Ruffian joined me at the water station and took a long swallow before rubbing his face down with a towel. “How did decorating for a party turn into a basketball tournament?”

I laughed. “Because we’re all great at procrastinating. And your girlfriend can plan an entire party in her sleep.”

“That’s for sure. She’s way overqualified for a fiftieth.” He sat down so he could watch the game.

I stayed where I was so I could watch what was about to go down now that Brutus was here.

I knew Taylor was powering through, but me having been at her house had rattled her. Hell, it rattled me. I felt embarrassed for her, knowing she had expended so much effort growing up to hide how her father lived.

Brutus and Tasker, another one of the football guys Teddi knew in high school, whipped their shirts off as they walked closer. Tasker had a little belly going, but Brutus was ripped in a way that made me think he was dipping into some chemicals to get buff.

Ruffian snorted under his breath. “Looks like some guys from the past found their way here today.”

“Seems like. Once the word gets out, you know how it is.”

Taylor clutched her pen and number as Brutus came close. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek before whispering in her ear.

She squinted at him and gave him a forced smile. I was headed in her direction before I had consciously made a choice to get involved.

When I was close, I put my arm around Taylor’s shoulders. She shot me a grateful look.

“Austin, good to see you, man!” Brutus slapped me on the shoulder.

I lifted my chin at him.

“You guys here for the game or the party?” I didn’t take my arm off of Taylor.

“I guess both. Once the guys started posting about it, we had to swing by.” Tasker was bouncing on his toes and stretching his arms.

Brutus’ gaze lingered on my arm. I let it stay there so he would have questions. Man code was such that if he thought I was involved with Taylor, he would back off. It was a pecking order. To all of Teddi’s friends I was an elder.

He would not move on her if he thought I was in her life like that.

Taylor leaned into me and rested her hand on my chest. Oh, this had been a very good idea then. She wanted to convey the image that we were together as well.

Teddi appeared on the porch, dragging a sound system out with her. Dad’s favorite albums were actual vinyl albums, so she was rigging a system to play them outside.