“They aregrown, Ellie. Do you ever think they’ll act like grownups?” My mother sounded exasperated. “Grayson, stop that and come eat. Leave your brother alone!”
At that moment Grayson stopped running and turned just a bit while flinging out a stiff arm. Beckett collided with Gray’s perfectly placed forearm at his throat and fell back to the ground, choking and sputtering.
Grayson walked over Beckett’s limp body and joined us at the table. Beckett slowly started breathing normally again and rolled over so he could crawl up to his hands and knees.
“Even I saw that coming, Becks.” I had no sympathy for the clothesline. It was a classic move and Grayson had been pulling it on Beckett since I was a baby. It was his own fault if he didn’t anticipate it.
He groaned something in reply, still wheezing and hyperventilating.
“Beckett honestly, the chicken is getting cold,” my mother said dryly.
Beckett crawled over to us and then dragged himself into his chair. I stifled a laugh at the purple color of his face and my mom’s puckered up expression of disgust.
“I thought you grew out of this behavior,” she said quietly while the dishes of food were passed around.
“Me too,” I offered helpfully. “I’m ashamed of you both.”
Beckett and Grayson grunted something unintelligible but kept their eyes on their food. We ate and listened to Beckett recount his weekend of games, telling us of his glory. Grayson and my mom stayed rapt in his story but my attention wandered.
I understood every sport thanks to growing up in a house full of boys, but I couldn’t really enjoy many of them. I watched track finals sometimes, when they were on TV and I happened to be near one. And I was glued to the Olympics every four years. But for the most part I enjoyed an easy-going lifestyle that was free of competition.
My brothers were the opposite.
And for every glory moment Beckett had this weekend, Grayson had one just as great or better during his glory days. And if Lennox was here the one-upping would have been out of control.
Still they were all proud of each other in that I’m-never-going-to-tell-you way.
“Is most of the family coming down for Regionals?” Beckett asked and that got my attention.
“Yes, I think so. We’re renting a condo and so is your Aunt Candy and Uncle Brent. Between the two houses, I think they’re completely full. The twins and Carter want to stay with you Grayson. And I think Whitney and Catherine are hoping to stay with you, Ellie.” My mom had this casual way of telling me my apartment had just been given away to two of the snobbiest people in the state.
And even though they were cousins around my age, there was no way I could even wrap my head around an entire weekend with those two. When I was in junior high they looked down on me because I owned a dress from Old Navy. And when I was a senior in high school they sneered at my at my boyfriend because he wasn’t going Ivy League, at me because I had a partial scholarship, at my spring break destination and anything and everything else they could. I couldn’t let them into my apartment underanycircumstances.
The thing was, my parents had the least amount of money out of their siblings and so we were already pitied. If those girls got near my unfurnished apartment or were forced to ride in my seven year old car, I would never hear the end of it!
“Which weekend is it?” I asked casually.
“Next,” my mother replied.
That was good news. “I can make it to all of Beckett’s games, but they can’t stay with me. Britte is moving in with me that weekend.”
“Oh Britte is moving in with you?” my mother asked sounding like she approved. But she still asked, “But are you sure that’s wise?”
“Do you need help moving?” Grayson asked. He was the sweetest of all my brother’s, always offering help before I could ask for it.
“No, I think she asked some of her guy friends,” I improvised. She had let me know immediately after lunch last week that she enlisted Fin and Jameson and possibly Charlie, but he was more like a soft yes. Which boy speak said strong no.
“I don’t mind helping,” Grayson pushed.
“I’ll call you if we need you,” I smiled up at him. There was no way I was letting him in the same room as Fin. Even if Fin was on his best behavior, the whole scenario spelled disaster for me.
“Who are the guys that are helping?” Beckett asked and I could have killed him.
“Some of Britte’s friends,” I repeated. I didn’t want to lie, but I would to save my own ass. Most likely that made me a coward.
“I’m one of her friends, she didn’t ask me,” Beckett sneered.
Oh no. Not this again. “You’re not one of her friends. You’re not even one ofmyfriends. Plus, last time you saw her, you yelled at her!”
