Page 36 of Resisting my Roommate

“This is good for you,” Beckham offers after a beat.

“Not you, too,” I groan. “Dylan said the same thing.”

“She’s right. It’s time you live your life again.”

I part my lips, about to argue that Ihavebeen living my life. But what’s the point? My brothers know me well enough to see through my lies.

“I know,” I say with a heavy sigh, glancing toward Abbey once more, her infectious laughter like a balm to the chaos of my life.

“You’re smiling.” Finn nudges me.

I bring my beer bottle up to my mouth. “Shut up.”

Thankfully, Mom calls us all to dinner before my brothers can tease me any further, and we all head inside. Somehow, Abbey ends up between my mom and Dylan, seamlessly blending into our family dynamic as they talk about anything that pops into their heads. Every now and then, I catch Abbey looking my way, and it sends a thrill down my spine I’m not ready to deal with.

“So, Dylan, what happened to that guy you were seeing?” Finn asks around a mouthful of lasagna, one of my mother’s specialties. “The one you met at the gym?”

“We went out once. That’s all.” Her response is dismissive as she stabs a piece of lettuce with her fork.

“No second date?” Beckham jumps in, grinning slyly. “Is it because that’s all it took for you to realize his muscles were bigger than his brain?”

“Ass.” She chucks a dinner roll at him, but he reacts quickly and catches it.

“Did he speak in full sentences or just in grunts?” I chime in. “Or worse, in motivational sayings?”

“I can only imagine how things would be in the bedroom,” Finn says softly so the kids can’t overhear.

Thankfully, they seem to be in their own little world. Maggie, Beckham’s stepdaughter, is talking animatedly about something that happened during preschool. Even though Presley doesn’t talk, she still responds with facial expressions and bodylanguage. And Maggie is somehow able to figure out what she’s saying.

“‘No excuses. Do the work,’” Finn jokes in a strained voice, making a face to mimic lifting weights.

Or suffering from severe constipation.

“‘When you feel like quitting, think about why you started,’” Beckham grunts, struggling to reel in his laughter.

“‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you,’” I offer, stealing a glimpse at Abbey, who seems to be observing our banter with interest.

“‘If it’s easy, you’re doing it wrong,’” Hayden, the oldest of us, pipes up, unexpectedly joining in on the fun.

I smile at my brother’s rare moment of humor. Lately, he’s been distant, even during these monthly family dinners our mom hosts. I can’t blame him. He just lost his wife.

But it’s nice to hear him joke again, even if it’s fleeting.

Those fleeting moments can be a big step.

They were for me all those years ago.

They still are.

“It’s official. I hate all of you,” Dylan says with an exaggerated roll of her eyes.

I chuckle, sipping on my beer. “We’re just looking out for you, Dyl. We’ve got high standards for the guys who want to date our baby sister.”

“You meanimpossiblestandards,” she fires back, stealing a glance out the window at the Ward’s house next door with a hint of longing.

She’ll never admit it, but she had a huge crush on Archer Ward in high school, the typical story of the bookworm being in love with the star hockey player. Thankfully, she kept her distance, considering how dysfunctional that family was back then. He left the day after he graduated high school and hasn’tbeen home since. He has no reason to now that he’s one of the biggest names in hockey.

“Speaking of siblings…” Finn’s voice cuts through. “Do you have any brothers or sisters, Abbey?”

---