Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Tripp
Witnessing my three brothers drag their asses into our parents’ house for Sunday night supper is amusing. With the amount they drank at Noah and Fisher’s joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the Twisted Bull last night, it’s no surprise they’re still feeling it.
The guys went to dinner at Antonio’s Seafood House first, while the girls had their own dinner celebration. Once we finished eating, we hopped on the party bus, picked them up, and then went to the bar.
Since Magnolia and I are keeping quiet, we acted the same as we normally do so no one suspected anything.
I held her drinks while she danced and resisted touching her every time she was within arm’s length.
Except when she left to use the bathroom, I waited in the dimly lit hallway and then stole a kiss when no one was around.
But as I watched her from across the bar, I felt this strong urge to text Billy and tell him all about how I finally confessed my feelings to Magnolia.
Although I hadn’t outright told him, he made comments about how I looked at her and nudged me to ask her out even during the years she was on and off with Travis.
Even he knew her ex wasn’t good enough for her and part of me wished I’d listened.
But the other part wonders if we would’ve been too young and immature to know how to make our relationship work back then.
Perhaps we were meant to wait until we were at the same stages of our lives to put in the right amount of effort to have a real one.
“Hello, boys!” Noah nearly shouts as they approach the table. “So nice of you to join us!”
“Dude, lower your voice.” Wilder winces, covering his ears.
“What’s the matter?” I match Noah’s volume, leaning back in my chair with a smug grin.
Fisher chuckles as Noah and I taunt them. Although they’re the future newlyweds, they didn’t get crazy drunk. However, they both took a turn on the mechanical bull last night, and I’m halfway surprised Noah didn’t show up with a concussion after face-planting the mat.
At least I didn’t have to worry about Magnolia in that area because she refuses to get on it. Since I wasn’t getting drunk, there was no way I was riding it either, but we all enjoyed watching my brothers act like dumbasses.
Once everyone’s seated at the table, Gramma Grace and Mom bring all the food platters to the table, and Dad carries the pitcher of sweet tea.
“Surprised y’all showed up for work this mornin’, to be honest,” he says, pouring drinks.
“Didn’t know it wasn’t an option not to,” Waylon mutters.
Even though the twins are almost thirty years old, they still party like they’re twenty-one.
One of these days, it’s going to catch up to them.
After countless beers and shots, I had to nearly carry them out of my truck and walk them to their doors.
They live in one of the ranch hand duplexes next to Landen and me, so at least it wasn’t out of my way, but goddamn, I thought they were gonna nosedive on the sidewalk and choke on their own vomit they were stumbling so much.
“It ain’t,” Dad confirms.
Mallory giggles as Waylon makes a sour face at his response.
Not every day is a full workload, but each morning we’re expected to muck stalls and feed the horses. Guests stay at the retreat seven days a week, so there’s always a full staff on board and plenty of chores to be done.
“Let’s say the blessing,” Mom says once she takes her seat next to Dad’s.
Gramma Grace offers to say it, and we bow our heads. She blesses the food, each family member, and Noah’s upcoming nuptials. Then she takes us all by surprise when she ends it with, “And let there be a new baby in the family before the end of the year. Amen.”
“Gramma Grace!” Noah scolds, but she’s grinning.
“What? I didn’t specify any names.” She shrugs innocently, and my mom smiles. I’m sure she’d love nothing more than to be a grandma.
“Let us enjoy being married first.”
It’s still a little weird to me that she’s marrying her ex’s dad, who’s literally twice her age. If they have a kid soon, that means his oldest child and his youngest will be twenty-five years apart. Weird.
But as long as they’re happy and he treats my sister the way she deserves, I wouldn’t care if they had ten babies.
Assuming she doesn’t ask me to babysit every weekend.
Although I probably would since it’d be better than playing DD bitch to my brothers.
I’d just have to learn how to change diapers, feed a baby, and about everything else that comes with taking care of one.
And of course, I’d be the favorite uncle.
“Callin’ dibs on godfather!” Landen shouts randomly after we’ve all filled our plates with homemade macaroni and cheese with fried steak and gravy. My dad’s favorite.
“You can’t do that!” Waylon flings a roll at his head. “Plus, it’s tradition the eldest brother gets that title first.”
“What?” Wilder gasps. “You’re older by like two minutes! I should be an option.”
“Too bad, I already called it.” Landen gloats like the idiot he is.
