Chapter Seven #2
“Posey’s the one who told me to find a rebound.” Silas points at me.
“Not from work!” I exclaim.
“You could always use a datin’ app like Posey…” Bellamy blurts.
Everyone’s gazes shift back to me, including Silas’s who looks more conflicted than anything.
And now I’m going to kill her for bringing that up.
“I’m starvin’, let’s eat!” I reach for one of the dishes, but Aunt JoJo smacks my hand.
“We gotta say grace first,” she reminds me.
Mom stands when the oven timer goes off.
“Any luck on the app since you scared away the last guy?” Colton quips.
He’s two years younger so we often complain to each other about being in the dating trenches.
His problem isn’t finding girls who want him, it’s finding one he actually likes.
He claims even if he’s attracted to them, he needs to have the gut feeling to pursue something more. Whereas my problem is men in general.
“If he didn’t want an opinion on his…manhood…then he shouldn’t have sent a photo of it askin’ me to rate it from one to ten.”
Maisie nearly chokes on her sweet tea the moment she takes a sip. “I’m scared to ask what you said.”
“I’d rather you not say at all…” Dad pinches his brow, then steals one of the hot rolls from the pan Mom took out.
“I wanna know!” Aunt JoJo beams.
I shrug because it’s not like they aren’t used to hearing this by now. With three brothers, my parents have heard a lot worse.
“I told him it was hard to rate what I couldn’t see and to send me another angle. He was too dumb to realize I was mockin’ him, so he did. Then I told him that his dad should send me one instead so I know what it’s supposed to look like.”
Laughter echoes through the room.
“How’d he take that?” Maisie asks.
“He called me a sociopath, so I said, ‘is that anyway to talk to your future stepmother?’ Then he told me his father was dead and blocked me.”
“Oh my…” Mom clutches her chest once she sets the basket of rolls down on the table and everyone cackles. “Maybe we should change the dinner conversation.”
That’s hardly the worst thing men have said to me on those apps. It’s why I stopped trying because it was a waste of time. Even if things led to us meeting in person and dating for a bit, they always ended it once things turned sexual.
We finally bow our heads as Dad blesses the food. When I shift my gaze toward Silas, I find him already staring at me. I look away before it’s awkward.
Once everyone has food on their plates, Mom talks about the wedding.
“Landen only gave us thirty days to plan this, so we need to stay organized. Everyone’s gonna have a job, includin’ you Silas.” Mom winks at him.
“Yes, ma’am. Whatever you need.”
I’d roll my eyes if he wasn’t so damn polite.
“Why’s the engagement so short? Is Ellie pregnant?” Bodie asks. “Is it a shotgun weddin’?”
Colton chuckles. “That’s what we all said about Tripp.”
That’s Landen’s younger brother who married Magnolia last year only four months after he proposed, but she just had a baby, so it was good she wasn’t pregnant again so soon.
“No, she’s not pregnant. She’s trainin’ for the National Finals Rodeo at the end of this year,” Mom confirms. “But that’s what you do when you’re in love. You wanna get married as soon as possible.”
Bellamy and I make gagging noises at the same time.
“I’m never gettin’ married,” Bellamy confirms.
She’s been saying that for years.
“At this rate, I’ll be fifty before I get married,” I say, stabbing a piece of chicken with my fork and taking a bite.
“I still can’t believe Ellie fell in love with him when she spent four years hatin’ him,” Colton adds. “That’s gotta be some kinda superpower.”
I snort. “No, just good ole amnesia.”
“She lost her memory?” Silas asks. “How’d that happen?”
“Ellie fell off her horse while barrel racing. She hit her head just right and it knocked her out. When she woke up, they realized she’d lost part of her memory,” I tell him.
“Not only did she forget she hated Landen, but him altogether,” Bellamy adds. “He was a complete stranger to her.”
“Except she had an instant crush on him as soon as she saw him,” Warren says. “It was hilarious.”
“Her memory eventually came back and she realized she had been wrong about him and they fell in love,” I explain. “Or something like that. It’s the strangest love story I’ve ever heard.”
“Wow….that’s wild. At least it wasn’t the other way ’round where they were in love beforehand and she woke up forgettin’ or hatin’ him. That’d suck,” Silas says.
“Knowin’ Landen’s persistence, he’d remind her why they were in love every day until she fell back in love with him.” Warren chuckles. “I remember he’d call me so lovesick over wishin’ she’d give him a chance.”
I stare at my plate while I eat but I can feel Silas’s heated gaze burning a hole through my head.
“And you were the same way over Maisie,” Bellamy reminds him. “Admit it.”
He shrugs. “Never denied it.”
That’s an understatement.
We continue eating while Mom and Dad go over everything that needs to get done in the next few weeks at the Willow Chalet.
It’s our large two-story cabin located on the resort side.
It has a wraparound deck with ten bedrooms and fourteen bathrooms. Since we reserve it for large family gatherings or high-profile guests, it doesn’t get used regularly.
Landen and Ellie’s families will stay there for the weekend, so the rooms need to be stocked and cleaned.
There’s a big ballroom on the first floor, so it’s the perfect spot for a wedding.
They’ll have the ceremony inside and when they’re busy taking pictures outside, the staff will transform it for the reception.
They usually help with the prep when we have events there, but with the short notice and cabins booked solid, they’re already working overtime.
“Everyone needs to be in proper formal attire, so if you need new clothes, don’t go shoppin’ last minute,” Mom warns. “I want the boys in suits and the girls in dresses.”
Bodie groans. He hates wearing anything that isn’t jeans and his dirty ball cap.
Bellamy doesn’t look too thrilled about it either.
