“So how’s it going?” Tucker asked.
“It’s good. The practices are great, and we’re hard at it already, even though football season isn’t until fall.”
“That gives you time to get used to the plays and integrate yourself into the team,” Barrett said.
Leo nodded. “Yeah. I’m learning a lot.”
“Any girlfriends yet?”
Leo blushed, peeked over toward the kitchen, then lowered his voice. “I might have my eye on someone.”
Barrett nodded his head, offering up a smug smile. “A cheerleader, right?”
“Actually, no. She’s in my chemistry class.”
“Even better. Nerdy girls are hot.”
Grant shot Barrett a look. “You think anyone with a vagina is hot.”
“Hey, I’m picky about my women.”
“Since when?” Tucker asked. “You racked up more girls in high school and college than you did sacks. And that hasn’t changed since you went pro—and by pro, I mean a pro at going through women.”
“Don’t listen to him, Leo,” Barrett said. “It’s not my fault women find me hot, muscular and irresistible.”
“Gag.” Tucker shook his head. “I just lost my appetite.”
“That’s too bad, because dinner is ready,” Katrina said. “And you all should stop talking about sex and vaginas with my brother.”
“Why?” Barrett asked with a grin. “How else is he going to learn other than from the experts?”
Grant knocked into Barrett with his body. “You’re an asshole.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”
Tucker slung his arm around Leo’s shoulders. “We’ll talk about football and the other thing later.”
Leo offered up a smile and nodded.
Tucker liked the kid. He got good grades in school, was still a little shy, though not as much as he had been when they’d first met on the ranch last summer. He was growing up, and God, kids did that so fast these days. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, though, and Tucker knew both Grant and Katrina would make sure it stayed that way.
Dinner was amazing, and Tucker ate way more than he should have.
“Anya, this is great.”
She smiled so hard he thought her face might break. “Thanks. I’ve been playing with making some Southern foods.”
“She’s chosen University of Texas for college,” Grant said. “She’s waiting for her acceptance letter.”
“Oh yeah?” Barrett grinned. “That should make Dad happy. And Grant, of course.”
Grant grinned. “Yeah, it sure does.”
“We haven’t told Easton yet because we don’t want him to be disappointed if I don’t get in,” Anya said.
“I can’t imagine you won’t get in,” Tucker said. “What college wouldn’t want you?”
“Thanks. I also applied to a few other backup colleges, but U of T is what I want.”
Grant smiled. “It’ll make Mia happy to have you there.”
Tucker could already imagine his little sister chaperoning Anya at parties and mixers. He knew Katrina would feel a lot better with Anya attending a college where a Cassidy was already in residence.
“It would make me happy, too.”
“What about you, Leo?” Tucker asked. “Have you given any thoughts to colleges yet?”
Leo shook his head. “My head is filled with a new school, meeting new friends and concentrating on football right now. Plus, I’m on the baseball team, and our team is in first place. I’m hoping we’ll go to the state championships.”
Tucker grinned. “That would be great.”
Leo nodded. “I know, right? Anyway, between that and spring football, it’s pretty much all I can handle.”
“I think he’s got plenty of time. He can start thinking about college next year,” Katrina said.
“Well, when you do, you know we’ll all weigh in with our opinions,” Barrett said.
Leo laughed. “I’ll be happy to hear your opinions. I’ll probably need them, since right now I don’t have any idea.”
They talked about colleges for a while, then helped clear the table and do the dishes. They’d long ago learned from their mother that the kitchen wasn’t just a woman’s place. You ate the food, you either helped prepare it or you cleaned it up. So Barrett and Leo put the food away while Tucker and Grant did dish duty.
After, they walked out back and surveyed the construction work that was going on. Grant and Katrina showed them the plan for the outdoor kitchen and eating area, plus the expansion near the pool.
Leo picked up a football and was tossing it in the air, so Tucker took it and threw him a few.
“You sure you know which end of that is the right one?” Grant asked him.
Tucker wanted to toss out a curse, but with the kids there, he reined in the urge. “Yeah. The pointy end.”
Grant came over and took the ball from him. “Here, you’d better let me take that. Maybe you can go out there with Leo and take some passes. If you know how to catch.”
“Go fuck yourself, Grant,” he mumbled to his brother before taking a run out to the back of the yard to meet up with Leo.
They played a light game of catch, with Anya and Katrina included, just to work off dinner. But then Barrett tackled Grant, and the women decided they were going inside to make some iced tea, which was the signal for the game to get tougher.