I shook my head. “No, she hasn’t mentioned it.”
“What about you?” Bishop asked. “Brighton mentioned you were once a lawyer.”
“I was. I think if my father hadn’t pushed me into becoming one, I could have really enjoyed it. Might not have ever gone to LA to pursue acting. Don’t get me wrong, I was in drama in high school and college and fucking loved it. But I think my dad pushing me away from it actually drove me to it. If that makes sense.”
They all nodded. “That’s like me and my dad,” Kyle said. “He was a cop, and from the time I was little, I remember him telling me what a great cop I’d make.”
Everyone focused on him.
“Dude, do you not like being a cop?” Hunter asked.
He shook his head. “I love it. It’s just…sometimes I wonder if my father hadn’t been a cop, would I have done something different with my life?”
There was a long silence as we all glanced around the table. Bishop finally broke it. “Okay, so I’ll ask. If you’re not going to be a lawyer or act, what are you going to do? I’m assuming you don’t need to work.”
With a grin, I replied, “No, I’m financially good, and I have a lot of side projects and investments as well. I have thought about offering my services as a lawyer for a nonprofit, maybe.”
Aiden sat up straighter. “Really?”
I nodded, then finished off my beer.
“Another one?” Kyle asked as he stood up.
Waving my hand, I replied, “No, I’m good.”
He nodded and looked around the table. “Anyone?”
“I’m designated driver, so have at it,” Hudson said to Aiden and Bishop, but they both declined.
Kyle rolled his eyes. “My God, you all got tied down with women and stopped being adventurous.”
“I have two kids who’ll both be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. The last thing I need is a hangover,” Aiden commented.
“Whatever,” Kyle mumbled, heading into the kitchen.
Hunter slowly shook his head. “Someday, a woman is going to come along and knock him on his ass.”
“I think one already has,” Bishop stated.
All eyes were now on him. “What do you know?” Hunter asked.
Bishop glanced around, then his gaze landed on Hudson. “Ever since your sister came to visit, haven’t you guys noticed how Kyle hasn’t gone out or dated anyone? It’s almost like he’s pining over someone…”
Hudson leaned back in his chair and gave Bishop a thoughtful expression. “You think he likes my sister?”
Bishop nodded.
“I’m going to agree,” Hunter added. “I saw the way Kyle looked at Everly. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Sorry, Hudson.”
He shrugged, then looked back at the kitchen to see if Kyle was coming. “Everly seemed to be taken with Kyle as well. It was hard not to notice the way the two of them looked at each other. But do you honestly believe that short encounter with Everly would keep him from seeing anyone else?”
Bishop shook his head. “I don’t know. All I know is, he hasn’t dated anyone since your sister came to town.”
“Where’s your sister now?” I asked.
A proud smile moved across Hudson’s face. “She’s in Alaska. She’s a climatologist. She was supposed to take a job in Boston, but she suddenly hopped on a plane and left for Alaska. Her job keeps her traveling a lot, otherwise she lives in Washington, DC.”
“Wow, that’s kind of cool,” I said.
Hudson nodded. “Yeah, she was in Greenland for a few years. She got engaged to another climatologist but broke things off with him. I never got a good vibe from the guy. Met him twice and each time he gave me…a bad feeling.”
“I can’t imagine what it would be like to have my sister Jenn date a douchebag, let alone get engaged to one.”
“You just have the one sister?” Aiden asked as Kyle walked back into the room.
“I do, and I highly doubt she’ll get married anytime soon.”
“Why’s that?” Kyle asked. He took a seat back down at the table, clueless to the previous conversation about him and Everly.
“My sister is too much in love with herself and her shoes and clothes.”
“Does she get along with Brighton?” Kyle asked with a laugh.
I chuckled. “They get along famously. Clothing is their connection.”
“Yeah, Brighton has a way with clothes. Last fall, she threw a little welcome home party for Abby,” Bishop said. “That’s a long story we’ll fill you in on later…but Brighton brought outfits for each girl to wear.”
Lifting a brow, I asked, “What kind of outfits?”
“I’m surprised she never told you,” Hunter said with a laugh. “They were…very suggestive outfits.”
“Willa was nearly eight months pregnant at the time, and Brighton had her in short boy shorts and a half T-shirt with the number sixty-nine on it. Needless to say, I smuggled it out of the party.”
The entire table erupted in laughter.