All I’ve wanted in life was peace, love, and family. It’s what everyone else hopes for and dreams of. It’s the true American dream, a universal one at that. And here with Raven I had it. I had it before my grandfather gifted me a single dollar. I had it before Levi came home from his honeymoon and had my head spinning in all sorts of wrong directions regarding his sister. Come to think of it, Raven and I had the magic between us from the moment we met. We just clicked. Her sarcastic clever wit meshed perfectly with my dry sense of humor, and I loved every bantering minute of it. And now here we are past the traumatic incident that landed us on either side of the relationship divide. She took off for her mother’s. Levi gave me that information for free. He says she needs space, for me to give it to her. But I’ve been calling, texting, wishing on a star, and nothing seems to work. Raven is pissed—hell, I am, too, at myself. How dare I accuse her of anything. How dare I walk right along her brother’s side and tear her down in front of everyone that night. Even if that’s not exactly how it played out, it felt that way. Levi plunged the dagger, but I twisted it, if only with a word. I’m a damn loser, and that’s all I’ll ever be.

I work the bar the next two nights as if nothing ever happened. Tuesday is my mother’s birthday, so I invite the family to The Sloppy Pelican, dinner on me. I’m damn lucky the entire lot of them is still speaking to me.

If someone had told me last summer that my entire world would change come winter, I wouldn’t have believed it. It sounds too contrived to be true. The girl I’ve secretly pined for falls in love with me? I get to take her to bed and have my way with her nightly? My absentee grandfather walks back into my life and we get to know one another? Oh, and he leaves me his billions? Yes, it sounds right up there with flying pigs and unicorns. I would have had better luck finding a unicorn in the forest than having any of the above happen in my lifetime, let alone all at the very same season. I still can’t figure out if I’m a lucky bastard or a very unlucky asshole who happened to find the most beautiful—feistiest—woman in the world in his bed one too many times.

Raven Masterson stormed into my life like a hurricane, and now all that’s left is the destruction and debris. I try to put her out of my mind and concentrate on the bar, on the fact I’m about to have dinner with my family, but I can’t. It’s impossible. Raven Masterson has etched herself over my soul. I can no more escape her than I can myself.

Colby and Mom stroll in, each with an ear-to-ear smile. Colby is holding a bouquet of balloons, every single one with their own birthday greeting scrawled over the Mylar. My father hugs a bouquet of red roses as he holds up the rear. We might have been through the wringer lately, but in the end, we are still a family.

“Here’s the birthday princess,” I tease as I give my mother a kiss on the cheek.

Colby bumps her shoulder into mine before I offer her an embrace as well. “I’m the princess around here.” She wrinkles her nose at me and looks every bit the way she did when she was six.

Dad comes over and offers the strongest hug yet. “How you doing, sport?” I told him about what went down with Raven. And he concluded what I’ve thought all along. Raven was never in it for the money. She hung out at this bar for me. Or at least that’s what I’m choosing to believe.

We sit down as a family unit and enjoy dinner on the house. Colby orders two entrées and takes a couple of nibbles from each. She has never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth or deny him the opportunity to lavish her. Steak and lobster, she asked for. The two most expensive items on the menu.

“Don’t judge,” she scowls my way as she pushes away her plates. “It was probably the last time I’ll have such expensive meals. Five K doesn’t exactly go all that far these days. I looked into the dorm at Briggs, and it’s going to be a pricey ride.”

“One we’ll cover.” My dad winces. It was tough enough the first time around when I was there. My mother worked two jobs trying to hold down our finances, and my father cut back on golf and worked weekends. There’s no way I’m going to let my parents suffer like that again. I’ve got a plan—one I know they’ll love. They may not want to accept it, but that’s not going to change my mind or the circumstances.

“What do you plan on studying?” I tap my sister over the arm, and she sniffs the air as if hoping the answer will spell out in thin air.

“Business. That or art. I don’t know.” She shrugs at my mother and giggles up a storm.

Mom gives a playful scowl. “She’ll be studying boys, much like she is now.” Mom looks my way. “You’ll have to buy her a gilded cage for Christmas—only to be let out for classes.”

We share a laugh on my sister’s behalf.

“None of you are funny.” She takes a bite out of the mashed potatoes on my plate. “You know, I have a very fine eye for fashion. Maybe I’ll run off to Paris and study couture. Who will you laugh at then?”

“Colby”—I rub my sister’s shoulder—“don’t run off. We’ll miss you too much. We might be a small family, but we are mighty. And we wouldn’t be mighty without you.”

