Page 22 of Offensive Plays

Whatever. I'll be her little pawn to use to get back at my brother for whatever the hell he did to piss her off.

I know they have history, and I'm not about to get in the middle of it.

Getting up to grab a drink at the bar, the crowd around me is riled up as the bids continue to pour in for our team captain on stage.

"So...Liberty O'Connor," a rough voice says behind me. I turn to my older brother who has his hands in his pockets and is wearing that smirk I've grown up with my entire life.

"Why do you sound so surprised?"

The bartender hands me my root beer, and Jonah eyes the drink.

"Some things never change, huh, little brother? Libby always did have a taste for Ferguson boys."

"You're not jealous, are you, Jo? I mean, you're about to get married."

A corner of his mouth quirks up in amusement. "I just came over to congratulate you."

"On?"

"Everything," he says, spreading his arms out. "Pursuing your dreams, your team making it into the conference finals, now, scoring a date with one of the hottest girls to exist."

I narrow my eyes at him. "I don't think Lillian would appreciate it if she heard you talking like that about another woman?"

He's right. Some things never change. Jonah Ferguson's tactlessness is one of them.

He waves it off, "I'm just stating a fact."

"Right. Well, thanks, but I don't need your congratulations. And Libby's just a friend." I brush past him, and he grabs me by the bicep.

Lowering his voice, he says, "Enjoy my sloppy seconds, Mikey. I know that's what you're used to."

I shake my arm loose from his grip. "You're disgusting, Jo."

A low chuckle escapes him. "I'm just messing with you. You're always so serious," he says, patting me on the shoulder. "Anyways, are you coming to dinner tomorrow? We're going over the final details. I need my best man there."

"I don't know," my eyes float over to the table full of my friends.

Right now, I regret agreeing to be my brother's best man. We were estranged for so long, and this was his attempt to smooth things over again between us.

"Come on, Mikey. Mom's getting worried. You haven't been around."

"Says the guy who wasn't around for nearly a decade."

"Ouch. Hey, I had my low points. But that was another life."

His eyes reflect the genuine hurt in them. "I know...I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Just promise you'll be there man."

"I'll do what I can."

He nods and accepts that. "Tell Libby I say...hi," he grins before returning to his table. His wife watches him as he approaches and announces they should go. Lillian smiles at me and waves.

I give her a small wave back. My soon-to-be sister-in-law has a lot to deal with in Jonah Ferguson. The woman is a saint.

"Sold for fifty thousand dollars to Mackenzie Stratton," Rina's voice rings out into the speakers.

What?