Humor is what steers me away from conversations, from honesty I’m too scared to admit.

She wiggles her finger in a come-hither motion. “Come and see for yourself then.”

I repeatedly shake my head. “Trouble, trouble, trouble.”

Our attention returns to the movie, and every so often, one of us will comment about it. Mostly Cassidy, who has no problem telling movie characters they’re being stupid. Even though romance movies aren’t typically my jam, it’s not terrible.

After a long spread of no Cassidy comments, I glance over to find her sleeping. Her mouth is somewhat open, her chest dropping in and out slowly, and the box of Junior Mints is gripped in her hand. I hesitate, unsure of what to do, but decide to keep watching the movie.

If she wakes up, she’ll know I didn’t bail on her.

She’s still crashed out when the movie ends.

Whispering, “Good night,” and hoping the mints don’t spill all over her bed, I hang up.

And just like that, I had my first virtual … date … hangout … with Cassidy.

“I’m throwing Archer a surprise birthday party,” Georgia announces while walking into the bar.

Georgia and I have gotten along since day one. She and Archer … well, Archer was in the midst of denying his feelings for Georgia then. She flirted with me, resulting in my brother wanting to kill me. I knew he liked her, so I told her to keep doing it until he got his head out of his ass. When our father died, I called Georgia to be there with Archer. She was who he needed.

Even in the small amount of time we’ve known each other, I can depend on Georgia.

I respect Georgia.

I hope to God my brother never fucks up the good thing he has.

I snort. “Yeah, he won’t be happy about that.”

“Yes, he will,” she answers with certainty as if there’d never been a truer fact.

Archer and surprise parties go together like the Pope and a strip club. My brother would probably choose to have his balls tugged off than attend a party solely for himself. Although, now that Georgia is in the picture, he’s changing. The dude is becoming more of a social man. And given the hell he put Georgia through when he was working through his issues, he’s nearly bowing down to her.

He won’t love the surprise party, but he’ll enjoy it for the sake of his relationship.

He’ll enjoy it because his girlfriend threw it for him.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “You and my brother being total opposites yet also obsessed with each other would confuse the smartest dude on the planet.”

“Opposites attract.” She taps her finger against the side of her mouth. “Sometimes.”

I cock my head to the side. “What’s that supposed to mean?”