“Hi,” Brendan said, his hand going up in an awkward wave before he shoved it in his pocket. “Um, Brady, you know Bronagh, and this is her friend, Ming. Ming, this is my brother, Brady.”
Brady didn’t say anything, just lifted his head in acknowledgement. His expression was tight and angry, and I hoped it wasn’t because of what happened between his brother and me.
I wasn’t ashamed to admit that Brady intimidated me a little bit.
“Hey,” Ming said, her voice funny. I turned to her, curious as to the squeak that had come out of her normally sarcastic mouth, but her attention was rapt on Brendan’s brother.
“Well, we’ll let you guys get back to it, I didn’t want to be rude and ignore the fact that you’re here, but we have some stuff to discuss. Talk to you later,” Brendan said, then turned and ushered his brother to the opposite side of the room.
“Gosh, should I be feeling this sad right now?” I asked my friend as I watched Brendan’s retreating back. “This is what I wanted, right?”
“I don’t know, is it?” Ming asked, her tone still strange. Almost flat.
“What do you mean?” I asked, hopeful that she would share some insight.
“Your words and actions aren’t matching up, Nonie. You say that you can’t be with him because he doesn’t want kids and you do, that it’s a deal breaker, but you obviously still have feelings for him. I think you need to dig deep inside yourself and ask if you’re making the right decision. I’d hate for you to miss out on something wonderful, because you think it’s the right thing.”
I watched Brendan quietly for a moment, letting my best friend’s words penetrate.
“Do you think I’m making a mistake?”
When Ming didn’t respond, I turned my head to see her watching the guys as well.
“Hey,” I said, hitting her arm to grab her attention. “What is going on with you.”
Ming turned her head and shook it, jet-back hair spilling over her shoulders.
“Sorry, it’s just … Tall, dark, and brooding…” she muttered, then looked at me with wild eyes. “He’s my kryptonite.”
A laugh funneled out of me, surprising me out of my melancholy, and I had to ask, “What are you talking about?”
“That guy is everything I’ve always fantasized about, always been attracted to, and always kept my distance from,” Ming explained. “The kind of guy my parents would hate, and would have me quivering like a desperate needy woman. I have to stay away from him.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, happy to have my mind on something other than Brendan and Maxime. “Brady is not your type at all.”
Ming nodded, then tossed back her cosmo with impressive speed.
“I know, he’s the exact opposite of the suits I usually date, and there’s a reason for that.”
“You’re telling me that you find him attractive?” I whispered that last part, as if I were afraid Brady had supersonic hearing and would storm over to give me another lecture.
Ming’s familiar “are you serious right now” expression crossed her face, and the manic woman of seconds ago was gone.
“Of course I find him attractive. A tall, dark-skinned man with perfectly coifed hair, working man’s hands, and a disgruntled attitude … What’s not to like?”
I thought about her question, then realized, nope, I still didn’t get it. Who would be attracted to grumpy?
“Ah, a lot,” I answered sarcastically.
“Do you remember our math teacher in tenth grade, Mr. Riley?”
“The one who was always mad at us for not liking math?”
“Yes,” Ming said, then shocked the pants off of me by saying, “I had a major crush on him.”
“Ewww,” was my response.
“And, Bill Condor…”