Page 9 of The Art of Almost Losing It
Ryan grimaces.
“My half brother wrecked my other car.” I keep my voice level. “I needed a new one.”
“You could have bought a normal car.”
“It’s his money, Dad.” Hannah rolls her eyes.
“Which brother wrecked it? Was it Spencer?” Bridget asks.
“You all aren’t hanging out with those boys, are you?” Frank demands as he shoots a piercing gaze at his daughters.
“No, but they’re all over social media.” Hannah waves her phone.
“Connor wrecked it—he’s the youngest,” I explain to Claire, who might not know.
Connor was the baby, the one everyone was most concerned about after the rescue.
“Oh.” My mom’s hand flutters to her neck with its butterfly tattoo.
Frank grips her thigh under the tablecloth.
“How is he doing?” She calms. “How’s Connor?”
“Fine. He didn’t need to go to the hospital. I didn’t punch him in the face that hard.” The joke lands flat.
Everyone stares at me.
“I didn’t actually—never mind.”
“How are your… How are the rest of the—” Claire searches for the right word. It’s awkward.
“Fine. They’re fine.”
“Rich!” Max hoots.
“You got the wrong Donnelly brother.” Sean elbows Claire. “Not too late to upgrade.”
“Randomly, I talked to Siobhan last week,” Mom says in a rush. “She says that Grayson is planning some big trip?”
“Yeah—it’s not a good time, but he wants me to go, so… What do you want to order?” I hold up the menu.
I try not to slip into the past as they spend an agonizingly long time ordering appetizers. My mom talks to some of the girls occasionally. It’s not like they all get together and hang out like normal people, though.
How could you?
“Isn’t it weird?” Hannah smirks in my direction, a little drunk from the champagne and red wine.
“What?” Bridget sighs as Max and Sean argue over thearancini.
“That Ryan is getting married before Graham?” My half sister continues. “I mean, Graham’s rich, and he’s way older. He should have been married with kids by now.”
“Yeah, but he’s never even had a girlfriend.” Sean wins the battle over the appetizers.
“You’re not a virgin, are you Graham?” Claire giggles, drunk on champagne.
“Car like that—he’s a chad.” Max jumps to my defense.
“Everyone goes at their own pace,” Frank chides Hannah then gives me a patronizing smile.
