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Chapter 19
Brady
It’s weird to think that just a few weeks ago, I was a bachelor living the laid-back bachelor life in my laid-back bachelor house. Well, technically, I’m still a bachelor. But lately, I’ve been feeling more like a family man.
In the past few days that Izzie and Liam have been staying with me, we’ve all settled into a nice routine.
It’s weird how boring and normal we all are. Izzie usually gets home from work a little before me. She cooks a special dinner that abides by my diet plan, and then we all sit down together and eat.
Afterwards, we all watch TV together. Usually, it’s ESPN, but Izzie has a weird obsession with HGTV. Every night, she makes me watch at least one episode ofHouse Hunters, which is the most baffling show.
Basically, it’s just two idiots with unrealistic standards arguing over paint color. I’m not sure why Izzie loves it so much, but she does this adorable thing where she picks which house is her favorite. Sometimes, she’ll even ask me to pick a house and see if I can guess which one the two annoying homeowners will pick.
“I think they’re going to pick the condo over the three-bedroom because the condo is closer to the city,” she tells me. “They always pick whatever is closest to work.”
“That’s stupid,” I tell her.
“Why?”
“Because why pick a house they hate just to be closer to some job that they probably hate even more?” I jokingly argue with her. “Your house is your palace. Just pick the best fucking house possible. Doesn’t matter where it’s located.”
We’ll then go back and forth about this for at least half an hour. Izzie will giggle, then catch herself, and stop giggling. It’s a weird thing she does. It’s like she wants to be close to me but nottooclose.
Sometimes I wonder if she just got out of a relationship recently and doesn’t want to jump into another one so soon. If that’s the case, then it’s cool. But it does make me wonder why she just can’t say that instead of leaving me here in the dark.
When we’re not watching TV, Izzie spends a lot of time cleaning. I guess she’s trying to be a good guest, but there’s really no reason for her to be wiping down the kitchen counters so much.
The cleaner who comes by once a week even pulled me aside and asked me who keeps polishing the tables. It seems no matter how hard I try to make Izzie feel comfortable with being here, she’s always trying to overcompensate. She seriously needs to chill.
But hey, I’m still a guy. I’m not gonna argue if a pretty girl wants to clean my mansion.
Her nephew, Liam, though, seems to be adjusting just fine. Every day, he’s playing video games on my large screen TV or hammering it out on the foosball table.
In a weird way, he kind of reminds me of myself—very competitive, very committed, and has awesome hair. He’s like the kid brother I never had.
Honestly, I’m so comfortable with Izzie and Liam living with me that I hope those termites eat the whole house up. It’s so nice coming home to a place that’s bustling with life instead of empty beer bottles and forgotten thongs from groupies. I never thought I would ever admit to that, but that’s the God’s honest truth right there.
In fact, today, to show my gratitude, I decided to bring home a little gift for Liam.
When I walk into the house, I step into a cloud of awesome smell coming from the kitchen. Izzie is something else. I walk into the kitchen and see the back of her blonde head blending something up.
“Hey, I’m home,” I announce. “What’s cooking?”
“Carrot soup. It’s ready now, so go sit down at the table.”
I walk into the dining room and collapse into the chair next to Liam, rustling his hair.
“How’s school, little dude?” God, I really am starting to sound like a dad.
“It’s good. You know, the usual.” His eyes are glued to his smartphone.
Izzie comes out and places the pot of soup on the table.
“Get it while it’s hot.” She starts ladling soup into our bowls like some kind of line cook.
In the middle of dinner, I turn to Liam and ask him again about attending a home game.
“Yo, Liam, you still haven’t been by the stadium yet. Have you, bud?”
