“Good.” I adjust my position so I can see both him and the girls. “The facilities are incredible. Matheson seems like a solid guy.”
“Tom’s a good quarterback. Smart. Not as good as me, obviously.”
“Obviously.” I grin. “Might have a smaller ego, though, which is refreshing.”
“I earned my ego.”
“Russ texted me the other day,” I say, keeping my voice casual.
Ian’s expression shifts. “What did that asshole want?”
“To wish me luck with the new team. Said he and Ronnie broke up, and maybe we could get together sometime. You know, hash things out.”
“Please tell me you told him to kindly go f— himself.”
“I left him on read.”
Ian laughs, reaching over to fist-bump me. “Well played. Russ and Ronnie are in your rearview mirror, right where they belong.”
I’m thirty-four years old, and I still get a kick out of making my older brother proud. Some things never change.
“Fee!” Ellie crawls out from under the blanket fort, her blondehair staticky like she just shoved her finger in an electric socket. “Come see!”
I make my way to the corner of the fort, then duck my head under the main entrance, trying not to disturb what seems to be a Jenga-type arrangement of couch cushions and approximately five thousand blankets. The inside of the fort is cozy, with a pile of books and string lights Riva pilfered from somewhere creating a soft glow.
“This is amazing, Ellie.”
She beams at me, then crawls back out to where Riva’s adjusting something on the exterior.
As I settle next to my brother again, I notice him watching me with that knowing look that drives me crazy.
“What?”
“You’re down bad.”
“I’m not discussing your sister-in-law with you.” And I’m certainly not mentioning the ring box tucked in the back of a dresser drawer at Piper’s house. Not until I figure out when and how to give it to her. I’m sure it’s the right next move, but I still need to convince Piper of that.
“I’m talking about Ellie.”
Right. I glance at the little girl who’s standing next to Riva, hands on hips like she’s the castle’s main architect.
“She’s a sweetheart,” I murmur.
“She is. And you’re great with her, Felix.”
I don’t know what to say to that. I definitely don’t tell him that Julie’s Aunt Nancy is interested in possibly adopting Ellie. I still haven’t gotten back to the attorney, who must think I’m a complete loser for ghosting him when he’s finally having success with the task I gave him. I told Tyler I’m going to keep Ellie, and I meant those words in the moment.
But my doubts are a real thing, and I need to figure out my shit before I say anything to my brother, or to Piper. I don’t want another round of either of them looking at me like I’ve failed in some deeply meaningful way.
“Dad, can you help me with this part?” Riva calls from her position near the entertainment center. “I need someone tall.”
“That’s me.” Ian unfolds himself from the floor, joints cracking. “Getting old sucks, by the way. Enjoy your youth while you have it.”
“You’re thirty-six, bro. Not exactly ancient.”
“Tell that to my knees.”
He’s halfway across the room when the front door opens and Tyler walks in, carrying what looks like coffee and a bag from the bakery downtown.
