Page 3 of Joint Custody

“Oh!” She laughed. “I’m such a ditz. I’m, uh . . . I’ve never had an alcoholic beverage before,” she confessed, and Chris laughed out loud.

“Come on. Who are you trying to trick? It’s just me, remember? I know you just turned twenty-one three months ago but we were once young. We know we didn’t wait until we were twenty-one to drink, so it’s not like I expect that you did. You’re hanging with your big bro, not Mom and Dad. I’m not going to tell them that you had a drink or two atyourparty. It’s okay, we’readults. You don’t have to be afraid to be yourself around me, let your hair down. I know we haven’t hung out much and our age difference probably makes me seem less like your big brother and more like . . . I don’t know an uncle, or heaven forbid, a father figure.” He looked horrified at the thought.

Both Anthony and I chuckled. I remember back in college when they used to mock me for being the “old, married dad” of the group, just because I’d been with my high-school sweetheart all throughout college and was loyal to her. It was just hilarious seeing how the tables had turned.

“Look, all I’m saying is, we’re all adults, and I know it’s going to take some time for us to bond as adults, and while, let’s face it, you’ll always be my kid sister, I won’t judge you for having a few drinks and actually enjoying your party. You don’t need to be stuffy around me. I’m cool,” he said, which was the most uncool father-figure thing I’d ever heard him say.

She smiled. “Oh, it’s not that at all. I mean, I’m telling the truth. I’ve never had a drink before, I wouldn’t even know what to order. I’m not the type to party and get drunk. I’ve always been too busy studying,” she responded.

Chris raised his eyebrows. “Wow. I mean, again, that’s impressive. I didn’t know. I’m sorry if I offended—”

“No, it’s okay. Like you said, it’s my party, and I’ve always wondered what all the fuss is about. What better place to enjoy a drink or two than with family?”

“Well, in that case, get her a glass of wine, something smooth and sweet,” Chris said to Anthony who sauntered off toward the blonde from earlier at the bar. She seemed to be hanging on to another man’s arm while smiling at Anthony and staring into his soul.

The woman kept staring at him as he made his way back to us with a glass of white wine for Tiffany, which he handed to her before saying, “Listen, it was lovely to meet you, Tiffany. Chris, it was good to see you, buddy, we need to do this more often, but right now, I’ve got to go,” he said, smiling at both Chris and me. We shook our heads because we knew what he was saying without him having to spell it out.

He’d arranged to leave with his lady for the night, and I’d be damned, it wasn’t Tiffany. Well, shit. If Anthony could exercise self-control and respect, damn it, I better do the same.

I hadnoexcuses.

Chapter 2

Anthony

WhenChrisfinallyinvitedus for a boys’ night out, I didn’t expect to show up to pink balloons that said 2021, blowing in the wind like those damned inflatable mascots you see waving about in a parking lot.

I was not expecting miniature bottles of champagne dipped in glitter on the table at the entrance, labeled “Party Favors, take one!” or fancy white tablecloths over tables that seated at least a dozen people in a magnificent garden. If I didn’t see the picture of the redhead in the enlarged photo, with “Graduate, Class of 2021” written on it, I’d have thought that I’d walked into a very strange wedding. I should have checked the invitation with more care, I just got excited to hang with my best friend.

I couldn’t tell you the last time all of us hung out. We’ve all been so busy, especially Chris, who was the only one of us brave enough to start a family and settle down. Ever since my dad left as a kid, I’d realized that nothing lasts forever and committing to “forever” with someone was ridiculous. We just wanted the good times in the end, so why stick around until they got bad when you could get only the good times and leave the rest behind? Even better than that, you could get the good times, over and over and over again, without tying yourself to any one person.

Being with one person was good for some people, I’d seen it. I just knew I wasn’t one of those people. Chris was, and I was happy for him. Although, it would be nice if we could hang out more often. So I jumped at the chance to come here, but if I’d read the invitation carefully, I probably would’ve taken a rain check.

I’m kind of happy I didn’t, though. The redhead turned out to be Tiffany Levine, law school graduate at only twenty-one years old. And my best friend’s little sister. She was the much hotter version of Chris. That picture didn’t do her justice. I’d never been attracted to Chris, but his little sister was a knockout.

Although, if our friendship meant anything at all, I would have been keeping my eyes off her cleavage as I sat across the table from her. Her dress rested in a straight line across her breasts, that made me a lucky man each time she reached forward for something. Man, it shouldn’t have been so hard to stop staring at her breasts.

I had options as soon as I stepped onto the garden’s grass, several women to choose from, and I knew it because the eye contact thing worked. Regardless of who they were with, I knew from the moment I connected with their eyes that all it would take was for me to make the next move. And maybe that was the problem. I knew they were there, and I knew they wanted me, as cocky as that sounded.

I’ve had quite the sum of experiences with women. That gave me the ability to know when I had a chance and when I didn’t, and with Tiffany, there was no way in hell. She hadn’t looked my way once, and it felt like a kick to the gut when it shouldn’t have. It was good that she didn’t show interest because I didn’t know how I would have been able to handle myself.

“Anthony, how nice of you to show up to Tiffany’s graduation party,” a female voice said from behind me when we were allowed to leave our seats and I could finally put some distance between her and me before Chris caught me staring.

I looked around to see Mrs. Levine, Chris’s mom. I smiled at her, eyeing the bar for a drink and a distraction.

“Thanks for having me.” I smiled as she walked away with Mr. Levine who didn’t give me the same polite greeting.

I was grateful when I saw a blonde, around my age, more my speed, smiling at me over her from the bar. I could already imagine the smudge of her stunning red lipstick on the collar of my shirt. Maybe, if I was lucky, making a ring around my dick. Exactly what I was looking for, and the image drove me forward. In a way better mood, I was making my way over there when I heard Chris shout, “Ant man! Come join us.” I looked to see him sitting in the back. He had gone to a separate lounge-patio area away from the crowd.

Ah hell. Blonde or Chris? Chris and I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak yet and he’s the reason I came, so the blonde would have to wait. I grinned at him and Mario.

Though Chris had gotten the wrinkles of fatherhood, he managed to keep a pretty groomed beard. While there were changes, his grin took me back to when we all used to see each other every fucking day, so much so we got sick of each other. Until I fucked up and had to earn his trust again.

Back then, I felt like shit running into him whenever either of us were hanging out with Mario or walking past each other at events and pretending not to know each other. Pretending to hate each other. Those years were shitty.

“Hey, glad you could make it!” He jumped up to give me a hug.

I squeezed him back. “So good to see you, man,” I told him. And it was. I loved this man like he was my very own brother, and it sucked when we weren’t friends.

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