I try to ignore them after that, though it isn’t easy with the way people come over to greet both JD and Blake as if they’re royalty. Emmett, Aaron, and Ethan are all starstruck, and my dad is practically preening at this point.
Shortly before the game starts, we’re escorted to a luxury box suite to watch the rest of the game. I scoff at the spread of food and drinks as we walk in. I mean, I’m a freaking doctor, so I’ve been schmoozed before, and I’ve never seen this kind of treatment.
Blake comes over and pats me on the back heartily as he picks up a drink. “Having fun yet, bro?”
I clear my throat. “I can’t imagine how much all of this cost.”
“Hey, lighten up. JD called in a few favors. Enjoy yourself.” He lifts another glass and puts it in my hand before he clinks his against it, and I sigh as I give in and take a sip. But the alcohol goes down too smoothly, so I set it down before I’m tempted to overindulge.
Most of us have our share of complimentary drinks but manage to remain remotely sober by the time we walk back to the SUV a few hours later—all except for Blake. He stumbles through the parking garage, and JD quietly ducks under his arm to help him slide into the back seat. This time I end up sitting between my two brothers-in-law for the long ride home.
Blake chuckles and snorts to himself when he picks up his phone.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, already annoyed.
“Your sister,” he replies with glossy eyes and a lazy smirk. Then another message comes through, and his expression changes. He swallows hard as he stares down at the phone, then clicks it off abruptly.
But the screen lights up again with a FaceTime call from Loren. Blake turns the phone over in his lap, cringing while it continues vibrating.
“Aren’t you going to answer her?”
He blows out a breath. “Not now.”
“You’re really making her wait on you?”
“Trust me, it’s for the best.”
I frown at him. “You’re such a douche.”
“You really think I’m ignoring her right now because I’m having too much fun withyou?” he poses, laughing incredulously. Then he shakes his head. “You have no idea what it’s like for us, do you?”
“What?”
He casts a pitying glance my way. “You don’t understand the power that woman has over me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her,” he slurs.
“Except answer the phone, right?”
He laughs again. “You know they threw her a lingerie shower tonight?”
“Oh.” I’m not sure I like the way this is headed.
He leans in closer and gestures to the phone. “She’s been sneaking away all evening to try on her gifts for me. And you don’t really want to see what she does to me, do you?”
I shove him away, and he cackles loudly. “What is wrong with you?”
Blake grins widely. “A lot, although it’s nothing a little alone time with your sister can’t fix.”
“You’re disgusting.”
He bounces his eyebrows. “Maybe. But it turns her on, so I’m leaning into it.”
“Ugh. You don’t deserve her,” I mutter.
“We’ve already established that, haven’t we?” He pats my thigh. “And for some reason, she loves me anyway. What else you got?”
I press my lips together, unable to think of any more insults, and he sighs when he senses I won’t be continuing. “I’m fully aware that I’m the luckiest man in the world, Landry. No doubt about it. Not only do I have an amazing family and a great career, but I’m also charming and relatively easy on the eyes, or so I’m told.” I grunt before he goes on. “Wanna know what the best part is, though?”
“Not really.”
