My brother hadn’t RSVP’d or even acknowledged that he even knew I was engaged. “It is what it is,” I said.
The smell of bacon and the sound of laughter signaled that everyone was up and ready to get the day started. We stayed there for a few minutes in comfortable silence before Charlye sat up and stretched, not even caring that she wasn’t covered. “Shower? I’ll let you wash my back.”
Several minutes later, we emerged from our suite and joined the rest of our family in the kitchen. But not before I tried to convince Charlye to stay in our personal haven for a little longer.
Paityn and Duke manned the kitchen, barking orders, scrambling eggs, flipping pancakes and stirring grits. Asa and Bishop were on toast duty, Justus and Isis were mixing mimosas, Preston and Lennox were moving furniture to make room, Harper was setting the table, and Dallas and Bliss were huddled in the corner making plans. It was all hands on deck. Well, except for Blake who was drinking coffee and watching everyone else work. Charlye jumped right in, helping Harper with the flatware.
I approached Duke. “Need any help?”
Duke lifted his eyes, glanced at Charlye, then back at me. He smirked. “You can fix Charlye’s ponytail. It’s wild as fuck.”
Charlye’s eyes widened signaling she’d overheard him. “Oh shit.” She bolted from the room.
Harper threw a muffin at Duke. “Don’t do my sister like that, bruh.”
Duke pitched it back at him. “Mysister can get it just like everyone else here.”
Justus cracked up and gave Duke a pound. “Thanks for taking that one, man. I was just getting ready to mess with her about that.”
“She should know better by now,” Duke added. “And once you taste Paityn’s blueberry muffins, Harp, you’re going to be pissed you wasted one of them.”
Paityn bumped Duke’s hip. “Thanks, brother. I know how to do a thing or two in the kitchen.”
Duke hugged her. “I taught you well.”
She swatted him with her dish towel. “Other way around, Duke.”
Blake walked over to the island and swiped a sausage link off the platter. “Y’all talk too much.” She patted her belly. “I’m hungry as hell.”
Charlye re-entered the kitchen, ponytail fixed. Everyone clapped. And she took a bow.
I pulled her to me and whispered against her ear. “I can mess your hair up again any time. Just say the word.”
She laughed. “I would let you, but those pancakes…” She kissed me. “Later, though.”
Dallas chimed in, “Nah, girl. We have plans. After we draw names for Secret Santa.”
Asa groaned. “It’s time to retire Secret Santa, sis.”
“Nope.” Dallas said. “Never.”
After breakfast, we’d piled into the game room of the house. When we booked this house, we made sure there would be room for all of us to gather in one place. The more our family grew, the larger the space we needed.
Blake slid onto a barstool. “Dallas, pass me the pitcher of mimosas. “When is Demi getting here? She’s going to be mad she missed the pancakes.”
“They’re all gone?” Dallas asked.
“Harper and Justus tore them bad boys up,” Bliss explained.
Dallas checked her watch and frowned. “Her flight landed an hour ago. She should be here any minute.” Dallas’s best friend, Demi, had been part of our family since they were young. She’d even lived with us for several years. “I’ll call her.”
Charlye sat down on my lap. “Remind me to hire Duke to cook breakfast forever.” She brushed her lips over mine. “Matter of fact, can he move in with us?”
“Hell nah.” Duke shook his head. “No. I’m not doing that shit.”
Charlye gaped. “Really? You just told me that you’d help anyway you can.”
“You know I was bullshitting, right?” Duke said.
