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Suddenly feeling guilty, I nudged my brother’s arm with my own "Sorry for the sucker punch," I said, also a little proud of how hard I’d fought hi brother, after all He chuckled a little and rubbed his jaw
"You nailed me," he said, still not ready to look me in the eye He looked down, and ere quiet for what felt like a fullI could do at this point was to leave my brother alone, I stood to my feet and patted his shoulder with my hand "Yeah, you did But I’hts
Nolan helped me clean up the scratches and cuts onfor details I was pretty sure she’d heard more than I wanted her to, but she didn’t seem fazed by any of it By the time we made it downstairs, Jason had leftoutside on the back patio alone A few of my father’s friends joined hi and s on e, and I could tell it had affected hioing as the sun set, and everyone had finally gathered on the sofas, chairs, and floor in the living rooe tiift fit for anyone in the roo, sort of like a white elephant gift party, but with things you’d actually want Last year I ended up with a hundred bucks
Before we started drawing nulass of chalass to Nolan and me, and she just smiled, and told me to wait to drink it "Your father wants to uests Nolan and I just shrugged at each other and leaned back into the sofa to wait for everyone else
Dad cleared his throat when everyone had been served, soh to quiet the entire room "I know, I know Buck wants to talkyour eyes," my dad joked, and everyone chuckled fondly My dad could be long-winded when he wanted to be "I proh, I’ll keep this short I have sos to say on this day A day that has always been about family tohis glass a little
"You see? I’m a blessed man I have had wonderful success in life, yes," he said, turning with his ar in "But I think we can all agree…it’s fa on this earth Family Jason? Reed? I love you both more than the air I breathe You two are s I’ve ever done And you have always loved your old dad, no ht be Whether I’etwith the lawyers to close the deal on our latest dealership--you just ss I ask because you love me, and you trust me And I can’t tell you howa little choked up, so he took a s "Ha, that’s good stuff Al you both to trusta little crazy But it’s really all about fa you’ll be okay with it when I tell you," I looked at Jason as , and wondering where the hell our dad was going with all of this "Well…I guess that’s enough beating around the bush Rosie and I are getting , as everyone stood at once and collapsed on Rosie andthem on their news Nolan looked at me, her eyes ith shock "Did you know about this?" she asked
"Not a clue!" I said,etting everyone’s attention again
"Hold on, hold on everyone We’re not going anywhere You can tackle us in a few h, the kind he did when he was truly happy "Reed? Jason? I hope you two are okay with this I wanted to talk to you about it first, but it just never seeht time…and well…Rosie, she’s always been family And over the last few years, what started as a beautiful friendship, beca to Rosie and grabbing her hand with his, squeezing it and bringing it to his lips to kiss it "When it’s right It’s just right"