“My husband Darren couldn’t make it, but Ryan…” she ruffled a blond guy’s hair as he sipped his beer “…is here, and he’s Teena’s husband.”

“Don’t forget your other brother,” Laurie said as she collapsed into a padded chair that rocked and swiveled.

“Oh, yes …” Shayla rolled her eyes. “Arnie is the baby of the family. He’s the one with dark hair and ridiculous blond tips and … a crazy number of tattoos on his arms and legs.”

“I can hear you,” Arnie called from the opposite side of the bean bag game as Fisher.

I giggled at his response. “The baby, huh? How old is he?”

“Twenty-two, but he doesn’t act a day over five.”

“Still hearing you,” he yelled, tossing a bean bag with one hand while holding a beer in his other hand.

“So, are you in college?” Laurie asked.

“No. I’m not ruling it out someday, but for now I’m just working and getting reacquainted with my mom.”

“Oh? Have you been separated from her? Divorce?”

I nodded. “Yes. Divorce. And my dad died three years ago. And …” I drew in a deep breath. “My mom sorta just got out of prison.”

“Oh … wow. That’s good. Or bad.” Laurie cringed. “Good that’s she’s out. Bad that she went. Just … ignore me.” She pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead.

“It’s fine. I’ve had to learn to just own it as part of my life. It’s still awkward, but maybe now that she’s out, I can eventually stop feeling the need to mention it.”

“Champions!” One of the young boys yelled, high-fiving Fisher.

Arnie climbed the stairs, shaking his head. “Cheaters. They’re all cheaters.”

Arnie was basically a slightly smaller version of Fisher, but with tattoos, wilder hair, and a piercing through his nose. Fisher would have looked better in tattoos because he had more defined muscles, but Arnie had a boyish grin and his own level of sexy, bad-boy appeal.

“My brother’s been holding out on me,” Arnie said while easing into the chair next to me.

“Stop it.” Shayla rolled her eyes. “I’m fairly certain Fisher didn’t bring Reese here for you to hit on her.”

“What?” He smirked. “I’m not hitting on you, Reese.”

I laughed a little.

“Unless you want me to hit on you, then I’m totally hitting on you.”

“Arnie …” Laurie eyed him with a motherly warning.

“Kidding.” He winked at me (just like Fisher) before taking a long pull of his beer.

“Are you in the construction business too?” I asked.

Arnie shook his head while rubbing his wet lips together. “No. I’m in a band.”

“A band?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Seriously?”

“Fisher never mentioned his brother is a famous rock star?” Arnie acted offended.

“You’re not famous.” Shayla had to give her verbal jab.