My children are amazing, having them is the best decision I’ve ever made. I have a wonderful job I love, I live down the street from my parents and my best friends. I think people can assume a lot of things about you without ever having really taken a look at your life.”
A warm, strong hand dwarfs mine in the center of the table, Forrest’s long fingers absentmindedly threading through my own.
“This version of you is the one I like best. Back then, you wouldn’t give me the time of day. Don’t argue, we both know it’s true. But this Penelope? She’s a thousand times the girl I crushed on in my childhood. You haven’t peaked … although you may after dating me. Not sure how you can get much higher than that.”
He cuts our serious talk with a glib joke, and it’s probably why we mesh so well. I can’t help the wobbly chuckle that leaves my throat.
“Guess I’ll be ruined after this.” My thumb strokes the inside of his palm.
“Either that, or you’ll just have to stay with me forever.” Those baby blues twinkle with amusement and sincerity.
Suddenly, it’s a bit hard to breathe. Forrest said the word forever, and for the first time since Travis died, I can envision a future that holds a man who loves me, without a pit in my stomach.
28
Forrest
Once a month, Keaton insists on having us all over to play poker.
It was something Dad did with his buddies in town, and my oldest brother thought we should keep the tradition alive.
Soon, we’ll all sit in a circle around the professional poker table Keaton went out and bought; my brother is anything if not a prepared perfectionist. Bowen is shuffling the cards while Keaton chats with Presley, who retreats up the basement stairs just seconds later.
“We ready to start?” Fletcher asks, a can of iced tea in his hand.
Normally, I like a good six-pack next to my feet to sip on for the entirety of the game. But Keaton thought it would be nice if we did a sober night once in a while for my twin brother, so our poker games have adapted a soda, lemonade, and iced tea only beverage menu.
“Yep, let’s do this. I came to kick all your asses.” Bowen gives us all a greedy little smirk.
I crack my knuckles and slide my sunglasses onto the bridge of my nose, as is my party trick.
“You look like a dumbass.” Fletcher flicks my forehead as I sit down with him on my left. Keaton is on my right, with Bowen across the table.
“But it helps me keep my game face on.” I show them my muscles, trying to joke around and psych them out.
Keaton rolls his eyes. “Funny, it doesn’t seem to be working. How much did you lose last week? A hundred bucks?”
Glowering, I pull the glasses off. “We’ll see who’s talking tonight.”
Bowen deals the first hand, and we play in silence for a while. The only words are unspoken glances across the table, competitive nudges, and suggestive goading trying to get each other to fold.
“Heard you went on a date with Penelope.” Keaton eyes me well into our second hand, a grin playing at his lips.
My head whips to Fletcher, who shrugs. “What?”
“You told him? I should have known better than to assume you’d keep your fucking mouth shut.”
“Oh, come on. You took her out in Lancaster. Showed up to her house with a bunch of flowers. As if people weren’t going to find out.” Fletcher waves me off, rolling his eyes.
“How did you know that?” My suspicions rise.
“Bonnie at the grocery store told me you stopped in to pick up daisies,” Bowen chimes in, looking too smug to just be a bystander in this conversation.
“You’re all nosy assholes.” I bury my head in my cards, pissed that we’re discussing this.
I don’t need gossip sessions or feelings circles like my brothers. What business I have with Penelope is just that; ours.
“Well, I’m personally offended that you have all been carrying on for months and didn’t tell any of us. Oh, and if you hurt her, I’ll murder you.” Bowen levels me with a sobering gaze.
“You’re my brother!” I remind him.
Fletcher switches out one of his cards. “But Lily is his wife. And technically, Penelope is like Lily’s sister. Whose side should he take?”
My eyes almost bug out of my head. “My side! I’m his blood! Wait … why are we even discussing this? I don’t care whose side