Page 45 of Caden's Situationship

“And let Malakai get to talk to you and Cordelia together while I get stuck with talkative twins?” he said. “Nah, I’d rather do a guys cart and let those ladies grill Cordelia. Plus, my woman drives like a bat outta hell, so anytime I can avoid her driving, I do.”

“I heard that shit,” Jordyn yelled. “Keep it up and I’m putting you on the couch tonight.”

“I love you,” Crayson sang back to her.

As I caught up with my brothers on our way to the villas, I was more excited to show my family the progress than I thought I’d be. It was nice driving through my property with them. At least, it was until Crayson asked, “So when you introduced her to LeeLee, did you have to lay down some ground rules for both of your ladies or did LeeLee take the news better than expected?”

I shoved him so hard, he almost fell out the golf cart. “Since you’re my guest right now, I’ll let that shit slide.”

“You look happy,” Malakai said. “When Crayson and I were last here, we figured it wouldn’t be long until you realized how much you like her.”

“Y’all were barely here,” I reminded them.

“But we still noticed the shit,” Crayson stated. “Trust me bruh, when it’s the right woman, you know that shit off the bat. My guess is, you’re already trying to figure out how you can get her to stay in Arkansas.”

“I am,” I admitted, not wanting to lie to my brothers. “I was talking to Dad the other day, and he was helping me realize that sometimes, I need to be a little selfish. Cordelia has a life in Texas, but I know she’d have a better life here with me in Arkansas.”

“Then that’s what you need to convince her of,” Malakai said. “Anyone can tell you both have chemistry, and we’ve never seen you like this around a woman.”

“The town is all rooting for y’all,” Crayson added. “Mom calls and gives us updates all the time. Hell, I think she’s already planning the wedding.”

I shook my head. “Mom has no chill, but she’s not off base with this one. I haven’t told her yet, but I’m falling pretty damn hard.”

“We know,” Crayson said. “And I bet soon, you’ll be the fifth brother to get engaged.”

I laughed. “Did you propose to Jordyn and not tell us?”

“Not yet.” He took a black velvet box out of his pocket. “But I plan on proposing to her some time while we’re here in Arkansas.”

“You for real?” I asked. “You’re gonna propose this weekend?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’m tired of her being out here with no ring on her finger, so I want to change all that. I always said I’d propose someplace warm, and since it’s in the seventies out here, I think this works.”

Malakai laughed. “In other words, he doesn’t know when Jordyn will get that vacation she wants, and since this is the next best thing, he’s gonna make it work because he’s impatient.”

Crayson nodded. “What he said.”

I couldn’t hug him since I was driving the golf cart, so instead, I told him, “I’m proud of you, Crayson. And I’m so happy for you.”

He softly clasped my shoulder, careful not to distract my driving. “Thanks, man, that means a lot to me.”

We arrived at the villas a few minutes later, my eyes trying to catch as many first impressions as I could.

“Yo, this is dope as hell,” Crayson said as we walked past the river and into the villa that Malakai and Avery would be staying in.

“It’s so spacious,” Avery remarked. “Are all the villas like this?”

“They are all slightly different,” Cordelia answered. “This one is a deluxe two-bedroom, two-bathroom villa with a full kitchen and a balcony on the second level for you to see the entire property.”

I smiled at the way she enthusiastically talked about everything. It didn’t take long for my family to direct all questions to her, and after we showed everyone where they would be staying, I could already tell she’d won them over.

“She’s a keeper,” Malakai said while the others walked around the grounds a little more.

“Yeah, she’s pretty amazing. Thanks for all your advice earlier.”

“Anytime, baby bruh. You already know I’ve been there, but I’m sure it will work out. And I’m proud of all your work at Wild Valley Ranch. I can see this being a new top destination in town.”

“I hope so,” I told him. “At first, it seemed like a far-fetched dream. Hard to believe we’re close to opening.”

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