Page 167 of The Maxwell Brothers
I had no clue what to say to that. We needed Kimberly back, but she was happy in Paris, so Reese was stuck with six half-useful cousins. Though she and Lexi were quite close, so at least there was that.
We arrived last. Tate and Lexi came with Mom and Dad. Luke and Declan came together. Gran had stayed back in Chicago with Paisley.
“Ha! I knew you three would be last,” Luke exclaimed when Reese, Travis, and I stepped inside the cellar. Everyone was standing around the huge wooden table in the middle of the basement. The walls were filled with bottles from floor to ceiling.
“Hey, we like to make an entrance,” Reese said, theatrically throwing her hair over her shoulder.
“If you want to pick on anyone, pick on Tyler. He’s the one who made us late,” Travis said.
I scoffed. “Thanks for having my back, dude.”
Travis held his hands up in defense. “It’s true.”
“Punctuality is not my forte,” I admitted. “How about we all accept it as a fact instead of giving me shit every time?”
Luke winked at me. “Never. I live for the small pleasures in life, brother.”
“Now, now, Luke. It’s too early for you to torment your brothers.” Mom looked once around the room, making eye contact with each of us. “And no surprises, okay?”
“Mom, we’re adults now,” Luke said reasonably.
Travis nodded. “Yeah. If we were to prank you, it would be in a more evolved way.”
Luke grinned. Declan shook his head. We pranked Mom once, twelve years ago, when Tate asked us here for the first tasting. Luke put tequila in her glass instead. I’d strategically put a glass of “water” next to her, knowing she’d reach for it. It was also full of tequila. All these years later, Mom was still scarred by it all. She warned us every time that we were in for it if we ever pranked her like that again.
Dad chuckled, putting an arm around her shoulders and kissing her temple. I’d never seen my parents fight. Not once. I was sure they'd had their misunderstandings over the years, but we didn’t get wind of it. They gave us the best childhood possible.
“Gather up, gang. It’s officially happy hour,” Tate said. "Thanks for coming up here on such short notice. My team and I only decided on Thursday to add these to the list of wines we’re considering. We’ll be quick, and then everyone can go ahead with their Saturday plans. I’ve got the first one here. My lovely fiancée already tasted it, and she said it's great."
"Hey,” Travis protested. "Why did she get to before us?"
Declan shook his head. "Man, you get engaged, and suddenly we’re second-class citizens."
Tate winked at Declan. "Wait until you're engaged, and then you'll see. I can't say no to her."
"He really can't," Lexi said.
"Oh, your brothers don't know what it's like to be in love," Mom said. "Don't mind them."
"I don't," Tate assured her. "Okay, everyone. We've got two bottles. Let me know what you think."
Dad and Travis uncorked the bottles of white wine. Tate poured enough in each glass for two or three swigs. I didn't have the wine bug the way Tate did—he and Dad could spend hours on the vineyard next to our house when we were kids—but I did appreciate a good glass of wine. I twirled the glass, inhaling the aroma. Then I took a sip, swishing the liquid in my mouth. It had a hint of smokiness.
"I like this one," I declared.
“It’s too heavy for a white for me,” Travis said, “but you know my taste is different. I’m like the adopted kid when it comes to wine.”
Everyone proceeded to give their thoughts. Dad was the most opinionated, but the man knew his wines.
Travis came up next to me. Reese was right behind him. "Hey, man, they uploaded new pics from the first game, and you’re in a few. You didn't look all that unhappy, especially with that blonde all over you."
I looked up from my glass at Travis. "What are you talking about? What blonde?"
"You didn't check the Facebook posts?"
"No, I’ve avoided social media since the fucking video," I said.
"Oh, right. I’ll show you," Travis said, tapping his phone screen. Reese stepped between us, looking at the screen too.
