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I nod once and mutter, “My family.”

Neither he nor Tucker says a word. Tucker knows what they’re like. Not sure if Jack does, but both of them are no strangers to having difficult family members. Their dad is one of the worst humans I’ve ever encountered. Mine is a gambling addict, but their dad makes mine look like the father of the year. But nobody is keeping score. They all suck.

We stay where we are and listen. They can’t see us.

Mom stands bundled in a heavy coat, wringing her gloves together. Cody looks exactly like he always has. Broad shoulders and a ball cap. Arms crossed like the whole world owes him something. Nothing’s changed there. Last I checked, he was unemployed and crashing at one of his girlfriend’s houses.

Jenna stands on the porch, and she looks mad. Her arms are crossed and she’s glaring at them.

Mom frowns. “I want to talk to my son.”

“Did you call him and let him know you were coming?” Jenna asks.

“We need him to help out,” Cody interrupts.

Jenna scoffs. “Help out with what?”

Cody’s voice gets tense. “That’s not your business.”

“So, you just want money from him again? Is that what I’m hearing?”

“This isn’t your concern,” Mom bites out.

Jenna doesn’t back down. “Oh, but it is. It’s Christmas, and you show up asking for money. You don’t ask about Ty or how he’s doing or want to spend the holidays with him. You just want his money.”

Cody’s eyes flash. “Watch it.”

I tense, ready to pummel him if he gets out of line with Jenna.

She challenges him. “Watch what?”

“Watch your mouth,” he clips.

She laughs and says, “I don’t have to watch anything, and Ty doesn’t owe either of you anything. That’s not how family works.”

It’s not that I’m a pushover and let them walk all over me. I do love them, and I don’t want to see them suffer. But at what point does it stop? She’s right. They’re not here for me. They’re just here for money. Period.

Cody lets out a bitter laugh. “He doesn’t owe you anything either. And you have him here at your ranch. What? Are you taking his money?”

Jenna laughs. “Look around you. Do you think we need anything from your brother? We want your brother here. He is our family. Something you clearly know nothing about.”

Cody steps closer. “Of course, because you’re sleeping with him.”

Jenna laughs. “Now, you’d better watch it.”

“You’re using him. I don’t know how, but you are. Otherwise, how do you explain that he isn’t coming home to see his own family for Christmas?” my mom throws out there, but I can tell she knows she’s losing.

The silence that follows is almost funny.

“You need to leave,” Jenna says calmly.

Cody’s face hardens. “We’re not leaving.”

Jack shifts next to me, and I almost forgot that he and Tucker were beside me.

“We don’t want anything from Ty,” Jenna reminds them. “And around here, we love him.” She smiles sadly, and her eyes land on my mom and Cody. “You came here for money, and that’s pathetic.”

Neither of them says anything. Cody’s arms remain crossed, glowering at her. My mom looks like she’s trying to figure out another way to play this. Their usual M.O.