Page 89 of Only With Me
“Do you have date ideas you wanna do before you get married?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be gettin’ married anytime soon. But I have non-negotiables that would make or break a relationship I’m in.”
“Ooh, let’s hear ’em. Maybe I’ll haveta steal some for myself.” I make a new note and type out the title at the top. “Okay, I’m ready.”
He shakes his head, chuckling. “Alright, uhh…the top one is family comes first. If any of my siblings text an SOS, I drop everything and go. So if my girlfriend can’t understand that, then we’d break up.”
“That’s a good one. Mine would be the same because I immediately go if anyone in my family needs me, especially if it’s for my dad.”
“Another is them having to be okay with me leavin’ in the middle of the night to pick up Wilder. His number is programmed so it rings even when my phone’s on silent. My partner would also haveta understand we have a special twin bond, and if he’s hurting, I’ll most likely feel it.”
“Damn. So when he’s depressed or in pain, you always know?”
“Yeah. Been that way for as long as I can remember.”
“I think that’s reasonable, honestly. Any more on your list?”
“Just one.”
I meet his gaze through the screen. “What’s that?”
“They have to scrapbook with my family on Sunday nights.”
My lips spread into a wide smile. “That sounds like a fun tradition.”
“It can be…I don’t stay every week, but I try to at least once a month.”
“How do I get invited?” I tease.
“You gotta marry a Hollis.”
My brow arches. “Any Hollis?”
“Any of ’em that are available.”
“Well, I don’t see Wilder as the marryin’ type—unless he’s literally dragged down the aisle—so I guess I’ll haveta somehow beg you so I can join.”
“It wouldn’t take that much to convince me,” he mumbles almost too quietly for me to hear him.
“Oh? What’re you doin’ next weekend?” I quip.
He snorts. “What I always do…work and keep an eye on Wilder.”
“He can be your best man, and we’ll handcuff him to Delilah so he can’t get into any trouble.”
He barks out a deep laugh. “Trust me, he’d find a way to drag your sister into his madness.”
“That’s probably true. Have you heard from either of ’em tonight?”
His finger swipes over the screen, so I assume he’s checking his texts. “Nope. Probably won’t for another couple hours.”
“And you’re stayin’ up until he’s home?”
“Yep,” he says, not looking at all amused about it.
We’ve already talked through the midnight celebration like it was nothing. But when I yawn, he notices.
“You should get some sleep. No point in you stayin’ up too.”
