can’t believe none of us thought about how your accident would affect her.”
“The school psychologist also said it would be beneficial if I spent a little extra time with Jazzy, sort of like a reassurance that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“That makes sense.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve decided to volunteer at her school.”
A surprised smile drew across Eli’s face. “That’s cool, Alex.”
“It’s something I’ve been meaning to do, but never could find the time. I’ve got the time now.” Alex smothered another cheese stick in marinara sauce. “Besides, it’ll get Mama out of my hair.”
“Mama’s got you ready to climb the walls, huh?” Eli laughed. “I knew she would eat this up, having somebody to take care of again.”
“It’s worse than I ever imagined it would be. That’s one of the reasons I moved back into my house earlier this afternoon.”
Eli’s brow converged in an arrow of concern. “You think that’s wise, Alex? You really should lay off the arm as much as possible,” his brother warned.
“I’ll be fine,” Alex said. “Even though the school doesn’t believe in punishing first graders, I do. Jazz is not getting away with what she did. It’s time for her to learn that she can’t go around acting this way and not face any consequences.”
“And if you leave her around Mama, she’ll get whatever she wants.” Eli nodded his understanding.
“Exactly. No more spoiling her. From now on, she has to earn every present she gets.”
“That’s going to be a shock to her system. Hell, it’s going to be a shock to mine. I pick something up for her every time I go to the store.”
“Not anymore,” Alex stated firmly. “I’m sorry I went so over the top with her birthday party. If I had known about this a few weeks ago, I never would have called in that favor with the guy at Audubon Zoo.”
“There’s Jonathan,” Eli said. They both stood to greet the owner of the Hard Court, who had also become a good friend to both Alex and Eli.
“What’s up, E?” Jonathan shook Eli’s hand. “I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier how the arm was healing,” he said to Alex as he took a seat and motioned for the hostess. She arrived minutes later with refills for both Alex and Eli, and something clear in a highball glass that she placed in front of Jonathan.
“My shoulder’s fine,” Alex answered. “It looks like things haven’t stopped hopping here since your opening.”
“It’s been pretty steady ever since Aria put my club on the map.”
“You should be able to quit the law practice soon with all the money this place must be pulling in,” Eli said.
“Ivana would love that,” Jonathan answered, speaking of his fiancée, Sienna’s sister, Ivana Culpepper. “I have been spending less time at the office. In a few years, depending on how the club fares, I may do just pro bono work at the law practice.”
“Ivana’s altruism is rubbing off on you already,” Eli joked.
Jonathan laughed. “She is a force of nature. It’s hard not to just fall in line.”
“Ivana’s a good woman, if a little scary,” Eli said.
“She’s a lot scary, but I like that,” Jonathan said. “Hey, I need to finish making my rounds. You guys feel like a little pool when I’m done?”
Alex shook his head. “Of course, I could beat the both of you even with only one good arm.”
“Whatever, man,” Jonathan said with a laugh.
“We’ll probably be out of here in a few, anyway,” Eli said. “I’ve got to be at the Parenting Center early tomorrow morning.”
“And I have to get ready to go back to school,” Alex said.
Jonathan gave him a confused look.
“Don’t ask,” Eli said.
“I’ll catch the two of you later,” Jonathan said.
Alex pulled out his wallet and dropped two twenties on the table.
“I got this,” Eli said. “I’m the one who invited you, remember?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Alex said.
“Come on, Alex. Use the money
“The school psychologist also said it would be beneficial if I spent a little extra time with Jazzy, sort of like a reassurance that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“That makes sense.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve decided to volunteer at her school.”
A surprised smile drew across Eli’s face. “That’s cool, Alex.”
“It’s something I’ve been meaning to do, but never could find the time. I’ve got the time now.” Alex smothered another cheese stick in marinara sauce. “Besides, it’ll get Mama out of my hair.”
“Mama’s got you ready to climb the walls, huh?” Eli laughed. “I knew she would eat this up, having somebody to take care of again.”
“It’s worse than I ever imagined it would be. That’s one of the reasons I moved back into my house earlier this afternoon.”
Eli’s brow converged in an arrow of concern. “You think that’s wise, Alex? You really should lay off the arm as much as possible,” his brother warned.
“I’ll be fine,” Alex said. “Even though the school doesn’t believe in punishing first graders, I do. Jazz is not getting away with what she did. It’s time for her to learn that she can’t go around acting this way and not face any consequences.”
“And if you leave her around Mama, she’ll get whatever she wants.” Eli nodded his understanding.
“Exactly. No more spoiling her. From now on, she has to earn every present she gets.”
“That’s going to be a shock to her system. Hell, it’s going to be a shock to mine. I pick something up for her every time I go to the store.”
“Not anymore,” Alex stated firmly. “I’m sorry I went so over the top with her birthday party. If I had known about this a few weeks ago, I never would have called in that favor with the guy at Audubon Zoo.”
“There’s Jonathan,” Eli said. They both stood to greet the owner of the Hard Court, who had also become a good friend to both Alex and Eli.
“What’s up, E?” Jonathan shook Eli’s hand. “I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier how the arm was healing,” he said to Alex as he took a seat and motioned for the hostess. She arrived minutes later with refills for both Alex and Eli, and something clear in a highball glass that she placed in front of Jonathan.
“My shoulder’s fine,” Alex answered. “It looks like things haven’t stopped hopping here since your opening.”
“It’s been pretty steady ever since Aria put my club on the map.”
“You should be able to quit the law practice soon with all the money this place must be pulling in,” Eli said.
“Ivana would love that,” Jonathan answered, speaking of his fiancée, Sienna’s sister, Ivana Culpepper. “I have been spending less time at the office. In a few years, depending on how the club fares, I may do just pro bono work at the law practice.”
“Ivana’s altruism is rubbing off on you already,” Eli joked.
Jonathan laughed. “She is a force of nature. It’s hard not to just fall in line.”
“Ivana’s a good woman, if a little scary,” Eli said.
“She’s a lot scary, but I like that,” Jonathan said. “Hey, I need to finish making my rounds. You guys feel like a little pool when I’m done?”
Alex shook his head. “Of course, I could beat the both of you even with only one good arm.”
“Whatever, man,” Jonathan said with a laugh.
“We’ll probably be out of here in a few, anyway,” Eli said. “I’ve got to be at the Parenting Center early tomorrow morning.”
“And I have to get ready to go back to school,” Alex said.
Jonathan gave him a confused look.
“Don’t ask,” Eli said.
“I’ll catch the two of you later,” Jonathan said.
Alex pulled out his wallet and dropped two twenties on the table.
“I got this,” Eli said. “I’m the one who invited you, remember?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Alex said.
“Come on, Alex. Use the money
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