Page 29 of Ancient Obsession

Dave’s food was waiting when he sat in the booth across from Cody. There was also an iced tea, condensation just forming on the plastic sides of the cup.

He lifted the top piece of bread and checked out the sandwich. “Wow, you got everything right.”

Cody feigned shock. “Did you have doubts?”

Dave gave him a look before taking a bite of his sandwich. The horseradish hit first, just enough spicy zip before the muenster cheese going soft against the savory beef. Once he’d swallowed his food, Dave took a long drink of his iced tea.

“I grew up with you. You’re the one who served me worm sandwiches. Of course I had doubts.”

Cody chuckled and picked a fry off his own plate. “That was a classic. Worm sandwich.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Dave took another bite. But Cody was looking closely at him.

“What?” Dave said.

Cody raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes. “What?”

“Why are you staring at me like a science project?”

“Not really the way I would have put it…”

“Then tell me.” Dave switched to the soup and closed his eyes a moment. Margie really ran an amazing kitchen.

“I’m just taking it all in.”

“What’s that mean?” Dave frowned as he dabbed soup from his beard.

“You. Us. The fact that soon you’re going to be legally married.” Cody held up his hands as if in surrender. “And I’m not even razzing you about marrying Ollie, of all people.”

“What you just said counts as razzing.”

Cody lowered his voice. “You can still back out of it. Are you being coerced? Blink once for yes, twice for no.”

Dave met his eyes and delivered two blatant blinks.

“Fine. That’s the last I’ll mention it.”

“Doubt that,” Dave muttered as he picked up his sandwich again.

“What’s that?”

Dave gave him an innocent look. “You were saying?”

“I’m just trying to take it all in, you know? My little brother getting married, planning his life out, growing up and being a full-fledged adult man.”

“Not according to Roman.”

Cody’s expression darkened. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

“How’d you convince him to come to the wedding?”

“Guilt.” Cody gave a subtle shrug. “Told him how it would look if he was the only brother not in attendance. And that it might be mentioned on social media, which could somehow make its way to the other hedge fund bros whose opinions seem to mean so much to him.”

“Seriously?” Dave grinned. “That’s brutal. I love it.”

“Roman’s been the cautionary tale all my life.”