Page 150 of When the Stars Rise
It’s a McCallister invasion. They’ve all been dropping hints about us buying some land in Texas Hill Country and building a house. We’re considering it. But my family isn’t known for their subtlety, so chances are they’re going to drive their point home.
Jude claps his hands together. “Good. We’re all here.”
“We agreed to meet at nine o’clock, you dumb shit,” my dad grumbles. “Where else would we be?”
“I don’t remember making any plans to meet,” I say. “No one consulted us before barging in. And if you’re here to talk us into moving here, save your breath. We’re still discussing it.”
They all ignore me and drag chairs across the porch to form a circle. My uncle Ridge is my dad’s much younger brother and a former NFL player. He’s six foot four and makes the Adirondack chair look like it was built for a child.
My dad and Jude are both well over six feet and with all eight of us crammed onto the porch the space suddenly feels a hundred times smaller.
We’re two chairs short so Ridge tugs Evie onto his lap and my dad opts to lean against the railing with his arms crossed over his chest.
“We thought it would be a good time to share some marriage advice,” Jude says when everyone is finally situated.
“We don’t need advice,” I say confidently. “We’ve got it all figured out.”
Ridge laughs, a big booming laugh that they could probably hear in the next county. The others join in. Not so sure what’s so funny about that.
Hales and I have been doing the work and we’re ready for whatever life throws at us. “Ignore them,” I say, giving her thigh a squeeze. “We’ve got this.”
She smiles. “I know we do.” Then she looks at the others and gives them her sweetest smile. “We’re open to any advice you want to give.”
I sigh. Looks like sex is off the table. Might as well get comfortable. Knowing my family, they’ll have plenty to say.
“A good marriage requires effort,” Jude starts. “You have to work at your relationship every single day.”
My mom nods. “It’s not all sunshine and roses.” She focuses on Hayley. “Your husband will do things that annoy you. He’ll insist he’s right even when he’s wrong. And don’t even get me started on how tempted you’ll be to punch him in the face when he gloats—”
Jude scoffs. “You would think by now you would have learned how to accept defeat a bit more graciously.”
“Oh.” My mom glares at him, her green eyes narrowed. “Because you’re such a gracious winner?”
He smirks and rubs his hands together. “You know how much I love having you at my beck and call, Rebel.”
“Get over yourself. I’m not your beck and call girl.”
My dad sighs. “You two and your stupid games. You’re not ten years old anymore.”
Jude grins. “We love our games.” I don’t miss the wink he gives my mom or the way her cheeks flush either. I’d rather not know what games they play. In fact, I’d prefer to not think about any of my parents ever having sex.
Ridge picks up the ball and runs with it. “Look, you’ll have arguments, you’ll disagree on things, but there’s a right way to argue and there’s a wrong way—”
“Your wife is always right,” Evie says, lifting her chin in defiance. “Just acknowledge that and everything will be absolutely fine.”
Ridge snorts. “That’s one way of doing it.Oryou could talk it out.”
“Just never resort to name calling or the blame game. No matter how tempted you might be,” Evie adds, narrowing her eyes on Ridge.
“I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that.” He holds up his hands. “I’m innocent.”
Evie grits her teeth and crosses her arms over her chest. “That ho was definitely making moves on my man, and you’ll never convince me otherwise.”
“But did I even look her way? Did I let her think she had a chance in hell?”
Evie shrugs and studies her fingernails. “How should I know what you’re doing when my back is turned?”
“How should you know?” Ridge nods. “Right. After all these years, you still don’t trust me. Why would I ever look at any other woman when I’m madly in love with the most beautiful woman ineveryroom?”
