“I actually asked her out the first time so my mother wouldn’t set me up with someone else.”
“A last resort,” my mom says teasingly.
“And what else happened?” my sister pries. “You just started dating, and that was that? Or was there online sexting involved?”
Our parents share a look.
“What kinds of details are you after, Evie?” my dad asks. “Because I’m pretty sure you don’t want to know all of it, but I’ll be happy to share the play-by-play if you want. But I should warn you, there’s a lot of NSFW material in it.”
My dad saying NSFW makes me groan. “Please, no. Let’s not go there,” I say and turn to my clearly insane sister with gritted teeth. “Evie. Wedon’tneed to know the details.”
“I’m just trying to piece it together,” she retorts, and when I widen my eyes at her, she softens her voice and her interrogation direction. “To, you know, get an idea of what you were like when you were young, I mean.”
“As opposed to old and decaying like we are now?” my mom asks, a mock act of affront bringing her hand to her chest.
“Jules?” Ace calls from my bedroom, his eyes widening as he pushes open the bathroom door to a crowd. “Oh wow. Hey, everybody. We having a bathroom party or what?”
“Everyone was just leaving,” I say, taking command. “I still have to jump in the shower, Ace. Sorry. But I’ll be quick.”
“Hey, no rush,” he says breezily. He’s hard to ruffle, honestly, and I don’t know that he’s ever complained about having to wait for me before, but I could have been ready thirty minutes ago at this point.
“How’s it going, Ace?” my dad asks, immediately kicking intohis reliable adult mode. “Everything okay at home with your parents out of town?”
Ace scoffs. “Great, except my brother came home unexpectedly on his own.”
“What?” my dad questions in surprise. “I just talked to Thatch this morning. He didn’t mention anything about Gunnar leaving.”
Ace just shrugs. “Yeah, well, he probably hasn’t realized it yet. Knowing Gunnar, he set up some elaborate ruse. But he’s very home, unless I was hallucinating last night.”
“Which is also very possible,” my salty sister mutters. “You are a Kelly. Crazy is in your DNA.”
Ace scoffs through a chuckle. “Thanks, Evie.”
She sticks out her tongue, and I’m officially tired of sharing my bathroom. “Okay, seriously. Can everyone get out of here so I can shower?”
“Fine. But Mom, Dad, you come to the kitchen with me,” Evie orders. “I have more questions.”
“Oh jeez,” our mom remarks teasingly. “I sure hope I pass the test.”
“You always pass my test,” my dad flirts, pushing his chest against her back as he guides her out of the bathroom with his hands at her hips. Their affection is bold and unabashed, and for as disgusting as it is for me, their eldest daughter, to watch, I have to say I appreciate and respect it. After all the Scottie and Finn family drama I had to witness last year, I can’t imagine how it must feel to come from a broken home. The shit her mom did to her and the horrible things his father has done… Well, it’s the exact opposite of what I’ve had growing up.
I’ve never experienced anything but love and support in my home. And I know, more than all the money we have, that’s what makes us truly wealthy.
Ace lingers a little as I turn the water back on, leaning a hip into the counter and smiling at me. “What?” I ask, rolling my eyes at the scrutiny of his stare.
“I’m just marveling at how good you look when you wake up. I had a mohawk and a six-inch trail of drool crusted on my chin.”
I shake my head. “Oh, come on.”
“Seriously, Lia, I don’t even know why you’re worried about showering. You’re gorgeous.”
“Uh…thanks, weirdo, but I smell.”
“You smellgood.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said you smell good, Jules.”
