“We talked to them yesterday,” Alex said. “She’s doing very well, adapting to her new surroundings.”

“That’s great news.”

“It is until we show up and she begs us to take her home,” Alex said, grimacing as he broke, watching a striped ball head for the corner and then groaning when the ball bounced short of the pocket.

“That’s got to be rough,” Slim said.

“It blows,” Paul said bluntly. “We leave there feeling like total shit every time, and the kicker is that five minutes after we’re gone, she doesn’t even remember we were there.”

“But we’re a disaster for days afterward,” Alex added.

“Have you thought about cutting back on the visits?” David asked as he eyed the orange number five ball and sank it in the side pocket.

“If we do that, we still feel like shit,” Alex said. “It’s a no-win situation no matter what we do.”

David moved on to sink the yellow number one and the green number six.

“Um, Alex, the doc is kicking our ass here,” Slim said. “Is it not enough that you’re a freaking doctor? Do you have to be a pool shark, too?”

“I’m about to also be an engaged man,” David said without looking up from the table.

“Say what?” Alex asked.

“I’m going to pop the question when we get home tonight. Daisy has no idea.”

“Oh my God,” Paul said. “That’s awesome.”

Whoa, that’s big news, Slim thought. After David’s spectacular breakup with Janey McCarthy, Slim had wondered if he would ever get married. But then he met Daisy, and the two of them had fallen hard for each other. He was glad to see David taking another chance on love. Based on the way Daisy positively glowed with happiness whenever David was nearby, Slim had a feeling this one was for keeps.

“Congratulations,” Slim said. “Happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re awfully sure she’ll say yes,” Alex said.

David shot him a disdainful look. “If I wasn’t sure of her answer, I never would’ve told you yahoos.”

“That hurts me,” Alex said gravely.

“So guess what Hope got for Christmas.” Paul said after David finally missed a shot and their team got a turn. He lined up to put the eleven ball in a corner pocket.

“What?” Alex asked.

“Airline tickets to Vegas. The three of us are leaving tomorrow for three days there and then a week in San Francisco.”

“Hey, that’s cool,” Alex said. “Good time of year to get away.”

“Great time of year to tie the knot, too,” Paul said nonchalantly.

Alex stared at his brother, agog. “Wait. What?”

“You heard me,” Paul said, amused by his brother’s reaction. “We’re going to Vegas to get married.”

“Get outta here,” Slim said. “That’s awesome.” If things kept up this way, he’d be the last single man standing before long.