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“No. Northwestern, full ride. And you?”
“Marmot Canyon, full ride.” Bastian politely turned to Timmie.
She raised her hand to stave him off. “Oh, no, I’m not taking part in this head-butting exercise.”
“Well, what else is there to talk about?” Owen challenged. It was Bastian he asked.
Bastian shrugged. “You tell me. I’m trying to remember everything I’m not supposed to talk about.”
“Oh, yeah?” A glimmer of a smile showed on Owen’s face. “Did Paula debrief you?”
“Of course. She’s detail-oriented, like you.”
Owen chuckled. “Some people assume we’re twins.”
“You don’t look that young, honey,” Timmie said to him dryly.
“Ouch.” Owen wrapped an arm around her as Paula and a tall, athletic-framed man with gray strands in his close-cropped hair came into the room.
“Bast!” Calvin held up his palm. “We never went on that trip.”
”Spring?” Bastian slapped his hand.
“Depends where I am and if you’re ready.”
Paula glanced back and forth between them. “Wait, what’s this? You guys were going to get together?”
“Only if he got a bike,” Calvin said.
“One that your brother approves of. That’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Bastian had connected with Calvin over text last summer. The man’s laconic, to-the-point way of talking reminded him of Trey and made him easy to relate to, at least for Bastian. This despite Paula’s insistence that her oldest brother was the anti-social one.
“Hey, I go to some remote places and I’m not into rescue missions.”
“I have an order in at New Highland Treks,” Bastian said.
“Never heard of it. Oh—you mean Schurr’s Bikes. They changed the name a while back.”
“My brother knows every place on this planet where bikes are sold,” Paula whispered.
The kitchen doors swung open. “Cranberry juice, apple cider,” Stuart announced, bearing a tray. “Fizzy or plain, take your pick. Sit down, woman, Jesus, what does it take?”
“I’m just fine,” Paula’s mother insisted as she settled into the cushy love seat.
There was a raid on the drinks tray, and then all the conversation was drowned out by shrieking hollers as three whirlwinds blew into the room, slamming into Paula and Bastian. He steadied her with his arm.
“Tamara!” Paula scolded with a laugh. “What isupwith you guys? Inside feet!”
“Hey, Aunt Paula,” said the boy, hugging her.
“Who’re you?” one of the younger whirlwinds demanded of Bastian. She wore a tiered dress patterned with sleighs and a highly curious expression.
“This is Uncle Bastian, Tam. Everyone's an honorary uncle or aunt around here,” she explained. “And these are my famed baby cousins, Tamara, Sheila, and Lucas, who as you can see are late for being elsewhere. They are absolutely delightful when they bother to slow down. Guys, Uncle Bastian is my…” Paula exchanged a quick look with Bastian, “boyfriend.”
“I have a boyfriend, I have one!” Sheila piped up. “We went on a date.”
“Aplaydate,” Lucas corrected. “At Ravenna Park.Andhe's in kindergarten.”
