Page 80 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
She stopped walking and turned to me with her eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she hissed.
Because I knew you’d freak out?
I’d had every intention of blowing it off but might as well make an appearance and fulfill my family duties.
“Well, now you know.” I grabbed her hand and practically dragged her to the table. Short of digging her heels in or running in the opposite direction, there wasn’t much she could do about it.
When we reached the table, sure enough, everyone was there. Everyone except Gideon, who only returned to Texas for major holidays or when it was absolutely required. He had the right idea, moving halfway across the country.
The first thing out of my uncle Patrick’s mouth was, “About damn time. You’re late.” He glared at me. I glared right back because fuck him.
“You got a girlfriend, Ridge?” Noah asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
“I’m not his girlfriend,” Evie stated at the same time I responded, “Yep. Just for the summer, though.”
“She’s pretty.” Noah nodded like he approved of my choice. “But what happens if you want her for longer than the summer?”
Evie laughed. “Don’t worry. He won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” Noah prodded.
“Because some things aren’t meant to last,” Evie said.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Evie
Ridge might not have grownup with the McCallisters, but he had a lot of the same traits as the men in his family.
They were all gorgeous. Cocky. The best at everything they did. And bigger than life.
“I’m glad Ridge took my advice,” Noah said. I was sitting between him and Ridge.
“What kind of advice did you give him?”
“I told him to get a girlfriend so he could kiss her whenever he wants.”
I stifled a laugh. Noah was so cute with his longish dirty blond hair and barbecue sauce on his chin. “Well, the girlfriend would have to agree first, right?” I reasoned.
“Well, yeah, but of course, she would. Because we’re McCallisters.” He shrugged as if that explained everything. Which, for them, I guess it did. Ridge had used a similar line the other night.
“So, you’re saying that the McCallisters always get the girl?” I couldn’t believe I was having this discussion with a seven-year-old. An adorable, cocky little seven-year-old who looked just like his dad, Cowboy Brody. I’d found out that Jude’s wife, Lila, was Noah’s mom and Jude was Daddy Jude.
They’d taken the term close-knit family to a whole other level, but I guess they’d found a way to make it work, so who was I to judge?
“Yep,” Noah said, sounding so confident I almost believed him. “Just sometimes they have to work a little harder. Like Daddy Jude.” He eyed Jude across the table. “It took him waaaay too long to get his act together.” Noah shook his head and sighed.
Jude snorted. Everyone else at the table laughed.
Ridge leaned in close and put his hand on my thigh. “You see that, Cherry? We always get the girl.”
I arched my brows. “You haven’t gottenthisgirl.”
His hand drifted up the inside of my thigh and stopped at the crease. An involuntary gasp escaped my lips when his fingers brushed over my clit.
“The chase is half the fun.” He sat back with a satisfied smile, confirming what I’d known all along. It was all about the chase.
I looked across the table at Lila. She smiled like she knew what Ridge and I had been up to. Lila was a pretty brunette with dark glossy hair and green eyes.