Mom relaxes into an easy grin, the same grin I remember while growing up. Whenever I did something rotten and was just about to fess up about it, she would offer up that same smile. It’s as if she thought whatever mischief I got into was the cutest thing in the world.

“You can’t leave me, Colby,” Mom chides. “But if you do, just know that I’ll need to hear your sweet voice every day. I’m a pain that way, but the two of you have my whole heart.”

“Hey! What about me? Am I chopped liver?” Dad chimes in playfully, and both Colby and I crumble up our napkins and toss them at him. That was Dad’s catchphrase growing up, the chopped liver bit. And Colby and I screamed and protested our disdain for the minced organ, tossing crumpled paper at him, much like we are now.

“But seriously”—I wrap an arm over Colby’s shoulder—“I never want us to drift apart.” I look to my father, and his eyes gloss over with tears. “I don’t exactly know how that rift happened between you and Grandpa. It sounds a lot more complicated than words could do it justice, but I want the four of us to be close forever.”

“We will be,” my mother assures.

“We will,” Dad concurs.

“I have something I want to tell you.” I swallow hard and look to each of their faces. The anticipation is palpable. I suppose after what we’ve been through anything can pop out of my mouth. “I’ve spoken with my attorney—same one Grandpa used, and I’ve created a fund for each of you. I’m splitting the money four ways.”

A stunted silence fills the table. My mother opens her mouth, and I feel her protest rising.

“We won’t take a dime,” she pushes the words out with a reserved sense of calm. “The two of you can split it. There are two of us, Brody. Your father and I don’t need that kind of money.”

“I know,” I’m quick to answer. “Nobody does. And that’s why I gave you twice as much. I figured it’s a good shelter. Who knows what Colby and I are capable of.”

Colby bounces in her seat with unmitigated glee. “Try me. And you did!” She lunges over me with a hug. “I love you! I love you! I love you!” She lets out a shrieking whoop, and the entire place turns to stare. “I’m rich! I’m rich! I’m really rich!”

I hold up a finger, almost afraid of what comes next. “Not quite.”

“What?” My sister’s face bleaches white instantly. “But you said you gave me billions!”

“I did, and I am going to. But I’ve arranged for the money to be put into a trust. You’ll get a very small amount until you’re thirty, and then larger sums will start to kick in.”

“Again, what?” Her cheeks pinch red with rage. Colby only has two emotions, hot and cold. “How dare you tell me how and when I can spend my money! Do you honestly think I’m going to go and blow a billion dollars on designer purses?”

“Yes,” everyone at the table answers simultaneously, and we break out into a celebratory laugh.

I look to my parents, filled to the brim with love. “There’s nothing you can do to stop this. It’s already there waiting for you. I do believe he would have wanted it that way. In my heart, I think that’s the direction we were heading in. A true reconciliation.”

My father holds my gaze, heavy as the weight of the world.

“I’d sure like to believe that. There’s nothing worse than waiting until it’s too late to make amends.”

Raven flashes through my mind.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

The night finishes off with cake and sparklers to add that extra bit of birthday magic. But I can’t help but notice how the magic just isn’t there without Raven. There aren’t enough fireworks in the world to replace that girl. I should know. My heart is empty without her.

In the morning, I head over to my grandfather’s gravesite and sit there for a good long while in the frozen air as the trees all show off their bare branches. My grandfather took his light with him, and it will be a good long while—God willing—until we’re reunited. I wish he were here. I could use a little of his wisdom. But the world is quiet. My grandfather isn’t talking anymore either. I guess it’s time to figure out how to pick up the pieces myself.

It’s like my grandfather used to say—nobody ever said life was going to be easy.

That afternoon I get a text from one of my favorite Mastersons. Too bad it’s not Raven. It’s her brother, Levi.

Chip and I are at the Black Bear. Join us.

And that’s it. Levi has never been too winded when it comes to our conversation, but considering the facts, considering my still busted lower lip, it’s hard to tell if the brevity has to do with his old set ways or if he’s simply pissed. But I head over to the Black Bear anyway. If anything else, to check out the competition.

The Black Bear Saloon is situated directly across from Whitney Briggs University, my old stomping grounds, and the memories I have at this place brings back a greedy frat boy smile to my lips. Yes, I’ve spent my fair share of time and dollars right here at this bar, and I love that it still feels, looks, and smells the same. The scent of fries and beer permeates the place. Heck, your clothes smell like it on the way out. The music is live. That’s a new thing. But other than that, it’s all the same ball of wax.

I spot Chip and Levi at a table in the corner, and Bryson and Holt, two of the owners, happen to be sitting with them chatting it up like old friends, and they are.

