Page 47 of The Forever Rule

“Let me go put this in the refrigerator, and we can explain to you about the small town that we accidentally own,” I said, my voice only slightly gruff.

“I’ve always wanted to live in a small town,” Sophia said softly.

“And then you wouldn’t have been able to dance for the Denver Ballet if you did,” Isabella said with a small smile. “We are city girls. Even though sometimes we live in suburbs, we also like to live in downtown. You know, with takeout, noise, and the ability to walk places.”

“I don’t know, I’m sure you could walk in a small town.”

Intrigued, I put the pie cake thing in the fridge, and walked out into the seating area that was connected to the open kitchen.

“You were in the ballet?” I asked, honestly surprised. She did have a dancer’s build, but the Denver Ballet was hard as hell to get into.

Sophia smiled softly and nodded. “I was principal for two years, before I decided that breaking my body every day to fight for the same role as twenty-year-olds really wasn’t ideal.”

“You were principal?” Ford asked, awe in his voice.

“She’s a brilliant dancer,” Isabella said, pride beaming on her face. “While I had academic clubs in the evening and would play field hockey for school in some club, she was the one doing full-time school, and at least three different dance classes at once. I still don’t know how Mom was able to drive us to all our events and practices.”

As we handed out drinks and took our seats in the front sitting room, I felt like we could relax ever so slightly. The women were leading the conversation, and I didn’t mind. I wanted to know them. Since we had to spend the next three years with them, if not more. Plus, Isabella was Blakely’s best friend.

No that wasn’t a good reason. I shouldn’t know that.

“What other sports did they play?” Dorian asked, leaning forward.

Isabella’s eyes tightened for a minute, but I didn’tknow exactly what that was about. “Phoebe did soccer and academic clubs mostly.”

“I think I’ve seen pictures of her in soccer,” Ford said, smiling. “They were comparing soccer teams with her and Kane,” he said, speaking of Phoebe’s boyfriend.

“She was really good,” Isabella said.

Sophia laughed. “Phoebe tripped over her feet more than often not, but she tried.” She winced. “I didn’t mean to disparage her. But she would be the first to say it.”

“Oh, shewasthe first to say it,” Ford said with a laugh.

Isabella continued. “Emily, the second youngest, did swim team, soccer, and volleyball. But she always had friends to drive her around, thankfully.”

“Very thankfully considering I don’t know how Mom did it all. Especially since Dad wasn’t around often.” Sophia winced.

I held up my glass. “Well at least we have a common theme here. Dad didn’t drive us to sports or after-school clubs either.”

“I don’t know if I should feel good about that, meaning he didn’t value one over the other, or sad that he didn’t value any of us at all,” Isabella said with a shrug. “Of course, that’s plainly evident in what we’re doing here, isn’t it?”

There was silence for a moment, before Dorian cleared his throat.

“And what about Kyler? I mean, we might as well round out the siblings.”

“Kyler did football and was the quarterback of his high school team,” Isabella said, pride in every word.

“Really?” I said, looking over at Dorian.

“Well, that’s interesting. We’re going to have to compare notes. What high school?”

She named a school on the other side of town that we wouldn’t have played, and then again, Kyler and Dorian, our other QB in the family, were enough years apart in age that they would never have been in high school simultaneously.

“Kyler also started a band in high school, much to Father’s chagrin,” Sophia added. “He didn’t mind the sports, didn’t mind the academics, but dancing and football? Not his favorite.”

“Well Kyler’s doing a damn good job for a guy who wasn’t allowed to practice too often then,” Flynn said, and I realized that I hadn’t looked up Kyler’s band. I should have. But I’d been so focused on the estate, and work, and trying to keep everyone else afloat, I hadn’t.

“Caged and Reckless is on tour right now, that’s why Kyler isn’t here,” Sophia said softly.

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