Page 9 of Late to Love

Ox preens under the attention. “My brother Levi lives in New Orleans. He’s married. Living his best life.”

I barely suppress a chuckle. Ox isn’t wrong, but the look of pure jealousy on his face is something to behold. I know he wants his own person to love, and it’s hard in a town as small as ours. Hell, Levi met his future wife when he was in law school. It’s probably worse for Ox, though, because he’s chief of police. I have no idea if him being only into guys makes it harder or easier, frankly, because I have never asked. It’s not my place.

Aaron smiles ruefully. “I get it, man. Talladega’s a small town, too. Hard to find your person, isn’t it?”

Ox crunches a piece of ice. “Anyway,” he says, turning to me, “we have to talk about Mom and Dad’s anniversary party. Which is also Dad’s retirement party.”

I pin my brother with a glare. “What is there to talk about? They want a party. Done.”

“Areyouplanning it?”

I grimace. “Absolutely not.”

He slides his glass toward me for a water refill. “See, you think you’re not planning it, but actually, you’re helping me and Levi.”

“No.”

“Oh, come on, Anthony!” he pouts. “You’re the oldest. Shouldn’t this be your job, anyway?”

“Whining doesn’t suit you.” I don’t bother saying what I really feel, which is that our parents pretty much never bothered making a big deal out of anything for us, so why should we do something this big for them?

Whatever.

“Look,” Ox says, “I know you don’t want to be involved. You never do. But for this, you have to be. This is a team sport. You’re on the damn team, brother.”

“Just tell me where to send my money,” I huff.

“It’s going to be epic,” he declares, spreading his arms. “I want a live band, we’ll invite all Dad’s former students?—”

“How the hell are you going to do that?” I brace my hands on the polished oak of the bar.

“Social media, my dude. You’ve heard of it?”

Aaron laughs and takes a sip of his beer. “Ox, I don’t think Anthony here cares one bit about this.”

“He has to!” Ox protests. “They’re our parents!”

The phrase makes me stiffen. Which, obviously, it shouldn’t. I just…try not to think of my parents that often. Sure, they’re in the same town as me, but I don’t go see them and they certainly don’t come here to see me. We’re not a Sunday dinner kind of family.

We were when we were kids, though. But we didn’t have a choice. Mom said we’d all eat at least one dinner a week together, and Sunday was the one that always worked. You’d think that we could have made more happen, and we did for years, but once all three of us were in football, life was a lot busier than even our dad anticipated—and he was a chemistry teacher at the high school. It worked out well so that he could always make sure we got rides home if we needed it, but I made sure to get rides with my buddies the second they got cars, and my brothers did the same when their friends hit the same age, too.

Ox studies me, his keen eyes assessing far more than people usually give him credit for. He’s loud, lovable, and boisterous, but none of that means he’s not smart as the devil. Both my brothers are. I got the height; they got the smarts. I mean, hell, Levi’s a lawyer who made millions in Manhattan before coming back down south. And Ox is our police chief. Obviously, he’s intelligent.

But right now, I wish he’d put that brain of his to a different use. I’m not interested in being analyzed.

“You want a drink or what?” I ask him.

He blinks, then offers me his standard “make the people happy” smile. “Nah, but thanks. I’ll get with Levi, and we’ll let you know what we decide. Sound good?”

“Perfect.”

“Thought so.” He slaps Aaron on the back. “Good to see you, man.”

“Next time,” Aaron replies, raising his pint glass in salute. His attention is back on me as Ox takes his leave. “You’re the oldest?”

I nod.

Aaron nods knowingly. “It’s uncanny how much you remind me of my oldest brother, Will. He’s just as grumpy as you, but you’re bigger.” He chuckles. “Then again, you’re bigger than just about anyone. What are you, anyway?”

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