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Chapter 1
“Gavin! Oh my God, hi!”
Pride filled Gavin’s chest at the excitement in his little sister Mila’s voice. Being the kind of man the kid could look up to was important to him. It meant he was living with honor, and hearing her thrilled greetings when he walked through the door was one of his favorite things.
Of course, now that he couldn’t fly anymore, he hoped there’d still be something there for her to be proud of. He was having a little trouble finding something. Maybe she could.
He walked into the front room of his brother Troy’s house and gave Mila a hug. When their parents had died when she was only five, Troy had stepped up. Gavin gave him a ton of credit for that. He’d made sacrifices– like leaving his pro baseball career and moving home to Valentine Bay.
Gavin had been in the military at the time. He couldn’t have moved home even if he’d wanted to. Choices like that weren’t his to make. He’d signed those rights away when he’d signed his enlistment papers.
However, the thing he couldn’t quite admit to himself was he’d been glad it hadn’t been an option. He liked his life of zero commitments and zero responsibilities. Giving it up would’ve been hard as hell, and he was just grateful Troy had done it… so he didn’t have to.
“Bye, Gavin! See you later!”
No sooner had she given him a lightning quick hug and a kiss on the cheek than she was slipping past him out the door and bopping down the walkway, waving at him over her shoulder without even looking back.
He scowled. “Where’s she going?” he asked his brother. “It’s almost dark.”
Troy laughed. “Calm down, bro. She’s thirteen, and she’s only going across the street. Her friend lives over there, and they’re studying for a history test. Which basically means they’re going to be copying makeup tutorials from YouTube. It’s harmless.”
Gavin narrowed his eyes. “I haven’t seen her for over a year. I figured she’d at least stick around for dinner.”
Troy shook his head. “Again. She’s thirteen. It’s going to be years before dinner with her brother holds a candle to makeup tutorials with her friends.”
Gavin shook his head. Yeah, he’d liked his independent life, but this was the downside. He’d missed his little sister’s childhood, pretty much.
“Come on,” Troy said. “Grab a beer from the fridge and hang out at the kitchen table while I finish dinner. Donovan should be here any minute.”
Gavin followed Troy through the archway that led to the kitchen. “I figured we’d be ordering a pizza. Since when do you cook more than mac and cheese?”
“About a year ago, Mila got on a food kick. Again, the YouTube videos. She started cooking for us. She’s really good, but as she’s been getting busier with school and extracurriculars, she’s handed the reins to me.”
“And are you really good?”
Troy grinned good-naturedly as he stirred a pot on the stove. “Not by a longshot. But I’m okay.”
Gavin pulled an amber bottle from the fridge and sat at the kitchen table. “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in God knows how long. Okay sounds pretty good to me.”
“Well, dammit, if ‘okay’ is the goal, then I think you’re in for a real treat.”
“Anybody home?” The voice of their other brother, Donovan, echoed through from the entryway.
“In the kitchen!” Troy called.
Donovan entered the kitchen. He and Gavin shared a quick hug, and then Donovan held up the twelve pack of beer in his hand. “For later on the deck.”
Gavin flashed a quick grin. “You’re officially my new favorite brother.”
“Like that was ever in question. So, what’s for dinner?”
“Troy’s cooking.”
“I told him not to expect better than okay.” Troy interjected.
“Well, then, he shouldn’t be disappointed.” Donovan grinned, a glint in his eyes, and added, “So, while we’re waiting for the food, what do you say we get a start on these beers?”
Gavin nodded. “I’d say I like your style.”
