the hall. Once Matt had disappeared from view, Daniel relaxed his shoulders.
“Bloody hell, that young man is serious VFM,” Penny said with a cheeky smile.
“What’s that?” Julie whispered to me.
“No frigging clue. I didn’t bring my Penny-as-a-second-language dictionary,” I said, looking around the table helplessly.
“VFM is ‘value for money,’” Daniel clarified, his tone cool. “Penny happens to think Mr. Miller delivers a lot of bang for the buck.”
“I don’t see the big deal,” Brad complained.
“Well, I’m only making an observation. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. It’s not like I fancy him or anything, darling.” Penny winked at him and blew him a little air kiss. He appeared mildly placated.
I wondered if Daniel found Penny and Brad’s affectionate gestures contagious because I know I certainly did. I longed to join in. I tried to catch his eye, but he was looking around the room, avoiding my gaze entirely.
“Besides, I’m not into cradle robbing,” Penny said. “How old is he anyway, Aubrey?” she asked.
“He’s twenty-two,” I said.
“Good Christ, I have socks older than him.” Penny laughed.
“Oh, sure, beauty, you’re ancient. I should consider trading you in for a younger model,” Brad joked, turning and making a big show of scanning the room for potential candidates.
Penny joined him in perusing the crowd. “Nope. Sorry, love, I don’t see the perfect woman anywhere.” She looked around the table with a cheeky smile. “You all know Brad’s ideal woman is three feet tall, with no teeth, and a flat head for him to put his beer on?”
We all collapsed into laughter. She was an absolute wing nut. I was grateful for her joke, though, because Matt was seemingly forgotten, at least for now.
Brad rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay, very funny. Look, speaking of drinks, are you going to share or what?” He pointed to the collection of cups in front of Penny.
“I grabbed everyone a Coke. Hope that’s okay?” Penny passed the drinks around. “Too bad there’s no rum or rye in them. What’s with the lack of booze?”
“Penny, this is a fundraiser for Mothers Against Drunk Driving,” Daniel pointed out.
“Well, it’s not called Mothers Against Drunken Stumbling. We took a cab,” Penny said defensively. “And they’d make a hell of a lot more money if it was a licensed event.”
“I’m sure they’re satisfied with the turn out,” Daniel said. “They’ll do well off the proceeds from the door.”
“Regardless of what we’re drinking, we need a toast. We’re celebrating,” she announced.
Jeremy leaned forward to look at Penny. “What exactly are we celebrating?”
Penny and Brad looked at each other conspiratorially. Penny nodded to him. “It so happens, that in three days, we’ll officially be homeowners,” he said.
“I knew it was soon, but I had no idea it was that soon,” Daniel said, reaching across the table to high-five Brad.
“I know. We’re so bloody excited,” Penny said. “We’re picking up the keys on Wednesday. We couldn’t wait to tell you all.”
Penny held up her glass. Brad took his cue. “A toast to Grandpa Wright—one hell of an investor. And to Patty for being so nosy and paying such close attention to everything Gramps did so she could teach us all his tricks.”
We all lifted our cups and everyone took a drink.
“Aubrey, wait until you meet Patty. She’s an absolute corker,” Penny said.
“Is that a good thing?”
“It’s a very good thing,” Daniel assured me. “Henrietta Wright is an amazing woman. You’ll love her.”
“In that case, I can’t wait,” I replied.
Julie leaned forward in her chair. “Wait, how do you get Patty from Henrietta? That makes no sense.”
Brad laughed. “When Daniel was little she used to play patty-cake with him. He couldn’t get enough. He used to run around after her yelling, ‘Patty! Patty!’ Eventually he just started calling her ‘Patty,’ and it sort of stuck. Now everyone calls her that.”
I looked at Daniel across the table. “Is that true? That’s adorable.”
“Yes, it’s true,” Daniel sighed. “Thanks, Brad,
I owe you one.”
“Hey, gotta keep it real, bro. A relationship’s supposed to be based on honesty, right, Aubrey?” he turned to me with a smile.
“Absolutely,” I replied. “Gosh, I guess I better start working on my hand-clap games. I’m a little rusty.”
“Very funny,” Daniel said as he threw a pretzel at me.
Everyone laughed at Daniel’s expense. He shook his head and smiled helplessly. “Okay, fuck off, the lot of you.” He took a swig of his drink, eyes dancing as he gazed at me over the lip of the cup.
