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Owen’s brows raise. “Nice.”
“And he likes yoga.” She gives her brother another small pat on the back.
I tilt my head, my mouth dropping. “Hey, me too.”
“A lot of people like yoga,” Levi grumbles. “And who’s the one being rude? Did you forget our little brother?”
Coco’s dark brows raise on her head as she stares pointedly at Levi.
“No one can forget me,” says the broad, dark blond man, who might be an inch taller than his oldest brother. “I’m unforgettable.” He grins—too handsome for his own good.
“Meredith, this is Coop.” Coco slips an arm around his back.
“Hello,” I say. I bring my hands down in front of me, clasping my jittery fingers together.
“Nice to meet you,” Cooper says with a smile as big as Owen’s. He tosses the ball in his hands up into the air, ready to play.
“Do you have a favorite yoga pose?” Owens asks.
I don’t. I only went the one time. But he’s kind to make conversation. I keep my eyes on Owen, but Coco slips around me and I watch her in my periphery. She snakes an arm around Levi’s back, giving her brother a side hug.
“Um,” I mumble to Owen—but I’m distracted. “Not really.”
Coco peers at her brother, her voice low, but I hear her. “So, how are your butterflies treating you, Levi?”
23
Levi
Iam not annoyed that Owen is talking to Meredith. Why would I be? He’s nice like that. He’d be talking to Uncle Bob if he were here too. Besides, what do I care who she talks to?
It’s Coco that’s annoying me. All this talk ofbutterflies—that, and I know she and Miles are in cahoots. Just because they’re both twenty-three they want to set Meredith up with Owen. That’s stupid. Why do they need to set her up with anyone?
“Levi!” Coop calls, tossing the football in my direction and slapping me out of my trance. I hop two steps away from Coco and catch the ball. I might have yelled at Cooper for throwing the ball in the same direction as our very pregnant sister, but I need the out and he’s giving it to me. So, I keep my mouth shut.
Instead, I jog a few feet away from her, heading to center field, and toss it back to him.
“Guys, are we playing a game or messing around?” Cooper calls to our siblings just standing around gabbing with Meredith. And for the first time in my life, I’ve decided that Cooper Bailey is my favorite brother.
“We’re playing!” Coco yells back. “Gather round, I’m splitting up the teams.”
“Why you?” I say, not trusting my sister one ounce in this moment.
“Because I’m the only one who doesn’t get to play. I’m unbiased—”
“You’re a little biased,” Owen says, nodding toward Jude. Coop and I laugh—Owen is the nicest of us all. So, if he says so, it must be true.
Coco sets one hand to her hip and glares at Owen through her black-rimmed glasses. “Not when it comes to this game I’m not. In fact—Alice, you’re a team captain. Jude, you’re the other team captain.” She gives our brother wide, glaring eyes.
“Woo! Hoo!Captain? Is that the same as boss?” Alice asks.
“Making your husband and your kid the two captains,” Coop says, an accusing whine to his tone, “that seems pretty biased.”
“Cooper James Bailey,” Coco scolds. “If my husband is on one team and my daughter is on the other, that splits my bias. The teams will be even. Though you might be benched.”
Meredith stifles a laugh, but Coop doesn’t hide his. He beams at our sister, loving her spunk. And loving egging her on. That might be Coop’s love language.
“Fair enough,” says our youngest brother, innocent hands raised.
