The Difference

Chapter 17

After dinner, Eric leaves, hoping to beat the snow. Troy walks out with him, wanting to take another look at his car. I can't help but smile at how hard they both try to get along for me. I have the perfect boyfriend, I'm making amends with my best friend and I'm planning a royal ball. Well, I wouldn't call it royal to Mrs. Marigold, since she gets touchy at the topic.

"What time is it anyway?" Brad asks, yawning.

"9:00," Ava answers, looking at her phone.

"That's it? It feels like midnight," Troy adds.

"We're almost done with the bows, then we just have to spray them and then we can put them in envelopes and then-" I trail off, realizing we are nowhere near being done.

"Yeah," Brad says as no one else answers me.

"How many people are even coming?" Troy questions and I can tell he gets grumpy when he gets tired.

Ava answers, "Well, how many invitations did you have printed?"

"Uh, like 1000 I think," he answers.

Ava and Brad's jaws drop simultaneously.

"More like 300," I correct him. "The card stock makes it seem like it's a lot more."

"That box weighed like 100 pounds," Troy defends himself.

"Well, once we're done, we can all enjoy a relaxing night," Ava chimes in, cheerfully.

"Yeah, we can watch movies and have snacks and stuff! Maybe we can even sneak into the theatre!" Brad suggests.

"There's a theatre here?" I question.

"Of course! This place is like a palace," Brad answers.

"I'm sure Grandma wouldn't mind," Troy chimes in.

"Maybe we just don't tell her," I suggest and we all seem to nod in agreement. We change the subject as she walks into the ballroom and sees us working on her invitations.

"Just marvelous! Thank you, Ava!" She says.

"Actually, Rosemary did all the work. We're just adding the finishing touches," Ava says.

"Right, right. Well, I really do appreciate it," she says to just Ava, then walks away.

"She literally knows we've been working on these all day, I don't understand why she has to be like that when everyone else is around," Troy says, annoyed.

"It's fine," I say, reassuring him.

"No, it's not. She's always like this. She'll support Brad and Ava but with me it's a completely different story, all because-" he stops himself. He shakes his head, walking away from the table, and storms off toward his bedroom.

"Because of what?" Ava questions.

"I think everyone just holds him to a higher standard," Brad explains. "Since he works for the law firm and all."

I nod and wonder if I should go after him or not. I finish my pile of invitations and Ava gives me the okay to check on him. I thank them both for picking up our slack and they say it's no issue.

Heading up the stairs, I look back at those two and wonder why they have it so much easier than Troy and I. Sighing, I take my time on the walk to his room. I approach the door, knocking. Silence.

"Troy?" I call out to him. He doesn't say anything. I sigh, wondering why I had to fall for the brother with the attitude and not the easy going one. I shake my head and turn the door knob, surprised it isn't locked. I see Troy laying underneath the sheets and notice his shoes on the side of the bed. I step inside to get a closer look and realize he's asleep. I smile, brushing a piece of hair out of his face, before I decide to leave him in peace. When I begin to walk away, I hear a faint mumble.