Page 14 of Playing it Country

“Dude, I told you it’s fine.”

“I know, but…” My brother sighs, and I smile because his full-on bonus dad mode transformation has been equally hilarious and adorable.

“Seriously, I told you he’s always welcome here. You’re the one who can’t be away from him for more than three minutes.” Otto huffs and I laugh. Even Fallon said she has to take the phone away so he stops asking for updates when Briggs is with his dad, grandparents, or literally anyone else.

“You’ll understand when you have a kid.”

“Maybe. And then you can say I told you so.” He exhales dramatically, and I continue, “In the meantime, take your girl out and just leave me to chill with my nephew.”

“Fine. We’ll be over in a little bit and—”

I hang up because I know it aggravates him and also because he’s going to try and give me the same rundown of the foods Briggs likes and doesn’t like even though I always have everything stocked here anyway.

Kid is amazing, honestly, and Ilikespending time with him. It’s weird—Briggs isn’t blood-related to my brother, but being with him reminds me so much of growing up with Otto. It’s nostalgic almost and so even though I make fun of him for being obsessed with his kid—I would be too.

Also, I like my sister-in-law-to-be enough so I send her a text.

CASE: You’re bringing his bag right?

FALLON: I had to hide it under Briggs’s bed because Otto walked in while I was packing it

CASE: I hung up before he could tell me not to let Briggs stay up too late

FALLON: Maybe I’ll drop them both off and you can keep them

CASE: YOU WANTED THIS

CASE: No takebacks

FALLON: Liar—you miss him

CASE: Not as much as I love seein’ him happy

FALLON: You guys are a bunch of teddy bears

CASE: But manly right?

FALLON: …

CASE: RIGHT??

FALLON: We’ll be over soon

FALLON: Did you want to talk about the sparks flying between you and Hannah?

CASE: No sparks

FALLON: Liar

CASE: BYE FALLON

I smileand throw my phone on the counter. Even though Clementine Creek is small, I didn’t really know Fallon back in school. It was hard knowing she broke Otto’s heart and havin’ him pretend nothin’ was wrong.

I carried that burden silently alongside him even if he didn’t know. I’d do anything for my brother—for any of my family—but Otto’s different and forever will be. He’s my brother and my twin by blood, but he’s my best friend by choice.

Now that he’s found his happiness, it feels like I can breathe a little easier. Plus, I get to hang with the coolest kid around. Moving through the house, I get everything I’ll need for my night with Briggs ready.

The sound of the doorbell startles me from my daydream and thankfully prevents me from spiraling into thoughts of Hannah. No one ever uses it except for one pint-sized nephew. Swinging open the door, Briggs launches himself at me, and I catch him as I stumble back on a laugh. He’s like that dog you bring home as a puppy that fits perfectly in your lap but then doesn’t realize it’s grown into a small horse and still thinks it’s a lap dog.

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