Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 43

"Three days, two nights of road-tripping," Billy echoed.

"But wait, what is Tess doing?" I meekly asked.

"Rough week for us girls: champagne dress fitting, a spa day, private chef dinner," Tess teased.

"I'm not sure we'll survive," Sarah agreed.

"And I get to live in a Winnebago with Tweddle Dee and Tweddle Dum," I groaned. "I know why you didn't tell me until I got here."

"You're Dum," Billy shot to Tim.

"It's my wedding week. You're Dum," Tim argued.

"You're going to use that all week, huh?" Billy griped.

"Well, you only get one wedding week," Tim shot back.

"That's right, babe," Tess agreed.

"Well, I guess I should just be happy you haven't been citing your wedding month, like this one and her birthday," Billy nodded to me.

"Um, are you complaining about celebrating my birth?" I indignantly furrowed my brow.

"People celebrate their birthday, not birth month," Billy argued.

"People are doing it wrong," I offered.

"Agreed," Tess nodded. "Change approved!"

"That's not a thing!" Billy countered. "You can't just say change approved and make it a social convention."

"Yes, you can," Tess flatly said.

"Agreed! Change approved!" I laughed.

"Mom, will you tell them this isn't how things work?" Billy whined.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You are a grown man, dear. Fight your own fights," Mary sagely offered.

"Yeah, you just lost the sound argument by going to your mom," Sarah agreed.

"Et tu, Brute?" Billy challenged.

Billy pouted.

"Aw, you're cute when you're pathetic," Sarah cooed.

"With that, I think we should eat," Mary offered.

We gathered around the table in Billy's formal dining room, which felt far too fancy for the group and topics of discussion. Tim and Billy were both quite nostalgic about our summer in the RV as they told many of that summer's shenanigans.

"Has Tim ever told you why Lil won't allow us to have rubber balls?" Billy asked Tess.

"Um, no, and why would a grown man even want rubber balls?" Tess responded.

"These two would always pick up rubber balls from those machines at gas stations. Then they would pull them out when we were in elevators and whip them around," I explained.

"Oh my, it's a wonder no one lost an eye," Sarah mused.

"Thank you!" I said with relief that someone finally saw my side.

"This from the woman that bought Billy that damn cane!" Tim grumbled.

"It's not for that," Mary and I said in unison.

Billy dipped his head and dutifully responded with a "sorry, ma'am," despite not having the cane in hand.

"I can't believe you would sully my gift for such a childish use," I condemned.

For a moment, actual sorrow crossed Billy's face, but then he mustered, "but it's Tim."

"That's not what it's for," Mary and I scolded again.