So, why am I dressing up in a pair of khaki pants and a nice button down shirt on my Friday night? Frankly, because Mabel is finally retiring at the ripe ol’ age of seventy years old, and the town is having her retirement party this evening. Captain Edwards made it very clear that tonight was all hands on deck. The Mayor, Town Board, and all the high falluting hob-knobbers will be in attendance this evening and it was ordered that all of us not on duty tonight were to be there too. Well, there’s no way in hell they’re getting me in a tie.
They’re supposed to introduce the new librarian this evening. No one really knows who it is but the rumors are running wild. If Rivers Edge is known for anything it’s the fact that everyone knows everything about everyone. Small town. In the past few weeks, I’ve heard she’s almost as old as Mrs. Masterson, she’s really a dude, and she’s married with six kids. So who knows? Anything that involves the library generally has me turning a deaf ear so I haven’t even caught the new person’s name. Not that I really care. I’m not exactly the library type.
I’m the drink a few beers on your day off, Sports Center watching type. At six foot three, I generally don’t have trouble with the ladies. My eyes are the same color blue as most of my immediate family member’s and my hair is a sandy blond color. As a thirty-two year old veteran cop, I feel it’s important to work out daily and run whenever I can. I pride myself in being in excellent physical shape and that alone helps me to ensure I don’t spend the evening alone if I don’t want to.
I guess you could say I have a type of woman that I generally stick with: tall with legs a mile long; hair color doesn’t usually matter to me; and the bigger the chest, the better. I’m known around Rivers Edge as being a bit of a player since I don’t date anyone longer than a few weeks. And up until a few months ago, my best friend, Maddox, was my wingman. Now, instead of hitting the pub with me to score some babes, he’s at home snuggling with my sister. Pussy.
I can’t believe I’m heading to the library tonight. It’s my weekend off, but it is booked solid. My sister, Avery, and Maddox, as well as my niece Brooklyn, are moving into their new house this weekend. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my first weekend off in the New Year, but they asked and I couldn’t say no. Maddox has been my partner on the police force for ten years and my best friend a hell of a lot longer. It was a pretty big shock to me when I found out before Thanksgiving that he was seeing my little sister behind my back.
Avery’s had it rough the past few years. She dated this douchebag that ended up leaving her alone and pregnant. I thoroughly enjoyed punching him in the face, making sure he took the first swing so it didn’t get me in trouble with my job. The only good to come out of their relationship was my niece, Brooklyn. I love that little girl like she’s my own. She’s the spitting image of my sister and has Maddox wrapped around her finger.
Maddox proposed to Avery a couple weeks back on Christmas morning. Honestly, it still weirds me out a little, but there’s no one better for my little sister than Maddox. He really is a good man with a huge heart, even if he is ten years older than she is. In the short time they’ve been together, I can tell how much he loves her. And as her oldest brother, that’s all I’ve ever wanted for her and Brooklyn.
He put in an offer on the house of her dreams around Thanksgiving, and they closed on it last week. So here we are, the first weekend in the new year and I’m giving up my entire weekend to help them move in with the help of my other brothers, Nate, Will, and Travis. If I know my parents at all, they’ll be there helping; Mom bossing everyone around from the kitchen, and Dad entertaining Bean and keeping her out of the way.
Brooklyn’s nickname was given to her at the hospital when she was born. Everyone argues over who came up with the nickname, and I’m pretty sure it was me. I am her favorite uncle, after all.
As I finish buttoning up the shirt I’m wearing for the evening, I text Maddox to confirm he’s still coming to this shindig tonight.
You’re still coming, right?
Yes. Cap will kill us if we don’t show.
I know. Do you think they’ll have beer there?
Uhhh, probably not. It’s at the public library.
Shit. I should drink before I go.
Don’t even think about it. You show up hung over tomorrow when we’re moving and your sister will kill both of us!
I chuckled out loud at the image of my five foot seven little sister getting in Maddox’s face and letting him have it. She’d have to stand on a stepstool to even get close to his six foot plus frame, but she’d do it in a heartbeat. And he’d let her without as much as a word back at her. He’s fucking whipped.