Chapter 13 #2
“Because I’m your favorite brother.” Wilder gloats, but the rest of us laugh at his delusional thinking.
“Between you and my ex as part of the groomsmen, I’m already nervous, so don’t make it worse!” She scowls at him.
“Me?” Wilder feigns offense. “Y’all should be worried about Landen. He’s the one who punched Jase in the face. Wouldn’t be surprised if a brawl takes place at the reception.”
“That was over a year ago,” Landen reminds him. “He learned the hard way that I have brass knuckles, and I doubt he’d need a reminder.”
I shake my head at his arrogance. The only reason that fight started in the first place is because he was yelling and pushing Noah. The four of us immediately jumped in to get him to back off.
“We have the best family conversations,” Waylon muses as he continues decorating pages.
“You sure you wanna join this, Fisher?” I tease.
“Well, they always say you don’t just marry your spouse. You’re marryin’ their family, too. So I knew what I was gettin’ into before I proposed.” He smiles at Noah like she’s his whole world.
A week ago, that look would make me roll my eyes.
Now, I can’t wait to scream from the rooftops that Magnolia and I are dating so I can have that same look.
“Aww…you two are gross.” Landen mimics a gagging noise.
“They have the best love story ever!” Mallory chimes in as she fights with a piece of ribbon glued to her fingers. “Just like the Taylor Swift song.”
“That’s right.” Noah grins at her. “Get ready to dance to her music all night long.”
“What?” All four of us brothers shriek in unison.
Noah barks out a laugh as Fisher keeps his expression flat.
I have a feeling he didn’t have much say in the music options or he simply doesn’t care as long as Noah’s happy.
But if I know Fisher and have witnessed enough of their relationship over the past year and a half, it’s definitely the latter.
“Please tell me it’s an open bar,” Wilder says, groaning.
“It is for everyone except my brothers.”
“Liar.” Wilder snorts.
Noah blows out a frustrated breath as she focuses on her book. “Maybe we shoulda eloped,” she tells Fisher.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Mom pats her hand. “Damien and your dad will keep an eye out on your brothers. If they get too rowdy, they’ll be escorted out.”
This is obviously news to us, but Wilder and Landen gawk at the announcement. Damien’s Fisher’s childhood best friend, a scary-looking detective, and has about a hundred pounds of muscle on us.
“I think not,” Wilder demands. “When everyone’s bored from your sad-girl music and sappy love speeches, you’ll be thankin’ me for bringing the party to the dance floor with my moves. Plus, think how good I’m gonna look in a suit, too. All the chicks are gonna want some.”
I snort at how confident he sounds. “And every one of ’em you’ll be related to, dumbass.”
“Swear word!” Mallory shouts, then holds out her palm.
A few months ago, she started making us pay her five bucks anytime she caught us cussing.
I’m at least fifty bucks in the red.
I dig in my back pocket for my wallet and then hand her a twenty. “Here, I’m paid up for three more.”
Dad scowls in my direction, but I ignore it considering the twins are in the hole enough to practically buy her a car.
“I won’t be related to all of them,” Wilder defends. “And who’s to say you can’t find your soulmate with your second or third cousin?” He laughs because even he knows he sounds ridiculous.
“My great-aunt Polly married her cousin,” Gramma Grace says, and we all snap our gazes toward her.
“Who?” Mom asks, clearly unaware of this, which makes it even more entertaining.
“Uncle Freddy. They were second cousins by blood. Got married and went on to have seven boys,” Gramma Grace explains.
“Well, see, now that explains a lot about the bloodline.” Noah chuckles, then adds, “Because it only affected the double X chromosomes.”
“God, our family is weird.” Landen shakes his head. “First, Gramma Grace married her pastor-teacher twice her age and now we learn we’re all incested.”
I snort at his dramatics, but it is funny. Especially seeing Mom’s horrified expression.
Last year, Gramma Grace shared the story of how she met our grandfather and it’s safe to say we were all surprised. And even more when it came out that Noah and Fisher were dating. History was practically repeating itself in the forbidden love department.
“We’re all linked in one way or another,” Gramma Grace says. “It wasn’t unheard of for members of wealthy families to marry and reproduce to keep the bloodline strong. Especially in royal families.”
“Well, we’re neither billionaires nor royals, so…” I stare pointedly at Wilder. “No baggin’ a cousin.”
He scoffs, and Mom shakes her head, clearly giving up on scolding us.
“What if it’s by marriage?” Waylon asks as if he’s a hundred percent serious in his question. “There’s no bloodline crossing, then.”
Dad blows out an exaggerated breath, obviously so done with the five of us. But he sticks around and listens to our antics.
“That’s a good loophole!” Wilder exclaims. “So where’s this guest list of yours, Noah? I need to see who my options are ahead of time.”
We laugh at the way she glares at him, and he continues to taunt her until we finally pack up and call it a night.
“Thanks for dinner, Ma.” I give her a hug before kissing her cheek. “It’s gonna be an interestin’ week, huh?”
“A nerve-wrackin’ one, yes. I’m marrying off my youngest baby.” She wipes her cheek. “It’s gonna be emotional, but I’m so happy for them.”
“If it helps, she’ll probably be the only one of us who gets hitched.” I smirk because she knows I’m only teasing. One of the twins will be drunk enough to wake up married someday.
“Oh, don’t play coy with me.”
I furrow my brows. “What’s that mean?”
She rolls her eyes as if I should know what she’s talking about, but I honestly don’t.
Once I say goodbye to everyone else, I head to my truck and then fish out my phone. It’s been at least two hours since I’ve responded to Magnolia, and I’m expecting a full-on freak-out text.
Except when I see she’s sent me a photo with her hand in her panties, I’m the one having the freak-out.
Magnolia
I had to finish without you. What a shame.
Tripp
My grandma was in the same room as me! I couldn’t step away.
Magnolia
*yawn* Sorry, who is this?
Two can play this little game.
Instead of FaceTiming her when I get home, I strip off all my clothes and stroke my cock until I’m rock-hard. As I lie in bed, I continue getting myself off until I’m close to finishing. Then I hit record and moan her name over and over until I come all over my stomach.
After I’ve cleaned myself up, I attach the video to our text thread and hit send.
Less than five minutes later, she responds.
Magnolia
A freaking VIDEO, Tripp Hollis? I sent one cutesy photo, and you make a video of you growling my name as you come?
At first, I worry I’ve overstepped.
It was too soon.
I came on too strong.
She thinks I’m a creep.
But then, she sends a second message in all caps, and my whole chest shakes with laughter.
Magnolia
PAYBACK’S A BITCH, THOR.
And then my phone vibrates with a FaceTime call.