"Huh. So… does that mean I get the apartment for the weekend?"
"I guess so. Don't throw any wild parties while I'm out."
"I'm going to throw three," she stated.
"That's it, you're going to Ann Arbor with me so I can babysit you."
Julie grinned. "You can't take me—what will people think?" she asked mockingly.
"What they already think," he muttered.
Her grin slipped then, the gossip from the café coming to the front of her mind. "What do you mean?"
He gave her a sideways glance that made her heart flop unhelpfully, but he shook his head, saying, "Nothing."
She debated for a minute whether she wanted to ask or not, but then she decided not to push the issue. "Well, I won't really throw any wild parties while you're gone, so you don't have to worry."
"It'll probably be nice to have the apartment to yourself, won't it?" he said.
Raising her eyebrows just slightly, she said, "Not really. I'll probably be bored out of my mind, but I'm used to being here by myself, it's no biggie."
Aaron frowned a little, then after a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Did you really want to go?"
"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "You don't have to take me, I was just teasing you. I'm a big girl, I'll be fine by myself."
"Well… I didn't really think about inviting anyone, but if you wanted to go… I suppose I could use some form of entertainment. I could just call my mom and tell her to add on a plate."
That was a shocker. She knew her eyes were wide, but she was surprised. She had only been joking; she never dreamed he would offer to take her along.
"I mean, Matt and Emma are going to be there, so I don't know if you want to… be around them."
Not really, but…
"Come to think of it, since Shannon's going to be there too, it's probably not a good idea. I don't even want to go, so I shouldn't even suggest dragging you along."
Julie blinked. "Why would Shannon be there?"
Sighing, he said, "Well, it's kind of complicated. She's actually the groom's cousin… when we were together our families ended up meeting and liking each other, so… she's one of the bridesmaids."
"That's awful!" Julie declared, outraged. "Why would your sister let that…her be in the wedding after what she did to you?"
Shrugging, he said, "It's not a big deal, I'm going to go to the wedding, stick it out, get drunk off my ass at the reception and then hopefully pass out, and when I wake up it will be time to come home."
Suddenly, the wedding wasn't sounding so fun.
"That sucks," she stated.
"You're tellin' me," he said with a sigh. "Oh well, that's family for you."
Frowning, she sat there for a few seconds thinking about the absolutely miserable weekend he was in for, and Shannon being there… and Matt…
Damn, what a sister he had.
"You know what… maybe if I went with you to keep you company… it wouldn't be so bad?" she suggested tentatively. "I mean, there are people you don't like there, and people I don't like there, and… I don't know. I mean, if you don't want me to go I would totally understand, but… I would be happy to go with you if you wanted to bring a guest."
He just stared at her, saying in disbelief, "You want to go to a wedding with my family where Emma and Matt are going to be, as well as my ex-girlfriend and Matt's ex-mistress?"
"I am insane," she stated.