mom. My parents were inspiring. They were a very attractive couple, both with salt-and-pepper hair that had gotten a little heavier on the salt. They were very fit and had always been very in love. A wonderful example for life. My mom used to be a teacher, but then stayed home to raise three little kids. I was the baby. My dad developed hotel properties all around the world, and I’d never figured out exactly what he did, except he traveled a lot, was a great father, and humiliated us any time we went to a place and wound up with bad service. He couldn’t tolerate it.
Just as soon as we got our greetings over with and dropped our bags in the guest room, the front door burst open and everybody tumbled in. First my brother, Patrick, and his Labradoodle puppy, and my sister, Annie, and her husband, Rob, with twin three-year-old boys (terrifying, right?). Lucius careened into me first, leaping up and licking my entire face in one swoop. I’m actually referring to the dog. After that, my nephews bombarded us as well. It was loud and chaotic and confusing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thank goodness my sister, ever prepared, had brought enough pizza to feed an army. We all sat on the floor, dove in, and caught up. Even though we were all consistently involved in a group family text, Steph included, it was nice to speak in person. Especially with the kids. They mostly loved me because I could make good on the promise of pony rides.
Steph talked with my parents at the bar while I sat back and watched as Nathan and Abe happily crammed cheese into their mouths. I’d spent as much time as distance would allow with these kids from the time they were born, and I’d learned that boys and girls are… different. Totally different ball game from day one. And we wonder why it’s so hard to make relationships work.
Nathan shuffled over to me and crawled into my lap, telling me all sorts of nonsense about his day and telling me how much he loved my hair. It wasn’t actually special. He told everyone that. As we chatted, Annie came over and plopped down beside me.
“So.” She grinned and bumped my shoulder. “How’s Ethan?”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s fiiiine.”
Annie couldn’t believe there wasn’t some secret romance going on and believed we were going to fall for each other and live happily ever after. She and Ethan had actually met when I was renting a room from him. Introducing them was the worst mistake ever. She’d never shut up about it since. Of course, I hadn’t told her about our more recent history. My sister and I could talk about anything except our sex lives. There’s only so much you need to know about your siblings.
“Mmmhmm.”
“You’re so weird. He’s my boss. And he’s like seven years older than me. Nothing that’s going on in your head is happening in real life.” Well, kind of, anyway. Depended on where her mind went. Shudder.
“Mmmhmm.”
“Shut up.”
I poked her side and walked over to Patrick to sit next to him. “Sup.” I bumped shoulders with him. “How’s med school?”
He groaned. “It sucks. Big-time.”
“Have you seen anything gross?”
“I’ve seen a lot of gross. Whiskey enemas, multiple baby daddies, tattoos gone wrong, things put in places things shouldn’t go, girls coming in for pelvic exams just for fun…” He trailed off as my eyes widened.
“Whiskey enemas?”
He shrugged. “It’s a thing.”
“Any girls?”
“Speaking of gross. No, I won’t talk to you about girls.”
I rolled my eyes at him dramatically.
“What about you?” he asked. “Annie won’t shut up about your boss.”
“Oh for the love of… You guys are ridiculous.”
“He’d better not be messing with you,” he said, suddenly stern.
I snorted. “Or what?”
“I am your big brother, and I will kick his ass.”
“Stop.” I held up a hand. “There’s nothing going on. He’s my boss.”
“I don’t believe you. But you are my sister, and I’m the
Just as soon as we got our greetings over with and dropped our bags in the guest room, the front door burst open and everybody tumbled in. First my brother, Patrick, and his Labradoodle puppy, and my sister, Annie, and her husband, Rob, with twin three-year-old boys (terrifying, right?). Lucius careened into me first, leaping up and licking my entire face in one swoop. I’m actually referring to the dog. After that, my nephews bombarded us as well. It was loud and chaotic and confusing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thank goodness my sister, ever prepared, had brought enough pizza to feed an army. We all sat on the floor, dove in, and caught up. Even though we were all consistently involved in a group family text, Steph included, it was nice to speak in person. Especially with the kids. They mostly loved me because I could make good on the promise of pony rides.
Steph talked with my parents at the bar while I sat back and watched as Nathan and Abe happily crammed cheese into their mouths. I’d spent as much time as distance would allow with these kids from the time they were born, and I’d learned that boys and girls are… different. Totally different ball game from day one. And we wonder why it’s so hard to make relationships work.
Nathan shuffled over to me and crawled into my lap, telling me all sorts of nonsense about his day and telling me how much he loved my hair. It wasn’t actually special. He told everyone that. As we chatted, Annie came over and plopped down beside me.
“So.” She grinned and bumped my shoulder. “How’s Ethan?”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s fiiiine.”
Annie couldn’t believe there wasn’t some secret romance going on and believed we were going to fall for each other and live happily ever after. She and Ethan had actually met when I was renting a room from him. Introducing them was the worst mistake ever. She’d never shut up about it since. Of course, I hadn’t told her about our more recent history. My sister and I could talk about anything except our sex lives. There’s only so much you need to know about your siblings.
“Mmmhmm.”
“You’re so weird. He’s my boss. And he’s like seven years older than me. Nothing that’s going on in your head is happening in real life.” Well, kind of, anyway. Depended on where her mind went. Shudder.
“Mmmhmm.”
“Shut up.”
I poked her side and walked over to Patrick to sit next to him. “Sup.” I bumped shoulders with him. “How’s med school?”
He groaned. “It sucks. Big-time.”
“Have you seen anything gross?”
“I’ve seen a lot of gross. Whiskey enemas, multiple baby daddies, tattoos gone wrong, things put in places things shouldn’t go, girls coming in for pelvic exams just for fun…” He trailed off as my eyes widened.
“Whiskey enemas?”
He shrugged. “It’s a thing.”
“Any girls?”
“Speaking of gross. No, I won’t talk to you about girls.”
I rolled my eyes at him dramatically.
“What about you?” he asked. “Annie won’t shut up about your boss.”
“Oh for the love of… You guys are ridiculous.”
“He’d better not be messing with you,” he said, suddenly stern.
I snorted. “Or what?”
“I am your big brother, and I will kick his ass.”
“Stop.” I held up a hand. “There’s nothing going on. He’s my boss.”
“I don’t believe you. But you are my sister, and I’m the
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