“Yeah, but Merina remarried you, so the second one must have been good.”
Reese smiled, his eyes going to one side in thought. “It was.”
“Congratulations, Tag,” Eli said, meaning it. But the familiar frustration coated him at his brothers’ happiness. Frustration he had no right to blame on them. Eli had gotten himself into this mess. He shoved his feelings of inadequacy aside and yanked open a drawer in the kitchen, coming out with a deck of cards. “Can we stop clucking like hens and play poker now?”
“Yes. I’ll gladly take your money,” Tag said, taking the change of topic in stride.
“You’re the worst gambler I know,” Reese said.
“Bet you twenty bucks I’m not.” Tag grabbed the bottle of tequila and they moved to the table and sat.
“See?” Reese said to Eli, shooting a thumb over his shoulder at Tag.
“Five card draw,” Eli announced, shuffling. “Nothing wild.”
On cue, Tag drummed the table with his hands and said, “Except for me.”