Beside him, Penny was less-than-subtly examining Julie. Daniel’s turn in the hot seat was over. Julie was up. “So, Julie, Aubrey tells us you’re a dancer. Are you bendy?” she asked.
Julie looked confused. “I think she wants to know if you’re flexible,” Jeremy explained.
Brad snorted and shook his head.
“Ah, I see,” Julie said. She locked eyes with Penny and grinned wickedly. “I’m extremely bendy.”
“Excellent!” Penny exclaimed, clapping her hands gleefully.
“Hey, are those real?” Julie asked, pointing to Penny’s long red nails.
“God, no. Acrylic, darling.”
“What about those?” Julie asked, gesturing to her boobs.
Daniel dropped his head into his hands, seemingly mortified, but the exchange was highly entertaining. Penny had met her match.
“They’re one hundred percent real, courtesy of my mum,” Penny said proudly, jiggling for effect. Brad smiled broadly.
“I don’t suppose I need to ask you the same question?” Penny dropped her eyes to Julie’s rather flat chest.
“Jesus, Penny, what the hell?” Jeremy interjected. He cast Julie an apologetic look.
“That’s okay,” Julie said, reaching over to pat Jeremy’s hand. “You’re right, Penny. I suppose I am a little under-endowed, but what is it they say? More than a handful’s too much, and more than a mouthful? Well, that’s just a waste, isn’t it?”
Julie now looked at Penny, an eyebrow raised in challenge. Jeremy continued to gaze at Julie as if the sun rose and set on her. He was too cute for words.
“That’s an interesting way of looking at it, I suppose,” Penny mused. “And tell me, how would you describe your philosophy? Are you a dance like nobody’s watching kind of girl?”
“Actually, I prefer to dance until everyone is watching,” Julie countered.
Jeremy raised his hand. “Seen that with my own eyes. Believe me, everyone watches.”
Penny winked at Jeremy and then leaned over the table with her cup. “Well played, dolly.” She and Julie clinked cups and smiled at each other before taking a drink.
Julie squeezed my hand under the table and looked at me as if to say, “Jesus Christ, what just happened?”
Suddenly, Daniel interrupted the lighthearted banter. “Fuck, here we go. Two o’clock, Penny.”
“Brad, darling,” Penny said, one eyebrow cocked.
I felt Brad’s arm slide around my back, his hand landing casually on my left shoulder. Penny ran her fingers through Daniel’s hair and then linked hands with him possessively. What the—? Had someone slipped something into my drink? Daniel winked at me. The next thing I knew, Cara and Lindsay were slinking past the table, and everything fell into place. Penny and Brad were in wingman mode. That explained the seating arrangement.
Cara tossed her head haughtily, gave me a withering look designed to kill on the spot, and continued past us to a table on the other side of the hall, dragging a confused-looking Lindsay behind her. What the hell?
“Well, then,” Penny said, rolling her eyes. “Someone needs to tell those ladies that having big knockers isn’t a license to go around looking like a slapper.”
“Um, can we please stop talking about boobs?” Daniel asked.
“What? Getting squeamish all of a sudden? That’s not like you,” Penny said, nudging him with her elbow.
“I think Daniel’s suddenly realized he’s an ass man.” Brad leaned toward me suggestively.
“For Christ’s sake, Brad,” Daniel complained, apparently not interested in discussing his penchant for either boobs or asses.
Jeremy came to Daniel’s rescue. “Hey, looks like things are getting started,” he said, gesturing to the front of the hall where the temporary stage was set up. I turned in my chair and Julie moved her seat around to the end of the table, which gave her a better view of the stage and also happened to position her closer to Jeremy. He smiled like he’d just won the lottery.
On the stage, Mary’s Uncle Bernard was holding the microphone. He thanked everyone for coming and introduced the first act. Mary’s cousin, Rebecca, the same one who’d sung at the memorial service, was settling onto a stool with a guitar.
She sang several songs, her airy voice commanding the attention of everyone in the room. From time to time, I’d feel Daniel’s foot tapping mine under the table. I’d turn to smile at him and he’d smile back, sometimes winking furtively. How I wished I could sit beside him and hold his hand. I tried to content myself with playing footsies and being in his company.
