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“Yeah, we’re having a bbq.”
“I’ll try, Mom, but depends on how I feel.”
“Totally understand, March. Try to rest and keep hydrated?—"
“Will do, Mom,” I interrupted. I needed to end the call, and quickly. “Love you, bye.” I exhaled slowly.
I wasn’t a huge fan of lying, but I didn’t want my family, especially my mom, coming around knocking and messing up what Sunny and I had. I just wanted a little more time with my girl. The moment my nosy-as-hell family came by would mean less time with Sunny. Maybe it was because I was the oldest that I had a tough time sharing, but when it came to Sunny now West, I was okay being as selfish as possible.
After taking care of the trash and washing my hands, I finished making us breakfast. We ate together before I dropped her off, kissing her goodbye and letting her know I would be back to pick her up after her shift.
Our days continued like that for a week, and then another. Somehow, I was able to avoid my nosy family. Asking Clay for help in exchange for some free work with a community garden that his future bride wanted had helped smooth things over with the fact I hadn’t even stepped foot on the ranch.
But like anything in life, good things come to an end.
I should have been ready.
But when two weeks turned into a little over three, and we were about to celebrate our first month together, I honestly was so damn immersed in my life with Sunny that I hadn’t really put that much thought into it. I knew my parents would think I had lost my mind. They knew how I felt about relationships. My siblings would have me committed. The only one I had told anything to was Clay, and I knew he was keeping my secret.
But as I drove home, a bouquet of flowers resting on the passenger seat of my truck, I had a bad feeling when I saw who was calling. August. The youngest of us, he was the one who had his life the most together. The guy had married his best friend and was doing what he could to add to our small town's population.
“Hey.” I cleared my throat and fake coughed. “What’s up, man?” I had no idea why I was still faking a damn cold, but it had worked with Mom, so maybe it’d do the trick with my brother.
“Nice try, but it’s time to give it up.”
“What?”
“I’m at your place,” August said, and my heart stopped mid-beat.
“What?”
“Mom and I had to go in town this morning. She made a big fuss about taking her oldest son some chicken noodle soup.”
“Shit,” I said under my breath. Sunny had the day off and was home. A home where my mom and brother had shown up unannounced.
“Shit is right, man. And let me tell you, brother, it’s hit the fan and is all over the goddamn place.” Fuck, that wasn’t good. “Where the hell are you?” My youngest brother asked in a hushed tone.
“About ten minutes away, why?”
“Because Mom used her key and walked into your place. Keep in mind you gave her said key.”
“August.”
“She walks in, and guess what? Not only does she get scared but scares a pretty little thing in your kitchen. Mom jumped to conclusions and assumed you had hired a housekeeper.”
“What the fu?—"
“Until she noticed your little housekeeper?—"
“She’s not my housekeeper,” I growled, clenching my hands around the steering wheel.
“No shit, Sherlock. Mom noticed she was wearing your clothes and then jumped to conclusions that this wasn’t some employee gone nuts but some hookup gone wrong who had broken into your house.”
“Fuck.”
“It didn’t help that the girl started to say she was your wife, and before I knew what was happening, our crazy-ass-hell mom called the cops.” I winced.
“Fuck, Auggie.”
