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But the situation is different now than it was a few weeks ago.

“Hey, Brooks,” I greet him as I answer the call on speaker in my car.

“Wow, you’re actually answering.” His voice is dripping with irony.

“Yeah,” I reply slowly. “Sorry I didn’t get back to you. Things have been crazy.”

“I heard about it.”

“Oh really? Who—” I groan. “Mom.”

“Of course, what did you expect?”

“What did she tell you?”

“Pretty much everything, I guess. For example, that Brittany invited us all for Thanksgiving. Thanks for the info, by the way.”

“I didn’t know she included you and Daisy,” I protest, even though I should have guessed. She talked about family, and Brooklyn is just as much a part of the family as Mom.

“Yes, she did. Mom is really excited because it’s the first time we’ll all be spending the holiday together.”

“She’s not the only one,” I murmur quietly, but my brother hears me anyway.

“Are you excited too?”

I switch on my turn signal and turn off the main road. “A little.”

“But I thought things were going well with Livy. At least that’s what Mom said.”

Annoyed, I roll my eyes. She really told him everything. Not that it bothers me that he knows. That’s not the point. It’s just that Mom can’t keep anything to herself. With a sigh, I push the thought aside. “Yeah, they are going well.”

“Then don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine. It’s only Thanksgiving.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever. How are you?” I change the subject. “How are things at the office?”

“Oh, same as always. I have a lot to do, but that’s not likely to change in the next few years.”

“Probably not. How’s Daisy?”

“She works almost as much as I do, but she’s fine. We’re fine. How about you?” His tone becomes somewhat insistent.

I suppress a curse. He knows. I have no idea how, but he knows. “Everything’s fine,” I reply evasively.

“I see. And how’s your love life?” He gets straight to the point. Patience has never been his strong suit. At least not with me.

“Who told you?”

“Who else? Mom. And she heard it from Brittany.”

I. Should. Have. Known.

“Of course,” I groan. I can’t even be mad at Brittany. She probably figured Mom already knew. Besides, I didn’t tell her to keep it to herself.

“You told Brittany about Lia.” He remembers her name, which I somehow didn’t expect, even though he always remembers everything.

“That’s right.”

“Then you’re serious about her,” he says.