Chapter 24
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Scheming. Please hold.
Alister
“Yes, that’s perfect. Thank you.” I hang up my phone and fix my attention on Wynnter, who’s grouchy, because that’s his default, and there’s certainly nothing else at all bugging him.
Huffing at the kitchen table, he mutters into his oatmeal, “Stupid.”
“I really do appreciate you letting me use your guest bed a few more times,” I say, gaze fixed on my laptop, where my wedding plans have been coming along swiftly. “I honor your sacrifice.”
“We’ll have to burn it again,” he grouses.
I smile, because this is the kind of family I’m marrying into. What a joy. “Counter point: you and December can just share your bed.”
He freezes, spoonful of oatmeal an inch from his mouth. Milk dribbles into the bowl as his eyes narrow. “Oh, so we’re also having an arranged marriage, then? I wasn’t aware.”
I glance past my screen. “I could arrange it, if you’d like.”
He deflates. “Her parents wouldn’t approve.”
Graciously, Wynnter and August’s parents do approve.
I spoke with them immediately after leaving August’s house yesterday.
They were my first stop after I got their address from Wynnter.
I greeted them in a dogeza—forehead to ground—and with an apology for not having met them sooner.
Then, once they’d gotten me up off the pavement, I explained the situation.
I love their daughter.
I wasn’t expecting her to agree to marriage so soon since we’ve only been dating for a month, but had I known things were actually this serious for August, I’d have met them before now.
They—like the rest of their crazy family—welcomed me with open arms, broke out a bottle of sparkling Welch’s Sangria, and started merrily plotting with me.
August’s mother asked me if I might be willing to collaborate on a group project with August in the name of creating cute grandchildren.
I relented that August hadn’t told me yet whether or not she wants children.
Her father suggested that might be a prudent conversation to have before a legal marriage.
I promised I’d discuss the topic with her as soon as reasonable; although, considering I could go either way, I’m hardly concerned.
My typing halts, and I say, “Wynn?”
He grunts.
“Do you want children?”
Heat settles in his eyes as he nudges his food around. “Yeah,” he mumbles.
Ah, excellent. That’s that matter settled then. Grandchildren are imminent, regardless of what August and I do. I will not immediately enter this family to bring disappointment upon myself. I say, “After August and I are married, I’ll help you scheme to your happily ever after with December.”
Wynnter’s glare could take the hairs off most creatures, so it’s a good thing I’ve yet to fully abandon my wig and dye my eyebrows back to their natural shade. He grumbles, “When exactly did you decide that I’m in love with December?”
“Around the first time I saw you two together, but also it all adds up. You let her pick your guest bed because you want it to be her bed whenever she realizes that her relationship with her parents isn’t healthy.
You’ve made a place for her to land, because you love her, but you think she only sees you as a brother, so you’re calculating your protection under the guise of brotherly affection and respectful distance instead of whisking her away to your own room and confessing your feelings outright. ”
His eye twitches. “…I don’t know if I can survive having two delusional siblings who piece stories together out of thin air. Are you sure you have to marry August?”
“Yep.” I snatch up my phone when Leeann texts to update me on the task list I gave her but a single hour ago. Apparently, it’s already done, and she’s looking for more. I’d expect nothing less of a Winslow.
When I’m halfway through putting together more for her to do, Wynnter mumbles, “December doesn’t see me as a brother.”
“I know that. I didn’t know you knew that.”
He sighs, finishes his oatmeal, and rises. “What else do you need done for this nonsense? I don’t have any jobs today, but I might as well keep myself busy.”
My lips curve. “I hear you’re pretty handy. Think you can construct something like this?” I open a picture of a wedding arbor, and hold my phone up while Wynnter braces a hand against my chair to peer over my shoulder.
He hums. “Yeah. No big deal. What else?”
After giving my soon-to-be brother-in-law his honey-do list, I plow ahead until I run face-first into the biggest task of this entire wedding chapter…
Manipulating August into a position where her only option is to say yes.
With a chuckle, I run my fingers through the blond hair atop my head and consider that such a feat most probably requires the use of dark magic.