if we’re younger and she needs some order before we start chasing each other.
So, I know what you’re thinking. Why is she at her parents’ and not with a friend drinking a glass of wine, eating popcorn, and streaming some sappy rom-com?
My best friend is in London. He’d be mocking me, just like my brothers. The rest are busy with their lives. The good thing is that I have my family. From a young age, I learned to confide in them.
I come from a big family that is close—too close.
We live on the same cul-de-sac where Mom’s parents and her brothers live. Our backyards are connected. Our playground is the size of a park. My aunts, uncles, grandparents, and parents took care of us, the children, at the same time. My cousins and I grew up like brothers and sisters.
Even my great-grandparents used to live close to us. My chest aches at the memory of them. I still miss them so much. Gigi died when I was twenty. Great grandpa James died a couple of years ago.
Mom and I are pretty close. When I need someone to vent to, I usually call her or come by my childhood home to complain about the latest dating disaster. I’m prone to those. Today is different, though.
I’m here because Dad had to pick me up at the hospital where I drove my date. Well, it’s more like he had to clear my name with the police because the doctors were accusing me of domestic violence.
Yep, that’s how bad my date went.
“I’m still confused about how you ended up breaking the guy’s nose,” Nathan snorts.
“He must’ve said, ‘You look pretty tonight,’” Seth replies. His hip is parked against the kitchen counter. He’s drinking from a can of Dr. Pepper while he watches me with amusement.
I was hoping this incident would stay between my parents and me. These two are never going to let it go. Having two pesky younger brothers is every girl’s nightmare and a woman’s headache. Again, my parents should’ve just kept their family small. Only one child—me.
“I still don’t get why Dad had to bring you along.”
“It’s poker night,” he reminds me.
I groan because that means everyone in my family already knows about this mess. My uncles and Dad have had this tradition since before I was born. Every Thursday, they get together to play. It used to be video games, but over the years, it transformed into poker night.
From only four players, it’s now up to at least ten a night—if not more. My grandparents, uncles, and cousins always gather in Uncle Jacob’s basement. The night is open for whichever Decker is in town.
“I came to rescue you,” Seth says and tsks. “Who knew it was the guy who needed me to save him from you.”
“Har. Har, har, har.” I glare at him. “We’re all going to forget about this.”
“Or…I’m going to hack into the city’s CCTV system. It should be easy to find the footage where we can see your little stunt. I’ll be streaming it everywhere by Sunday,” Nathan teases me.
“You want to experience it yourself?” I show him my fist. “I can give you a live demonstration.”
“You can try, shorty,” he taunts me.
Mom claps her hands. “There won’t be any demonstrations or fights,” she warns us, pointing at Nathan. “We don’t make fun of people’s height just because you’re a gigantor.”
We all laugh at my petite mom.
I’m not short, but my five-nine seems small compared to my brothers, who are six-five. Not as small as Mom, who is five inches shorter than me. My uncles, her brothers, who are also tall, call her pocket size.
Nathan lifts his arms. “I wouldn’t dare. You’re the boss, lady.” He winks at her.
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Nathan Bradley,” she says, and she narrows her gaze at him.
My brother stands up and pulls her into a hug. “I wouldn’t dare to upset you, Mom. If you don’t need me, I’ll be in my room.”
I glare at Nathan and say, “Aren’t you a little too old to be living with Mom and Dad?”
“I’m just twenty-two.” He grabs a yogurt from the fridge and searches for a spoon in the silverware drawer. “Just because you’re some kind of musical freak who likes to go around the world showing off, that doesn’t mean I should do the same.”
“She’s a prodigy, not a freak!” I jolt at the sound of the low baritone voice.
I’d recognize that sound anywhere. Turning around, I find him. Beacon Aldridge.