“I’m not giving any of you that title to my unconceived child.” Noah rolls her eyes.
Fisher laughs, joining in on the fun. “I just imagine our little girl growing up with a much older brother and four uncles. God help her.”
“And me!” Mallory chimes in. “I get to be godmother, right?”
“You’ll haveta fight Magnolia for that title.” I chuckle. Considering she’s the maid of honor, there’s no way those two haven’t already decided on everything else growing up. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have their baby names picked out, too.
As if she heard me say her name from her apartment twenty miles away, my phone vibrates in my pocket and her name pops up on the screen with a text message.
We’re not supposed to text during supper, but seeing as everyone’s occupied with a baby that doesn’t exist, I keep my phone in my lap and click on the screen.
Magnolia
Hope you’re having fun at supper with your family. Meanwhile, I’m over here ALONE just thinking about how wet you made me the other night. I’ve gone through four pairs of panties just today.
Jesus Christ.
Tripp
Sunny! I’m literally at the table with them right now. And my GRANDMOTHER.
Magnolia
Oh sneaky. Don’t let them catch you texting me. Or the boner you’re trying to hide.
Goddamn her.
Tripp
You did that on purpose.
Magnolia
I’m horny, so sue me. Would you rather I text someone else instead?
Just the thought of that has my hand balling into a fist.
Tripp
Don’t you even dare.
Magnolia
I have some new lingerie pics to show off…who should the lucky man be?
Tripp
Do you make it a habit to send other men half-naked pics of you? Now I have to smash Landen’s phone. And his temporal lobe.
I know they’re only friends, but that doesn’t mean I want him to have access to those photos anymore.
Magnolia
Only when the one person I want to show ignores me.
Tripp
This uncomfortable erection you’ve given me should make it very clear I’m not ignoring you.
Magnolia
Good, because I’d rather show you in person.
We’ve already discussed hanging out again this upcoming week, but now I’m tempted to ditch early and drive over to her place.
But I can’t because we’re all being forced to stay for scrapbooking after we eat.
It’s a tradition Mom and Gramma Grace started a while ago.
Usually, my brothers and I get out of it, but lately, I’ve been staying since I don’t see them as much anymore.
With all the wedding planning, the second annual fundraiser our family hosted this past summer, and keeping busy with ranch work, we’ve all been scattered.
Tripp
How about Tuesday night?
With tomorrow being Monday and traditionally the most chaotic of the week, I know I won’t even get home until seven or eight.
Magnolia
You want me to wait forty-eight whole hours to relieve this ache between my thighs?
I can’t help the goofy smile that spreads across my face at how needy she sounds.
I know we should be taking it slow, but we already know so much about each other.
The time couples take for the talking stage and getting to know each other has long passed for us.
Even if I don’t know every little detail about her, I’m excited to find out more each time we hang out.
Tripp
How about we FaceTime later, and I help you with some of that tension while you give me a little early preview of your lingerie?
Magnolia
I’m sure I can arrange that. Hope you like black lace.
Before I can respond, she sends a photo that shows off the top of a see-through lacy bralette and the bottom half of her face. She’s biting down on a finger with a smirk around it.
That little fucking tease.
Tripp
You just wait, Sunny.
Magnolia
What’re you gonna do, cowboy?
“Is your food okay, Tripp?”
I snap my head up and catch Mom glaring at me and my still-full dinner plate.
“Yeah, it’s great.” I grin, grabbing my fork and diving in.
As quietly as I can, I slide my phone back into my pocket and focus on eating. Magnolia’s about to be tortured from waiting for my response. But considering she has me sitting with a boner at the table surrounded by family, she can suffer right along with me.
Once we finished dessert, Noah and Mom grab the bins, and we get started.
Typically, I work on whatever book my mom needs me to, but tonight I decide to start a new one for me. And Magnolia.
But no one has to know that yet.
“Only six days until y’all say I do!” Mom smiles wide as a spread of scrapbooking supplies covers the table.
“Which means you still have time to run!” Wilder tells Fisher.
Noah whips a roll of washi tape at his head. “Dude!”
Wilder ducks just in time and laughs.
“You’re in the weddin’, moron. Though I’m not sure why.” Noah groans.
I swear, those two have always fought more than any of us did growing up. Though it’s no secret they’re complete opposites. Noah’s a stickler for schedules and planning while Wilder’s set on causing destruction wherever he goes.