“What’s this?” I say as I come upon them. “Looks like the twin convention just hit town. Both sets of brothers are fraternal twins. I guess they have more in common than the bar after all.

Both Bryson and Holt stand and offer up a friendly slap to my back.

“Good luck, man.” Bryson’s brows rise into his forehead. “You’re gonna need it.”

“Yup.” Holt offers a light sock to my arm. “I’ll get you a beer on the house.”

“Thanks, but make it a near-beer. I’m driving.”

They take off, and I fall into the hot seat across from Chip and Levi, both looking decidedly pissed.

“Dude.” Chip bounces his head my way. “You’re sleeping with my sister.” He looks as if he’s about to vomit and murder me all at once.

“Past tense. But I suppose that’s a detail nobody cares about.”

Levi growls, “Do you?”

Crap. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. So I go for it. “Hell yes,” I grouse right back. “I do care. There. Do what you want with it. Just let me keep my teeth.”

Holt drops off a round of drinks and makes a quick exit. Something tells me I should follow.

“Okay, what’s up?” I push back my drink and fold my arms over my chest, just staring at the boys I grew up with. Here we are, grown men. I always considered them brothers. I’m sure they viewed me the same. That’s why what happened between Raven and me feels so damn raw. “I’m sorry.” I sink my head a moment. “You were both family to me—Raven, too. And I broke that trust. I get it. You probably don’t want to see my face again. If you want to buy me out of the bar, go right ahead. Hell, I’ll make it easy on you and gift you my portion. I don’t need the money anyway.”

“All right, hot shot.” Levi raps his knuckles over the table. “You done feeling sorry for yourself?”

Chip shakes his head. “Nobody’s here to knock your teeth in today. You can keep the pearly whites.”

I look from one to the other, still uncertain of where this might be going.

“How do you feel about my sister?” Levi growls it out like a threat.

“I really care about her.” It feels as though the gravitational pull in the room just increased to abnormal levels. “I’ve cared about her for a long time.” I bounce my fingers in the air as the final truth makes its way up my throat. “I love her.” There. They can kill me, call me a pussy, all of the above. I don’t care. The weight has lifted, and I feel as if I’m about to float to the ceiling.

Chip and Levi exchange a brief glance. I’m sure they’re speaking telepathically, something they swore they could do when we were kids. And even today that seems possible.

Levi drags his fingers over the table, his eyes bent on vengeance and pinned on me. “Prove it.”

“Prove it?” A dull laugh dies in my chest. “I don’t need to prove it. I own it. I’m in love with your sister. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved and will ever feel that way about. I honestly don’t care if she’s all about the money the way you suggested.”

Levi winces as if Raven herself offered up a slap.

I go on. “She can use me, abuse me. It’s not going to change one bit how I feel about her.”

Chip shakes his head, a laugh building in him. “All right. Enough with the theatrics. It’s not a becoming look.” He slaps the back of his neck. “I’ve got a meeting at the office in less than twenty minutes.” He gets up and socks me over the arm. “I trust you to do the right thing, man. Don’t break her heart, dude.”

He takes off, and Levi and I square off, each with a silent deadly stare pinned on the other.

Levi shrugs. “He’s right. If you love her, you should go for it. Raven is a good girl. Yes, she got off-track a bit, but who hasn’t? Maybe it’s her I should be apologizing to.” He scratches at the back of his head and laughs. “Okay, so I tried, but my mother said give her a few days. She said most apologies stick better that way.”

“It’s been more than a couple days.” My heart ticks back to life. “And for the record, you haven’t apologized to me yet.”

“Sorry.” He nods. “And that’s about all you’re getting out of me.” He shrugs. “She’s my sister.” Levi reaches over and thumps my hand with a knuckle bump. “And you’re my brother. At the risk of sounding like a pussy, I love you both. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. It’s what my dad always taught us, and now I’m teaching you. If you love my sister, don’t waste another day without her.”

“What if she’s done with me?”

He grimaces as if the pain were his own. “Then I’ll be here to help you pick up the pieces. That’s what brothers do.”

We get up, and Levi offers up that same slap-hug we’ve been gifting each other for years on the odd formal occasion, but today it feels like something else. It feels like a true hug from a brother.

He gives my shoulder a hearty sock. “When this is all over, I’m buying you a real drink.”

“When this is all over, I’m going to need it.”

Who am I kidding? The only elixir that will make this better is Raven herself.

I’m coming to get you back, Raven. And if you put up a fight, just know you’ll get one right back.

Raven and I belong together.

We always have.