The Barmaid's Contract

8.

"I know we weren't friends in school, but if you ever need to talk, I'm here." I offered to Callie. I had a weak spot for her the minute I saw the look on Avery's face, nearly making his sister cry.

"That's very nice of you." She muttered as we went down the halls.

"Trust me, Cally, I'm not nice. But an enemy of my enemy is my friend." I grinned at her.

"Enemy? Oh, you mean Avery? If he is your enemy, why are you marrying him?"

She got me there. Should I tell her the truth?

"Ah, we had an argument earlier. That's all." I lied. I felt myself pang in the guilt.

Callie smiled as she opened a door, leading to a sitting room. "I believe my brother needs to be brought back to earth."

I laughed at the innocent way she said it. I knew this as well, but both of our versions were slightly different.

"He is such a head strong person, but he can be a downer. Such negativity on certain situations."

I rolled my eyes. "I know." I smiled at Cally.

"I can always rely on him to point out the negative points."

"I usually say that unless you're a pregnancy test, take your negativity elsewhere."

Cally laughed. "I can see why he likes you. You're so funny!"

I was about to say "He doesn't-" like me, but... "think so."

"That you're funny? I think you are. If Avery doesn't think you're funny he is gonna-"

"Have to remove the pole that's wedged in his arse?" I finished and Callie grinned widely and nodded her head enthusiastically.

We both sat in fits of laughter.

Callie smiled widely as we calmed down. "You'll fit in fine here. Avery needs a leash to hold him back."

Avery needs a leash? Obviously Callie doesn't know me too well. When we were at school, we had different social groups. She didn't know me, I didn't know here. I knew of her.

"Did you just call your oldest brother a dog?" Both Callie and I turned to the deep voice leaning against the door frame.

"Bash!" Callie jumped up and ran in to his arms, giving him a long hug. "It's been so long!"

"Hello, Calliope. I see you are here and not with dad, so am I correct when I say you screwed up again?"

Was this tall handsome man, who bore the same eyes and hair as Avery, cut from the same clothe?

"Bash, do you remember Alexandra Foster?" Callie introduced us.

I couldn't think of anyone called Bash, but his eyes went to me and a small and lazy smile appeared.

"Alexandra? I remember an Allie Foster, but I thought Allie was an only child."

"Allie is Alexandra." Callie grinned widely. "Alex, this is Sebastian."

Oh Sebastian Montgomery. The middle brother. So all three Montgomery children were here. This is going to be interesting.

"Alex, hello." Bash smiled at me. He offered me a hand and I took it, expecting to shake it when he placed his lips on my hand.

"Hello." I answered in a hushed tone. "Are you sure you're related to Avery?"

"Pretty sure. Does it count if we have the same parents?"

I giggled. "I'm sure it does."

Bash was still holding my hand. "I'm sorry to hear about your father."

"Oh. I'm so sorry. It didn't even cross my mind." Cally gulped.

"It's okay. Wasn't really a father to me."

Both Cally and Sebastian looked at me like I was a science project that went wrong.

"Alex doesn't care for her late father." Avery said as he walked in. "Sebastian." He greeted his brother coldly.

"Avery." Bash returned the same gesture.

Avery placed a hand on mine and Bash's and pulled them apart. "I see you've met Alex."

"Yes." Bash smiled again.

I felt his hand go down my back and stopped on my waist as he pulled me closer. "My fiance." Avery finished.

Sebastian looked surprised. "Really?"

I just smiled weakly at him. Sebastian had the same hair and eyes as his brother, but their noses, mouths, their whole faces were different.

"Yes!" Cally grinned.

"No ring?" Bash glared at his brother.

"Not yet." Avery answered him. I could feel the tension between the brothers.

I shrugged out off Avery's grip. "I'm gonna go. You boys continue your pissing contest."

I left them there, Bash more surprised than Avery on what I said. I heard Cally laugh as I left the room, a smile on my face.

****

"I don't want a meteor for a ring. Hell, I don't want a ring." I grumbled at Avery that evening.

He had given me a ring and as I stared at it, I was trying to think how long it would feed a third world country for.

"Too bad." Avery glared at me and my face tightened. "Besides, I'm winning at this so called pissing race."

I pouted as he took it out off the box and snatched up my left hand.

I tried taking my hand back, but Avery had his grip tighten. He shoved the ring on to the appropriate finger as I whined in pain.

"Stop! It's too small." I cried out. But Avery managed to get it past my last knuckle on my finger.

I took my hand and tried to pull the ring off but it wouldn't budge.

"Did you deliberately make sure it was too small?" I snapped at him.

Avery smirked as I tried to take it off.

"It's so you won't lose it."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'm not letting you ruin this for me. I've worked too hard."

I rolled my eyes as I gave up on the ring. "Your only purpose in life is to be an organ donor." I got up from the seat and I felt myself being pulled back.

"You need to stop these remarks. I never expected both of my siblings here as well, so you need to actually act like we are in love." Avery growled at me in a low voice.

"Trust me." I growled back at him. "They think we had a tiff."

"And what will happen when this fight blows down? Are you gonna say we had another barney?"

I smirked over at him, a good distance away. "I'm a red head. I'm always pissed off."

Avery didn't like that response. "My sister and brother are here because of the funeral on Monday. They are apparently representing my father, well, Sebastian is."

"Good. Call can represent me." I snapped at him.

"No. You will be going. We will be going as a couple. This is the perfect time to announce, quietly, about our engagement. I proposed to you just before you found out about Dominic. We kept the relationship quiet because of your father's health, and out of respect, we will not be throwing an engagement party."

"Oh aren't you smart. You have the whole thing worked out, don't you?"

Avery stayed quiet as I glared at him.

"Don't let that brain of yours out too long, it might get lost." I turned and left the room, still trying to get the damned ring off my finger.