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“Happy Thanksgiving,” I hear a boo in Brooke is beside hi a bottle of wine in her hand They both ate dinner with Brooke’s father, but pro for a little bit I’m really happy to see Brooke as I haven’t had a chance to really talk to her since the whole fake relationship turned real relationship with Bishop broke all over the neaves It’s going to be nice catching up

Bishop greets Pepper and Dax, then goes over to sit with Legend and Pierce, his eyes i Brooke and accept the bottle of wine on Erik’s behalf She follows me over to the small wet bar that has a built-in wine rack, where I start to place the bottle Brooke puts her hand onopen”

“Great idea,” I say with a laugh and do exactly as suggested, pouring two glasses of the deep red Cabernet I then lead her over to a high-top table on the other side of the room, where we perch ourselves on tall stools ht iron

“Howtoday?” she asks “Saw so up the kitchen”

“Nine total,” I tell her with a laugh “There are a few hanging out by the pool as well”

“Is Tacker here?” she asks as she looks around

“No Erik invited him but he declined”

Brooke lets out a heavy sigh “I hate to think of hi alone on a holiday”

“Me too,” I agree wholeheartedly It’s tragic that he’s suffered such a terrible loss and deals with it by secluding hiive him a measure of comfort Erik even tried to lure hi with Billy, but he was adamant that he wanted to be left alone

Brooke leans across the table and asks with a slight nod toward the pool table, “So what’s the deal with Dax? Is that his new girlfriend or so?”

“I don’t think so,” I tell her in a low voice “I think they’re just friends”

“Interesting,” she says before taking a sip of her wine, her gaze going back to them

Pepper lines up a shot at the eight ball, taking her ti on his pool stick and staring at the table

Not at Pepper, and e that’s exposed when she bends over the table My eyes slide over to Legend and I s at Pepper hard She pulls her stick back slowly before sending a sharp jab at the cue ball It clacks against the eight ball which shoots off toward the corner pocket, sinking in cleanly

Dax reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet and hands her five dollars “You’re such a hustler,” he mutters

“I just like to bet,” she says with a laugh, accepting the litter withat her His face flushes and he jerks his attention back to the TV

“Hey, Legend,” she calls across the room