Page 2 of Crewe
“We tease a lot, but we want what’s best for you,” McClure said.
“What’s best is you all leaving me alone. Maybe I need to get someone looking for a significant other for you. Oh, man, why hadn’t I thought of that? They’ll be so busy planning your life that they won’t have time to mess around in mine,” Crewe threatened.
McClure raised his hands palms out and backed away from Crewe. “Nope, nuh-uh, no way, I like being a bachelor,” he said and quickly left.
Crewe chuckled to himself. At least now, he had a way to get rid of annoying siblings and cousins. It didn’t help the Ryanne situation, but at this point, he was losing hope that anything would. He turned back to the counter to get started on the evening offerings at Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar. Maybe working on the menu would make his cock go soft, but he doubted it. He’d even researched online if having blue balls would have lasting damage. Yep, he was the sucker pining for the woman who only saw him as a friend.
Chapter Two
Ryanne kicked back on the couch, leaning her head back. Her children, Freya and Wyatt, were hanging out with Vivi’s children and Ellie’s kids with Peck, Burt, and Bill. It was a nice break, though she loved being a mom.
Her parents usually gave her a break from the kids, but they were on a month-long road trip. Her dad was into Civil War battlegrounds and wanted to tour all the sites. She was thrilled they were having fun and were well enough to do that.They’d all moved to Kansas to have milder winters than Minnesota for her dad’s arthritis.
Vivi plopped down beside her, handing her a drink.
“What is this?” she asked.
“It’s a Coke. The kids are gone, and honestly, if we drink alcohol, I’m going to fall asleep on your shoulder, and I’ve been looking forward to us all hanging out,” Vivi said.
Ellie sat in the chair and kicked her feet up on the coffee table. “Me too. I adore my kids, but sometimes I just want ten minutes to myself where no one asks me what’s for supper, are there any snacks, and can they play video games.”
Ryanne chuckled. “I hear you. All Wyatt asks about is, ‘Can I play this game?’ I’m sorry, but there is more to life than sitting in front of a screen and playing a game. I made him and Freya a construction paper tree with leaves they can put on it when they read a chapter from a book, or we read together. Freya is readingJunie B. Jones,and Wyatt is readingThe Magic Tree Housebooks. Today, he scowled at me when he asked to play a video game,and I asked if he’d added any leaves to the tree since he last asked. He stomped off, muttering how horrible a mother I was under his breath. I mean, if he didn’t sound like I did when I was younger, it would have been funny. My mom always warned me she hoped I had a kid just like me.”
Vivi and Ellie chuckled.
“I think I need to make something for Peck, Bill, and Burt. I couldn’t ask for a better father-in-law, and what do I call them? Uncles-in-law? They all treat me like a daughter, even though technically they are uncles. Maybe I should just go with fathers-in-law for all of them. The kids love spending time with them, and the men love all the kids. Listen closely,” Vivi paused. “It’s quiet, and no one is needing anything,” Vivi sighed.
Ryanne sat beside these women who had become close friends and actually felt a little uncomfortable. They were staring at each other, and it almost felt like they were trying to make the other person say something.
“Oh my gosh, will somebody just spit it out? Is one of you pregnant? Does somebody needto be taught a lesson? I mean, I really enjoyed that cheater getting his in the bar a while back,” Ryanne said, pausing, waiting to see if either woman was going to say anything.
“Okay, so I’m, I mean, we’re just curious if you’re dating someone we don’t know about,” Ellie blurted out.
“Umm, no. And why would you think that?” Ryanne asked.
Ellie stared with her eyebrow cocked at Vivi. She adored these women, except when something was going on that she didn’t know about.
“Well, you haven’t seemed interested in any of the Nelson men,” Vivi said, blushing.
“Woman, how can you still blush at questions, because I know you and Whiskey get up to some interesting things in the bedroom. These walls are definitely not soundproof,” Ellie said wryly.
“Oh, like you’re Miss Keep Quieter with your ‘Oh, Hennessy, right there, honey,’” Vivi imitated.
Ryanne laughed until her sides ached, listening to these two bicker back and forth.
“I’m not interested in the Nelson men because I will not blur the line between boss and employee, and since everyone owns a part of all the businesses, then that takes them all out of the running. And honestly, sometimes it’s just easier to let Randy take care of my needs. He doesn’t leave the toilet seat up, and he also doesn’t leave me pregnant again,” Ryanne said.
“Randy?” Vivi asked.
“My vibrator,” Ryanne said.
“She’s got a point. Hennessy forgot to put the seat down, and I fell in during the night because I had my eyes closed,” Ellie said.
Ryanne wondered what it would be like to have a man to get irritated with when they left the toilet seat up. She’d never had that before. Her first time having sex had been with a long-term boyfriend who’d been comfortable, like that pair of shoes you’ve broken in. It was easy to slip them on, but after a while, you realized they didn’t fit the way they were supposed to. Freya and Wyatt’s dad, well, he’d been the man she picked up because she was lonely and for once wanted to experiencethat all-consuming love. Unfortunately, he’d been a dud. Despite him being a one-pump chump, she’d still gotten pregnant with twins.
She didn’t regret the one-night stand because she adored her children, but sometimes, late at night, she wanted to go home with someone who saw her and thought she was perfect.
“Whiskey ate that chili again that makes him gassy. Which is fine—have the chili. But don’t fart in bed. And they were those silent ones that I don’t know he’s done until I move the covers and bam, my eyes water. Then he cracks himself up, and he laughs until tears come out of his eyes. Sometimes the man I dearly love still acts like a teenager,” Vivi said, shaking her head.
