“What’s up, guys?” Jed comes out from the back with a quesadilla in his hand. He slides it between Lucy and Presley. “For my favorite sisters-in-law.”
“We’re your only sisters-in-law and technically I’m not official yet,” Presley says.
“We don’t need a marriage license to make you family.” Jed walks away into the crowd.
Mandi, Posey, Clara, and Xavier walk in, and we move to the table by the window so we have more room. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the Greenes join us.
“Where’s Nikki?” Mandi asks. “I want details on the Vegas trip.”
“You don’t want details on our trip?” I ask.
“Why would we wanna hear how many orgasms you gave each other?” Posey says. “The rest of us aren’t in serious relationships.”
Lucy’s hand finds mine under the table. I kind of wish we were at home alone.
The rest of our family arrives, Hank and Marla coming in last. Marla has a hairdo that suggests they were fooling around somewhere. They like to go to the football stadium and make out, which is embarrassing as fuck. I mean, they own a huge house, get your kinks there. Poor Rylan.
Marla goes right to Molly. “Where’s Nikki? I need to talk to her.”
I hit Lucy on the thigh under the table and she grabs my hand, squeezing it. She’s adamant that this isn’t our business to share, but Nikki’s the one who had everyone in Sunrise Bay stopping Lucy to remind her about her past.
Sadly, Lucy hasn’t had too many more memories resurface. Dr. Lipstein gave her hope that she might one day, not to count it out, but she’s accepted it may never happen. I told her we’ll make new, better memories anyway.
“Oh, what did you need?” Molly asks. I can tell she knows exactly why Marla wants to speak to Nikki.
How long did Nikki think she could keep something like this hidden?
Lucy pokes me in the stomach, and I look away from Marla and Molly. My wife glares at me. I relent and turn around to join the conversation with the rest of my siblings. We shoot the shit—Jed complains about the tuxedo he has to wear for Cade’s wedding, Posey volunteers to do everyone’s hair, and I order Lucy honey barbeque wings.
A half hour later, I spot Nikki walking through the square toward the brewery. When she comes inside, she heads straight to the bar and whispers something to Molly. Molly eyes Marla and they whisper again.
I slap Lucy’s thigh to tell her it’s coming. She rolls her eyes, giving me that damn look again. How can she not be as excited as I am? This is the kind of shit siblings live for. I wish I could’ve told Cade. He’s gonna love this.
“Nikki.” Marla stands, but a group of people get in her way.
Nikki has a panicked look on her face now and I’m about to burst out laughing until Lucy pinches me on the thigh.
“What the hell?” I ask.
“Can you two really not keep your hands off one another?” Chevelle says across the table.
“What do you care what they’re doing?” Cam chimes in—because he does every time Chevelle speaks.
Jed hands Molly a stack of empty glasses then comes over. “Holy shit, you’re never going to believe who just walked in.”
“Oh God, do I even want to know?” Clara asks. “Someone from high school?”
“No.” Jed glances back at the door.
I follow his vision to a big guy walking toward the bar.
“Nikki, we pay Molly to work. You realize that, right?” Cade says, not paying attention to Jed. He’s gonna miss this moment.
“Nikki!” Marla waves. “We need to talk.”
“Logan Stone,” Jed says.
“Who’s Logan Stone?” Posey asks.