The Gallagher twins

~• 06 •~

—What's the point of playing Monopoly? Whoever has the most properties wins. This isn't about management, it's pure power!

—You're just complaining because you're in jail. Pay two hundred and they let you go free.

—Two hundred? I'd better stay here.

The game had taken a turn. At first, Aidan and I were on Ryan's property and paid him. He was king until he fell into the card box and had to pay two hundred because his dog had peed in someone else's house. He bought an expensive house and then got sent to prison.

—Why did my damn dog have to pee in someone else's house? I like cats better now —he spat, angrily.

—The game is all yours, Aidan. I don't have any money —I announced. It was better not to play, because if Ryan was out of jail, it was going to get rough. Playing games they were aggressive.

As I watched the inmate whine and grumble, I checked my cell phone in a vague attempt to check the time.

—You know what? Screw stinginess. If I'm still in here Aidan is going to beat me —he said as he regretfully handed over the required budget.

Aidan won anyway. After that, the twins decided to order pizza.

—Guys, we're going out. I think we'll be back a little late. Don't do anything you'll regret later — Lauren threatened tenderly.

I said goodbye to my dad and Lauren. They said they were going to have dinner with friends or something. I was just waiting for them to bring me some food.

—What happened with the pizza?

—The pizzerias suck. They didn't have vegan pizzas. No place nearby sold them.

—Don't worry about me, really —Aidan mumbled.

—It doesn't matter. I know the perfect place. Come on, let's go.

I looked for a coat, because it was freezing cold. Ryan put on a leather jacket like the ones the sexy motocycle gang leaders wore in the '80s movies. But that wasn't the most important thing at the time.

—How are we going to get there if they've taken the car?

—Ryan, there's such a thing as walking. And that's what we'll do.

He pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his jacket pocket and put them on, pretending to be offended.

—Fine.

[...]

—What a good trio we are, but let's admit that I'm the handsome one.

—But you and Aidan have the same face!

—Then the more charming one.

I rolled my eyes as I listened to Ryan's nonsense.

We were waiting for a menu to be brought to us. I took them to a restaurant where Aidan could eat. It's garbage that some restaurants don't take vegetarians and vegans into consideration.

Changing the subject, I couldn't take my eyes off Ryan. I just hope he didn't notice that. I don't know what I liked better, his sunglasses, the jacket, or his self-centered dork attitude.

—A vegan chick would do me no harm. Of course, with a Coke.

—I'll have a hamburger —I said with the menu in my hand.

—I'll have the same.

—And I'll have an iced tea —I added.

—Me too.

I glanced sideways at Ryan before handing the food menu to the waitress. He was copying me, why?

—What are you doing, Gallagher?

—Nothing.

The waitress gave us our food fast. We almost wolfed it down. Even Aidan, who ate politely at first, he left clean his plate.

—I'm going outside for a while.

—What are you going to do? —Aidan asked as he wiped the corners of his lips with a napkin.

His brother just gave him a smile.

—Well, it's just you and me now, Aidan.

He smiled at me. But it wasn't like Ryan's; that one was teasing, this one is cute. It's sincere, it's very Aidan.

—Nothing to see, but what's going on between Ryan and Hannah these days?

—I don't know. He doesn't talk to me about her anymore since we moved in with you guys. And Hannah doesn't say anything to me either. Why?

I don't know, maybe because I connected your twin with rough men from the eighties! And that's a sign that I found him attractive, I think?

—No, I answered. Just curious —I saw the waitress leaving the bar—. And how are you doing with Astrid?

He blushed.

—We're still dating, but I like her a lot. She's funny and when she's distracted, she's very cute.

—Yes, that's how she is.

—We should pay the bill, shouldn't we?

—Yeah. I think Ryan lied to us to get out of paying —I laughed.

—Sounds like something he would do. But you better go look, I'll pay. I owe you, ___.

I nodded and went out into the street. I looked both ways. I found Ryan making out with the waitress. He was grabbing her ass and she was playing with his hair. I could tell it was a passionate kiss, but I couldn't see any feeling in it.

I swallowed. I felt uncomfortable, but when I wanted to turn back Aidan was behind me. I bumped into him.

For a moment what I saw gave me a little pain in my chest and I don't think it was related to anything physical.