Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
She continues shooting until the game is over before I even have a shot.
Damn. She has gotten better. Jesse must be giving her pointers.
I look over at his table, where Cage is beating him again.
Man, the planets must be out of alignment tonight.
I take a sip of my drink. Peach Street is my father’s favorite bourbon. It’s made here on the western slope. And I have to say, it’s delicious.
Despite the fact that our family owns a winery and we all like alcohol, rarely do we ever drink to excess. Sure, we’ve all been known to tie one on occasionally, but it’s not the norm for us. Four drinks is my limit when I’m eating. Three when I’m not. I have a high tolerance.
“You want to play again?” Maddie asks.
“I do need to redeem myself,” I say, “but I guess I’m not really into it tonight. But if you want to play another game, I will.”
Maddie places her cue on the rack. “No, I’m done. There’s a table available over there. We can watch the guys play.”
I nod and follow Maddie to the table.
Angie and Sage walk into the bar. I wave them over.
“No Gina tonight?” Maddie asks.
“No.” Sage takes a seat, her gaze wandering to Jesse, Cage, and Dragon.
“She’s hurting,” Angie says. “All the stuff she just learned about her dad and her grandmother. She’s having a hard time with it.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Maddie asks.
“No,” Angie says. “She just needs to accept it and get through it on her own.”
Maddie glances at the bar. “Ava seems to be doing okay.”
“Ava’s been dealing with it for a while now,” I tell Maddie. “Apparently Wendy Madigan, her grandmother, reached out to her and Brendan. It’s all a very strange story, but Gina’s having a hard time finding out she’s not related to our grandmother, Daphne Steel, who she always thought she looked like.”
“From the pictures I’ve seen,” Angie says, “you’re the one who looks like Grandma Steel, Bree.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of a dead ringer for sure.” I scan the twins’ faces. “Though the two of you kind of look like her, and so does Aunt Marjorie.”
“Yeah, but you…” Angie shakes her head. “I mean, if you look at Grandma’s senior picture from high school and then put yours next to it, it’s almost like you’re looking at twins.”
“I know. Gina looks like Uncle Ryan.”
“She does,” Maddie says. “And that’s certainly not a bad thing. He’s the handsomest of all the Steel Brothers.”
“That’s what everyone has always said,” Sage agrees.
“It’s going to take Gina a while to deal with this,” I say. “We just need to give her some time and space. Be there if she needs us but leave her alone to deal with it until she asks for help.”
Maddie nods. “Okay. That’s all I’ll say. You all know her better than I do.”
“Excuse me.” Sage rises and walks over to where Jesse, Cage, and Dragon are playing.
“I’m surprised you’re not over there, Bree,” Angie says.
I steal a quick glance at Jesse. “For some reason, I’m playing like complete crap tonight. Even though I started out strong, Maddie beat me twice.”
Angie nearly drops her jaw to the table. “You’re kidding me.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” Maddie says dryly.
“I don’t mean it that way, Mads. But since when have you ever beaten Brianna?”
Maddie gives a smug grin. “Since tonight, apparently.”
“We have some great news,” I say. “Maddie’s coming with me on the tour.”
Angie grabs Maddie’s forearm. “Maddie! What about our plans for our last semester?”
“I decided a trip to Europe would be more fun. More memorable.”
Angie widens her eyes. “How can you say that? It’s bad enough Brianna is deserting us. We need you there for the sorority.”
“Her mind’s made up, I’m afraid.” I smile at Angie.
“So it’s just going to be the three of us?” Angie glances around the bar and lowers her voice. “And who knows what Gina is going to be like if she doesn’t snap out of this funk she’s in.”
“You and Sage will have the time of your lives, and so will Gina. She’s strong. She’ll get through this.”
“Yeah, but we’re sure going to miss you guys.” Angie pouts.
“The parties will be the same without us,” I say. “And there will be two fewer people to compete with you over the guys.”
Angie frowns. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
I shrug. “Well, not you maybe. It might make Sage feel better. She’s the party animal who likes to… You know.”
Angie rolls her eyes. “Do I ever. Sometimes I wonder how two twins can be so different.”
“Well, you’re fraternal, not identical,” I say. “Though sometimes it is hard to tell you apart physically.”
“But not mentally for sure.” Angie glances over at Sage, who’s hanging onto Jesse’s arm.
A spear of jealousy lances through me.
What the hell is she thinking?