Page 41 of Choosing You

She nearly sagged with relief. “Thank you. I knew if I told them how it really was, I’d still be getting lectured on being immature and risking my life by kissing strange men in booths at festivals. They’d compare it to hitchhiking across the country with serial killers and being lured into unmarked vans with candy.”

“Um…okay? Are they the dramatic type? Is your dad overprotective? Anything I need to know about him personally to make him like me and not treat me like a guy who isn’t good enough for his daughter?”

“He’s in construction and did a lot of work on the bar, so if you praise the craftsmanship, he’ll appreciate that.” She thought for a moment about what else he could talk about and, unfortunately, she knew the answer. “And…cars. Dad’s a bit of a classic car enthusiast. Whenever one of those car shows comes to the area, he and my brothers all go.”

“Brothers? You don’t mention them much. Are they here?”

She nodded. “Ben is the oldest. He’s a single dad to the cutest five-year-old boy, and the most chill of all my brothers. Kyle is the middle brother and the biggest rebel because he feels like no one paid enough attention to him as a kid.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“He’s a video game designer who also dabbles in independent filmmaking. He makes indie horror films that just…” She shuddered. “I don’t get them, but he’s been getting a lot of attention for them. I think it’s a bit ghoulish, but his wife stars in most of them, so…I guess it works for them.”

“That’s kind of cool. Okay, who’s next?”

“My youngest brother—who is still older than me—is Finn. His real name is Finley, but ever since he was little, he insisted on being called Finn. He’s a plastic surgeon who specializes in cases where the patient has been in an accident, things like burns or victims of domestic violence. He’s not really into the whole vanity surgery thing.”

“Wow. That’s wild. You have some seriously talented relatives.”

“And then there’s me,” she murmured.

“Hey.” Reaching out, he tucked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You are seriously talented too. Those videos you’ve been sharing with me are very creative. Don’t ever tell yourself that you’re not good enough, because you are.”

She felt herself blush and was about to respond when someone knocked—loudly—on the driver’s side window. They both jumped and turned to see her cousin Ashlynn and her husband Reid standing there.

“I guess that’s our cue to join the party,” Will said lightly, but leaned in to kiss her.

They climbed out of the truck and joined Ash and Reid on the sidewalk. No introductions were necessary, but the guys immediately started talking about trucks as they walked ahead. Ash hooked her arm with Sloane’s and grinned.

“Sorry to interrupt when you were looking cozy, but Reid was looking forward to chatting with Will.”

“No worries. We really should have been inside already.”

“So? How are things going? I was so excited to hear that the two of you finally met and that you came back again.”

“Things are going…well,” she said carefully. “The long-distance thing sucks, but we talk every day. And text. And video chat. It’s been nice. And I wasn’t sure about coming back for the festival this weekend, but my folks were adamant about me being here for the grand opening of the bar. They even paid for my airfare.” She laughed softly. “It might have to do with the fact that I told them I met a great guy here in Sweetbriar Ridge and they want me to be able to see him.”

“Ooh…that must have been an interesting conversation! Give me all the details!”

They were walking into the bar and were immediately greeted by both their dads, Max, his dad, and his brother, Marcus. After that, they were swallowed by the crowd. Sloane marveled at how many people were here to celebrate and it took her almost an hour before she finally greeted everyone in her family, plus all her cousins—including some who came all the way from Laurel Bay to join the festivities.

“I didn’t think Ryleigh and Ryker would come all this way,” Ashlynn yelled close to Sloane’s ear to be heard over the music and all the talking around them. “Same with Arianna and Will. It’s so cool how we all support each other!”

Nodding, she looked around trying to find Will—her Will. They had gotten separated as soon as they walked in the door. She was about to excuse herself to look for him when Hailey came walking over.

“Hey! Did you try any of the food yet? It’s amazing! Isn’t this fun? I am so happy to be out and doing something that is just for adults!”

“Who’s watching Layla?”

“One of the instructors from my studio. Her name is Sarah. She teaches the chair yoga for seniors and has eight grandchildren of her own.”

Sloane’s eyes went a little wide.

“That means your sister can trust her,” Ash said with a laugh. “Reid’s parents came for the weekend, so they’re at home with our little guy. I love that they get that time with him without me and Reid hovering.”

“Sarah—and all the girls that work for me—we’re all like family now. It’s so cool because I never felt like that with my coworkers before. I always liked my coworkers but never considered them to be…you know…family-ish.”

“Same,” Ash agreed. “All the other salons I worked at, I never really got along with the other stylists. But the girls working for me now? I adore them. I’m still their boss, but we all hang out a lot and…yeah, I guess they’re like family too.”

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