“You know you can go anywhere, right?” Bristol asked. She had set aside college money when Reece was twelve. He could go anywhere in the world, but Bristol hoped he’d stay close for her mother’s sake.

“They are the best baseball schools. Who knows? Maybe I can play for the majors.”

“Great idea, but how about get an education, too. And have fun,” Bristol said. She was envious of her brother’s life. He had a great junior prom, tons of friends, and was getting ready to start his senior year.

“Oh, I plan to reinvent the word fun wherever I go.”

“Just be responsible and respectful.” Vanessa ruffled his hair.

He leaned back. “Mom, not the hair. It’s my moneymaker.”

Bristol cleared her throat. “I’m the moneymaker, you jerk. Sold-out concerts, remember?” Bristol said. She almost saw the light turn on when she said concert.

“Hey, sis, do you think I could get seven extra tickets for the final show? I mean, you’re great and all that, but X-Treem will be there, and so will DJ Spinz Madness and Willow McAdams. Maybe she’ll be the future Mrs. Baines.”

“Yes. Your future sister-in-law,” Bristol said.

“You’ll never settle down. I’ll be married and have kids way before you will,” Reece said.

His words stung, and Bristol took a sip of coffee to hide her reaction. She knew he was kidding, but at the rate she was going, he wasn’t wrong.

“Willow is closer to my age. You might be almost eighteen, but your maturity level is about a solid fifteen.”

Reece looked at Vanessa for support. Vanessa shrugged. “She’s not wrong. Shall I remind you what happened at the beginning of summer?”

“Wait. What happened?” Bristol asked. She looked back and forth at them, waiting for one of them to explain.

Reece ran his hand up and down his face and shook his head. “It wasn’t my fault.”

“Judging by mom’s face, I’m thinking it was. What happened?”

“Illegal fireworks and a carbeque.”

Bristol groaned. “What car?”

Vanessa pointed to herself. “The Porsche, but I have a replacement on order.”

The Porsche was the first car Bristol had purchased for her mother after the divorce. It was sporty but not too over the top. Even though her mother didn’t drive a lot, it was time for a new one, but not because it burned up. “How long do you have to wait?”

“It should be here within the month.”

Bristol turned to her brother and threw her hands up. “Why?”

Reece hung his head. “It wasn’t my fault. Evan lit a firework that hit Mom’s car. We thought it had burned out, but it hit something underneath. By the time we put it out, Mom’s car was toast. Literally. Charred and scarred.”

“Not funny, bro. Was anybody hurt?”