As Rebecca played the closing chords of her third song, the crowd applauded politely and three guys took her place, one plugging a guitar into an amp and another settling in behind a drum kit. After messing around with wires and cables for a few minutes, the singer introduced the band, and they embarked on their set. There was no denying their talent, but by the second song, my head started to throb. I needed a break from the incessant pounding of the bass drum.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said, having to shout to be heard. I pushed my chair back and Daniel frowned up at me.
I smiled at him encouragingly before escaping through the crowd to the washroom where I peered at myself in the mirror. I was definitely a little pasty. As I was running my hands under the cold water, the door flew open.
“Hey,” I said, turning to find Penny and Julie behind me. “Checking up on me?”
“Yes, we’re checking up on you,” Penny said. She took a moment to scan the stalls for other occupants. Satisfied that we were alone, she stood against a sink, handing me a paper towel. “Daniel was concerned. He said he thought you seemed out of sorts.”
“Yeah, I’ve got a bit of a headache starting.”
“Well, someone won’t be pleased to hear that.” Penny grinned.
“How many mojitos did you have?” Julie asked.
“Three large ones. Right after I finished two small ones.”
“Aubrey, you have no idea how much booze was in those drinks.”
“Oh, I know, believe me. I think I’ve gone straight from the drinking to the hangover without the fun buzz in between.”
Julie rubbed my arm. “When we get back inside, you should grab a glass of water. I’m sure that’ll help.”
“I don’t think I can go back in there. That drummer is too fond of his bass pedal.”
“Maybe you should go home,” Penny suggested.
“I don’t want to leave.”
“Listen, if you’re worried about leaving your other half behind, I can guarantee he’ll be right behind you as soon as you walk out the door. And I bet I know where he’ll be looking, too,” Penny said, patting me on the butt.
“I don’t want to miss any fun.”
“We’ll be really boring, won’t we, Julie?” Penny said.
Julie nodded. “Dull as dirt.”
Penny laughed. “I don’t know if I’d go that far.”
“Good point,” Julie conceded. “I’m sure there’s never a dull moment when you’re around, Penny.”
“Oh, you know I’m harmless, right? I hope I didn’t frighten you earlier. I’m always game for a bit of fun, that’s all, and you two are right up my alley.”
“You didn’t give me the gears like that,” I said.
“Oh, I seem to remember making you squirm a little,” she claimed. “I was particularly interested in your relationship with a certain hunky fella you happen to
live with.”
“Ah, yes, you’re right,” I said.
“So, honestly now, there’s nothing between you and Matt?” she asked.
I had no doubt that whatever I said would get back to Daniel. Her loyalties were abundantly clear. This was my chance to put his mind to rest.
“Listen, Penny, I won’t deny that we’re close. We’d do anything for each other. There’s definitely affection, but certainly nothing close to what Daniel seems to think is going on.”
With the exception of Valentine’s Day when he slipped me the tongue and attacked my hip with his hard-on. Yep, we’re just really good friends.
“Don’t take my nosiness the wrong way, Aubrey. I just don’t want him to get hurt. He’s such a fantastic bloke.”
“I have no intention of hurting him, Penny. You have my word on that.”
“Good. Let’s go back in, and then you can get a move on if you want. I’m sure Daniel won’t mind. If Julie’s okay with being left with us, that is. I know Jeremy would be thrilled.”
“No kidding,” I said, grinning at Julie. “He’s so into you.”
“He talks about me all the time, you said?” Julie asked.
“Non-stop,” Penny confirmed.
“I suppose I could stick around for a while,” Julie said with a coy smile.
Penny laughed as she pulled open the door. There was no need to return to the table. Daniel was standing against the wall outside the washroom, already wearing his coat, his ball cap pulled low over his eyes, my coat in his hands.
“Hey, you okay? You weren’t looking well there a few minutes ago. I thought maybe you’d want to bail,” he said.
“Would you mind?” I asked as I pulled my coat on.
“Not at all. You go on out and wait for me. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” He didn’t want to be seen leaving with me. That was understandable.
I hugged Penny and Julie. “Say goodbye to Brad and Jeremy for me,” I said.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Julie assured me.
I squeezed her arm and gave Daniel a quick smile before making my exit. I pulled my hood up and waited for him at the far corner of the building. A few moments later, he pushed his way through the doors and scanned the deserted street. We met at the pathway leading to Vic’s quad and walked along quickly and quietly, staying a safe distance apart.
The Weight of Words (The WORDS Series) Page 24