Tate's a straight-up Cinnabon roll. Gooey and sweet. Even sweeter now that he's with Isabella.
"Nah, I talked to him this morning. He's doing great. The fires are wrapping up out there. He should be home soon. He can't wait to see Kate."
"Yeah, we're all due for a Damien reunion," Max muses. “We should plan a big party. Mom would love that.”
"I don't think he wants us all crowding him," I add, scooping up some chips and shoveling them in my mouth. "And frankly, I don't think I could handle being around all of you, so happily coupled up. Lord help me. It's me and Nat left standing."
"Oh, so that's what you're grumpy about," Tate says in a cheerful voice.
"Whatever." I sip my iced tea.
My brothers stare at me. They're not used to me being miserable.
"Hate to admit it," I say. "But I had a weird encounter with a woman."
"Dude," Tate cuts in. "I was just with you twenty-four hours ago at the springs. Did you meet up with that mermaid?"
Max blinks. "Wait, what mermaid?"
"Long story," Tate jumps in. "Bella and Remy and I were at Paradise Springs yesterday and this woman with a mermaid tail swims up to us. Real-life mermaid, the whole thing. Of course Remy was instantly in love, and then he fell off the platform. Literally and metaphorically."
Max chuckles. “Not sure what you mean by real life mermaid, but I wish I’d seen that.”
"I meant to fall off the platform," I grin.
"Suuuure," Tate retorts. "And then she swam away from him. But apparently that wasn't the end of the story."
Max signals the waitress for the check, and I reach for my wallet because it's my week to pay.
"We ran into each other in the parking lot."
"And?" Tate asks.
"And I took her to Lime and Salt. Kate was there. Made us a couple of mocktails."
"You took your mermaid to Kate's?" Max's eyebrow shoots up.
"Yes, I took my mermaid to Kate's."
"And?" Tate prods.
"And we kissed on the deck. Then she drove home."
Tate snickers. "And?"
"And we exchanged numbers. I texted her right after she drove off."
"And?" Max joins in. They love to tease me.
"And she started to reply. The three dots came up. Then they disappeared."
"...And?"
"And she hasn't texted since."
Both my brothers stare at me.
"Dang, dude, that's cold," Max says, a smile spreading. "Maybe you met your match."