Raine: I’ll make it worth your while, babe, don’t youworry.
Me: Oh, I have no doubt. Anchovies and olives,please.
Raine: You eat the grosseststuff.
Me: You never complain when I’m going downonyou.
Raine: STFU! That’s different. But yes, you’ll get half of the pizza the nasty way youlikeit.
Me: Thanks sexy. See you inabit.
Halfway through dinner, Abel looked at the pizza on my plate. “You really have an iron stomachdon’tyou.”
I laughed a little, taking another sip from my beer. “My dad eats the samepizza.”
Abel shook his head. “Y’all are some odd apples fordamnsure.”
Crickett grabbed Raine’s empty plate, stacking it on her own. “Your father and I have to head to the bar to deal with the books and shit. Will you two make sure Collin eats when he gets home frompractice?”
Abel threw his napkin on the table. “That boy is growing and getting home from a rough afternoon of contact football, you should be asking them to make sure he doesn’t eat us out of house andfuckinghome.”
Raine smiled at her dad. “I’m sure it will be fine Dad, and of course I will make sure he showers, eats, and finishes that paper that hehasdue.”
“You’re such a good big sister.” Crickett popped another beer open and handed it over to me. “Abel, we gotta run. Holt just texted meagain.”
Raine and I finished cleaning up from dinner after Abel and Crickett headed out and then snuggled up on thecouch.
Collin walked through the front door while Raine and I sat on the couch watching some stupid girly movie I’d reluctantly gotten talked into seeing. I couldn’t believe someone would name their kid Baby; it was the most idiotic thing I could have everthoughtof.
“Hey man, how wasfootball?”
Thank God, moretestosterone.
Collin was covered in grass stains andsweat.
He shrugged. “I think Coach might finally let me be a starter in the game onFriday.”
Raine popped up. “That would be awesome! There’s half a pizza on the counter waiting for you. Dad and Crickett are working late again tonight but they should be home before you gotobed.”
“All right. I’m going to get this grime off me. Thanks for the food.” Collin made his way up to his room and Raine kissed mycheek.
“Will you go to the game on Friday? Collin really looks uptoyou.”
I pulled her in tighter to my side. “You know I will bethere.”
I felt her phone vibrate in the front pocket of her hoodie. She checked it and got a littlegiddy.
“Who’s that?” I asked, trying to not sound nosy, but it was ten at night, getting close to the time that if a dude was texting my chick, I’d be fuckingpissed.
“Keira. Her boyfriend is having people over tonight and she wants me to come keep hercompany.”
“Didn’t she just meet this guy?” I shifted a little. I didn’t know Keira well and sure as shit had no idea who her guy was, but I knew that it all just felt too wrongforme.
Raine shook her head. “They’ve been dating since you saw him at the bar. Keira just moved in with him last week. She said his friends aresupernice.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh thatletout.
“What?” She shifted to look upatme.
