boobies will be like Mom’s or Aunt Rea’s?” The sweet voice that woke me from a restless slumber belonged to Posie, my youngest niece.
Piper, her older sister, made a thinking sound, humming, and I could picture her tapping her chin. “I don’t think I want boobies. They just hang there. What if you close one in your sock drawer?”
“Aunt Rea’s wouldn’t get caught in anything.”
I scoffed and sat up, yanking my askew tank top back into place. I glanced at the small clock that Russ had hung on the basement wall in an attempt to make it feel less like a basement. It wasn’t even seven am yet. I rubbed at my gritty eyes and finally focused on my brother’s kids. “Go away. Come back in two hours with coffee and less comments on my boobs.”
Posie modeled for me and I realized that she was wearing one of my bras. “Aunt Rea! Now that you’re awake, can you play with us?”
“I’m not awake.” I eyed the expensive bra she was wearing and winced when I thought of how much I’d spent on the stupid thing in some ridiculous attempt to catch the attention of my ex. Little had I known, a woman named Stacey with an equally expensive bra but more expensive boobs had all his attention at the time. Rightfully so, considering she also had his giant diamond ring. “I’ll let you keep the bra if you go upstairs and come back after nine.”
Piper looked down at where she wore the matching underwear. “What about these?”
I thought of Russ’ face when he saw his kid wearing a thong over her pajamas and grinned. “Sure.”
They stared at me, considering my offer. After what felt like far too much time for a couple of kids to think anything through, they nodded in sync. Piper held the underwear up with one hand and pushed her sister towards the unfinished stairs with her other hand. “Let’s get out of here before she changes her mind!”
With matching ear-piercing squeals, they ran up the stairs. The door to the basement slammed and then I heard their little feet stomping overhead. I slumped back into my pillows and felt like I had barely closed my eyes when Russ’ voice boomed through my makeshift bedroom.
“Rise and shine, pumpkin! You’ve got a big day ahead of you!”
I dragged a pillow over my head and groaned. “Go away, please! For the love of everything good in this world, just let me sleep!”
My twin brother’s response was to reach under my blanket and grab my ankle. He yanked me down the bed, his big laugh almost enough to make me smile. Just before I could strangle him, he shoved a cup of coffee into my hand and ruffled my hair. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a different person before your morning coffee? I saw your presents for the girls, by the way. Don’t think I won’t find a way to get back at you.”
“You don’t think your presence is payback enough? It’s so early, Russ.” I tried to see the clock, but he kept his head firmly in the way.
“You’re right. We’re even. Now that that’s settled, let’s get you up. You’ve got a full day with Lisa and she’s almost ready.”
I knocked back half of the coffee in one go and gritted my teeth as it burned all the way down my throat. As much as it hurt, my mood instantly started to lift with the first hit of caffeine. I pushed my hair out of my face and really looked at my brother. It’d been too long since I’d seen him and I’d gotten in just late enough the night before that I’d been too tired to spend any real time with him.
We had the same dark brown hair that almost looked black in most lighting. His was kept short and styled, while mine was long and wild unless tamed into a braid for work. We had the same bright yellow-green eyes, but that was where the similarities ended. I had our mother’s delicate nose and full lips and Russ had our father’s more masculine features. I got Dad’s dimples and Russ got Mom’s bad eyesight. I got Mom’s figure and mostly gentle personality; Russ got Dad’s large build and ability to talk anyone into anything.
I already knew I was in trouble when Russ gave me his most charming smile and raised his eyebrows, waiting on me to inquire about what I was going to be doing with Lisa that day. Because I knew my brother well enough to know that he only needed an inch to take a mile, I ignored him and drained the rest of the coffee before attempting to crawl back up my bed.
“Oh, no, you don’t. Lisa is really looking forward to hanging out with you today, Reagan. I’m paying for everything. I even bought your ticket for tonight and everything.”
“Ticket…” It took a few seconds for my brain to catch up with where I was and when it was. I flicked my gaze back to Russ and shook my head. “Nope. Sorry. There’s no way.”
“You get one chance at a ten-year reunion, Reagan. I’m not letting you throw it away. You got here just in time. It was meant to be.” He narrowed his eyes. “And if you won’t give in to good reasoning, I’ll just let you know now that the girls wake up at the crack of dawn every day. They really love their Aunt Reagan and I would love to sleep in a little longer.”
I glared up at him. “Are you threatening me with your children?”
“I’m not not threatening you with them.”
“That’s low. Even for you.” I stood up and shoved past him. “I’m not going.”
“Fine. I’ll just tell Lisa that you don’t want to hang out with her. I’ll tell the girls to just come straight down here from now on. And I’ll tell Marcus Leary that you couldn’t make the reunion because you’re battling a debilitating case of athlete’s foot.”
I spun around and faced off with Russ. He was half a foot taller than me, but I figured with frustration and months of depression and anger, I could probably take him. “You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
“Russ! He’s still the self-appointed local tabloid columnist. Mom used to send me his ranting posts weekly. If I end up in one of his posts, I’ll murder you.”
“You could just come to the reunion. Have a few drinks, cut loose on the dance floor, have a good time. You may even see an old friend that you want to reconnect with now that you’re back. I demand you come tonight, or I’ll have no choice but to ruin your reputation and sleep.”
“You’re a child, you know that?”
“Is that a yes?”
I squeezed my eyes shut as I nodded. With any luck, the people I wanted to avoid wouldn’t be there. If anything, the ten years I’d spent away from Lunar, New Mexico had taught me how to pretend like nothing bad was happening around me. Only positive things for me.
“You just made me the happiest big brother ever.” He pulled me into a tight hug and immediately shoved a wet finger into my ear. “I missed you.”
I shoved him away and wiped at my ear. “Get out. You’re disgusting.”
“Hurry up. Lisa is probably already ready and waiting in the car. She’s excited for a chance to dress up.”
I kicked his knee from behind as he took a step up the stairs and his leg collapsed forward. When he glared at me, I just grinned. “Tell her I’ll be up soon.”
“Pest.”
“Jerk.”
“Little bottle baby.”
“Big titty baby.”
He snorted and then left me to change, but with no time to orient myself. Just the morning before, I’d woken up in a loft apartment in LA with one of the most beautiful views I’d ever seen. How the mighty had fallen.
