Page 50 of Here and Now
“Uncle Miles! We stayed,” Ethan says as he rushes over, and I groan.
I forgot about how I needed to come up with something to tell him.
My brilliant idea to have people stay to watch the massacre. Way to go me.
“You sure did.”
“That was brutal,” Ethan says with a smirk. “It was like when I played that war video game with Dad, which I’m not supposed to talk about, and all you saw was blood and guts because the other side was better than him. That’s what it reminded me of. They just kept killing you guys. Over and over and?—”
I lift my hand to stop him from letting me know just how bad it is as my sister and Penelope get close. “I get it.”
Ethan, the unhelpful one, continues, “I’m just saying you guys suck. Really bad. I thought you were good? When did you stop being so good?”
“Just today, which is ironically when I decided you’re not my favorite nephew anymore,” I mutter.
He chuckles. “I’m everyone’s favorite and I’m your only nephew.”
“You’re also a pain in the butt, you know that?”
Ethan smirks. “Mom says it every day.”
“Hey there, big brother,” Eloise says with a little too much pep in her voice. “Interesting game there.”
“It was,” I agree.
Giving Eloise the least reaction is going to get me out of this quickly—I hope.
“I’m glad I came,” my sister says with a smile.
“I bet you are.”
She laughs and then Penny comes up beside her. “I’ve never seen an Ultimate Frisbee game before. I had no idea it was so competitive.”
“Some more than others. This wasn’t a normal game,” I try to explain.
“No?”
“Normally, it’s not such a blowout.”
Eloise snorts. “What he means is that when they played against the college kids, they were great. Now that they had to enter a professional league ... not so much.”
I glare at my sister. “Thanks for the clarification.”
“You’re welcome.”
God save brothers from sisters.
“Anyway,” I say tersely, hoping Eloise catches on. I’m sure she will, but won’t care regardless. “You’re taking the boys tonight?”
“I am,” answers Penny.
“Great, well, if you need anything, I’ll be home.”
“Thanks.”
“I hope you need something.” And I wonder why this woman isn’t falling at my feet? I’m a clown and embarrassing even for myself.
“Good to know,” Penny says as she tucks her hair behind her ear. “All right, boys, let’s get going.”
