Page 40 of Keg's Revelation

“Don’t you start, too.”

I held my hands up in surrender at Raven and winked at Ry.

“I saw that, mister.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh huh.” Raven eyed me, and I smirked. She huffed, then looked at a grinning Ry and Reagan. “Eat if you want to have time to play in the arcade. You have school tomorrow.”

That was all that needed to be said to get the two kids focused on finishing their food.

Raven sighed while I shook my head at Ry. He’d shoved the last piece of pizza in his mouth and talked around it. “Can we go in the arcade now?”

Other than the physical differences between a girl and a boy, I hadn’t thought much about any others. Even having grown up with a sister. Until I looked over at Reagan to see if she was finished and noticed how she politely sat chewing her pizza. When she was done, she took a drink of soda, then picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. I glanced back at Ry and watched him grab the neck of his t-shirt and wipe his mouth on it. Looking at the two them, it hit me the age difference between Ry and Reagan was about the same as mine and Sami’s.

Watching them also reminded me of something my mom once said to my dad. I’d told Sami that all girls smelled. She yelled they did not, and we went back and forth until my dad had had enough and told us boys and girls both smelled. My mom had turned to him laughing and said,“Little girls are sweet and smell clean, and little boys are mean and stinky.” Sami and I had been about the same age then as Ry and Reagan were now, too. I grinned at the thought that maybe my mom had been right.

Sliding out of the booth, I asked, “Who’s ready to race cars and lose?”

“You, ‘cause I rule at racing,” Ry said as he stood.

“Come on, Reagan. You and I will find something for you to play while they race each other.” Raven took Reagan’s hand after she was out of the booth.

“Hey, don’t be in such a hurry. We can take turns. Next person up takes on the winner of mine and Ry’s challenge,” I said, not wanting Reagan to feel left out. Then I looked at Ry and smirked, “Which, of course, will be me.”

“I can’t play the race game. My legs don’t reach the pedals,” Reagan said as we walked through the arcade doors.

“How about you help me kick your brother’s cocky little ass? You can steer from my lap and I’ll work the foot pedals?”

“Yay! Let’s kick Ry’s cocky little ass,” Reagan yelled, and a few adults passing by with their kids turned their heads and glared. When their eyes hit my vest, they faced forward and hurried away.

“Reagan!” Raven whispered yelled. A skill I think only mothers possessed.

“Sorry,” Reagan said, then glanced at me. I winked at her, and she grinned, then walked away with Ry toward two empty chairs at the racing consoles.

“If you so much as laugh, Reed Borelli.”

“Do I look like I’m laughing?” I asked and bit the inside of mouth to keep from doing just that.

“So help me if she repeats that at school and they call...I’m going to give them your number so you can talk to them and explain where she heard it.”

“Then you might as well give me her teacher’s name and the number to the school. Because after she spends any time around my brothers, it will be inevitable that the school will call.” I did laugh then and received a swat to the shoulder for it.

“Come on, Mom and Reed, we’re growing old over here,” Ry yelled over his shoulder.

Raven groaned. “Please tell me it gets better.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I could if you want me to lie.”

“Great.”

I draped my arm over her shoulders. “We better get moving. I can see him graying from here.”

“Jerk.”

I hadn’t laughed so much in one day. Maybe my dad was right—I could balance everything—Raven, kids, family, and club. Something I needed to think about.

“Those two are goingto sleep good tonight.”

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