Hill.”
“Who let her in here?” I ask, pointing at Keaton like he brought the traitor into our midst.
“You’re just mad because she is more well-liked than you around here.” Lily smiles quietly, her fingers locked tightly in Bowen’s meaty grasp.
“Oh, Lily with the burn! Gimme some.” Fletcher extends a fist out to her so she can bump it.
Gerry sets my beer down in front of me, and I take a long, frothy pull from it. “Anyways, where is Fawn Hill’s gossip columnist?”
The group pauses, a strange look collectively being thrown my way. Presley speaks first. “You mean Penelope?”
“Yeah, that nosy leech always clinging on to you two.” I should have kept my damn mouth shut, but I was hoping for sex tonight.
Honestly, it was half the reason I’d come here instead of holing up in my house for a hackathon mission with some dark web buddies. And the question had been itching since I walked in and saw her missing. Was she going to show up later? How come she wasn’t here? I shouldn’t have asked, but my damn brain wouldn’t shut off.
“She’s at home with her boys,” Lily supplies.
“Why? No one to reject you tonight? It won’t be as fun now that you can’t hurl unwanted advances at an innocent victim?” Bowen chuckles.
“I would hardly call Penelope innocent.” Keaton’s smile is teasing, but affectionate for his longtime friend. “She’s been through a lot, but that woman is a warrior. Honestly, I think she enjoys his puppy dog antics.”
“As if she’d ever seriously go for him.” Fletcher cackles as if the idea of us together is the funniest thing in the world.
“I’m sitting right here, you assholes.” I glower at my brothers. “Whatever, I was just wondering. Usually seems like she holds court at this bar every weekend, regardless of her kids.”
Presley nearly chokes on a sip of her gin and tonic. “Forrest! That was way out of line!”
My brothers back her up with agreements of, “Bro, not cool,” “You’re a dick,” and “Watch your mouth.”
It’s Lily whose eyes hold the most hurt and ice, though. “I’ll have you know that Penelope is a wonderful mother, who cares deeply for her children. As any single parent would probably need, although you’re not one so you can stop assuming, she requires a night off every once in a while. You know, with raising three boys on her own, she deserves a martini from time to time, and her family is more than willing to help take care of her children so she can relax for a few hours. You are a pig and a selfish man who says things without knowing or thinking. Frankly, I’m tired of it.”
With that, my sister-in-law springs from the table, probably exhausted from her out of character outburst. Meanwhile, Bowen looks ready to murder me.
“You will apologize to my wife. And quit being such an asshole.” He gets up to follow Lily.
In my attempt to hide the nature of my relationship with Penelope, I not only insulted her parenting skills behind her back but now my family was mad at me, too. Fuck. When I step in it, I really step in it.
“It was just a joke,” I say weakly.
Even my enormous ego can realize that it should be deflated every so often. Presley and Keaton jump up to go assist with Lily, both shooting me reproachful looks as they leave.
“Yeah, well, no one is laughing.” Fletcher gazes at me, all seriousness mirrored back at me on an almost identical face to mine. “What’s gotten into you lately?”
I drain my beer bottle. “What the fuck does that mean? You get sober and all of a sudden, you’re the twin of reason?”
Fletcher’s hands flex where he has them laced together on the tabletop. I’m still not used to this dimmed-down version of my brother. He was always the class clown, the guy you could count on for a good time with a side of danger. He was animated and reckless.
But now, Fletcher reminds me so much of Dad, it’s scary. He seemed seasoned, weathered by life, and held such wisdom behind his eyes that I tried my best not to fully engage him. It felt as if my twin were more in tune with himself than ever before than even I was with my own mind and heart. Getting sober has allowed him to become a man, finally … something I still feel I haven’t fully achieved.
And it makes me envious that I have no idea where