“And if you’re bringin’ a plus-one, you better let me know so we have enough chairs.” Mom glances at Silas. “That goes for you too.”
“Oh…I’m invited?” He bashfully points to himself.
“Of course! You’re livin’ here and you’ve been a part of the family for years anyway. If Posey ever lets you date without the threat of firin’ ya, you should bring someone.”
“Why am I the bad guy for enforcin’ the policy that you two wrote?”
“I don’t remember that part.” Mom shrugs.
“It was added in after a couple broke up and it caused a massive fight amongst the other employees. They were all takin’ sides and it was a whole mess,” Dad explains. “Lost half the workers ’cause they refused to work with the one who supposedly cheated on the other.”
“Okay, see?” I hold out my hand toward him. “Policy is there for a reason.”
Maisie snickers. “Guess that means you and Silas can’t date.”
My eyes snap to hers and I glare at her in warning.
Shut up, for the love of God, shut it.
I never told Bellamy about Silas taking my virginity and don’t need my parents finding out about it now either.
Aunt JoJo leans in closer and whispers, “Doesn’t mean y’all couldn’t sneak ’round.”
“Oh my God.” Shaking my head, I take a long, slow drink.
“After the wedding is over, we’re gonna start on construction for the new childcare center,” Dad announces. “So prepare for some louder than usual days while the land gets developed and while it gets built.”
“You’re buildin’ that here?” Silas asks.
“Yep, so if you knock up a girl, you’ll get free childcare workin’ here.”
Silas glances around as if he’s waiting for the punchline.
“Mom requested the addition in hopes it’ll force us to give her grandchildren,” I explain.
“That’s…only halfway true,” Mom defends.
“A lot of our employees have kids so it only makes sense to provide a place to bring ’em so they don’t gotta worry about the added expense or not havin’ a sitter.
They’ll be able to visit durin’ their lunch breaks and not worry about a long commute pickin’ ’em up after. ”
“I think it sounds like a fantastic idea.” Silas beams.
“Thank you, honey.”
What a kiss-ass.
I somehow manage to get through dinner and dessert without any of my secrets being revealed. Dad goes over specific tasks for each of us, including the day after for the farewell brunch and cleaning up.
“So…” Silas prompts once we’re home. “Which datin’ apps do you suggest I try?”
“You seriously wanna know?” I ask, shoving my comforter in the dryer.
“Yeah, I only have a few weeks to find a weddin’ date and if Michelle doesn’t work out, I’ll need options.”
“Um…I like Grindr. Lots of nice people on that one.”
“Grindr? Okay, cool. I’ll try it.”
I close the door, then set the timer for fifteen minutes. “Good luck.”
“Posey.” He stares at me. “I’m not that dumb.”
I burst out laughing. “Damn. Well…then don’t ask dumb questions.”
“Why was askin’ you about datin’ apps dumb?” he asks, following me out of the laundry room.
“’Cause I complained about how horrible my experiences have been and then you go ask me which ones you should try. Put two and two together, genius.”
“Alright, fine. Then whaddya suggest?”
“You could go out to a bar?” I spin around quickly to tell him my next idea, but he’s so damn close to me, we bump right into each other.
“Oh shit, sorry.” He grabs my shoulders before I can fall on my ass.
“Distance, Silas. Six feet at all times.” I push against his chest to move him back.
He laughs. “I didn’t know you were suddenly gonna turn.”
“I was about to tell you, we could both go out and help each other. Since I need a date for the wedddin’ too, you be my wingman, and I’ll be your wing woman.”
Suspiciously, he raises his brows. “You wanna help me?”
“Why do you make it sound like I’m evil? You said you wanna be friends, right? And considerin’ I didn’t murder you this week, this is somethin’ friends would do for each other.”
He folds his arms, studying me. “And you’re not gonna tell these girls that I have a limp dick, suck in the sack, or like to be pegged?”
I give him my best suggestive eyes. “Do you like to be pegged?”
“Hard pass…I’ll go alone.”
He walks away, but I quickly catch up to him.
“Oh, come on! This can be our first roomie night out.” I use the same word he loves using but cringe a little when I do.
Not sure why I’m so hellbent on doing this with him, but maybe it’ll make the awkwardness go away. I’ll see him with other girls, he’ll see me with other guys, and it’ll be fine. We can be friends who live with each other and date other people.
Totally fine.
“Alright, but on one condition.” He stands with his broad chest puffed out.
“You’re givin’ me the condition?” I mock. “What is it?”
“We arrive together and we leave together, which means you don’t go home with anyone besides me.”
“Uh…” My tongue pokes the inside of my cheek. “I thought the point was—”
“I don’t wanna worry about you at some random guy’s house neither of us knows. You’ll be my responsibility if we’re goin’ together.”
“I’m an adult, Silas. I can take care of myself.”
“Even when you’ve been drinkin’?”
“I’m not a child. I’ve gone out before…several times, in fact.”
“I don’t doubt that, but I’d rather you be safe. Plus, you should make a guy take you out before goin’ home with him.”
“What if I bring him to my place?”
“If I can’t bring people home, then neither can you. That rule should go both ways.”
“But it’s my house.”
“And our rooms are close enough for me to hear you moan, and if I hear you scream out another dude’s name, I’m kickin’ the door down and beatin’ his ass.”
“That sounds melodramatic.”
“Fair is fair, Posey. You either accept the terms or I’m findin’ a date on my own and bringin’ her here.”
With a sigh, I give in to his stupid demands. “Fine, but you better not find me the nerdiest, dorkiest, lookin’ dude in the bar.”
“I thought you liked nerdy…” He waggles his brows.
And that’s exactly why I don’t anymore.