“Wes left to run an errand for me.” Abigail pulled a grape off a fruit platter on the island. “Rhys is probably ripping Tabitha a new—”
Their mom cleared her throat. “A lecture. Probably lecturing her for whatever happened.” She held up her hand to block Abigail’s explanation. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“You know who’s going to get a lecture?” Abigail snickered.
Jules groaned, already knowing what her sister would say.
“Five bucks says Rhys is going to lecture you about stepping into a fight.”
“Absolutely.” Sloane laughed. “He’s going to read you the riot act.”
Mom ignored their teasing and happily sighed. “You really like him, don’t you?”
Jules nodded. “I really do.”
“Earth to my ladies.” Dad made a bigger show of lifting the tray stacked with steaks. “Can someone get the door before I have to hear all this?”
Sloane let Dad out the French doors that led to the outdoor kitchen, then returned. She leaned against the counter opposite Jules and tapped her fingers on her lips.
“No.” Jules shook her head. “Whatever you’re trying to think of, I’m not letting you mess with it.”
“I don’t want to mess with you and Rhys.”
“Then what is that look for?”
“I could have handled things differently if I’d known where this would go.”
Abigail snorted, and Mom tittered.
“What?” Jules asked.
The corners of Sloane’s lips pulled up. “You’re right. I should have known. I did know. I just didn’t predict the timing.”
“Know what?” Jules pushed her hair behind her ears. Each of the women in front of her smiled and quietly laughed as though they were in on a joke she had missed. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Rhys. Years in the making,” Mom explained.
Jules’s spine straightened. “Absolutely not.”
As though physically restraining words from coming out of her mouth, Abigail pressed her lips together, only to give up and share, “Wes and I agree.”
When Rhys entered the kitchen, everyone but Jules burst into giggles.
He stopped abruptly, eyebrows arching and a frown pulling his handsome face into a mistrustful glower. “What?”
“No idea,” Jules said. “Ignore them.”
“I’m going to call a driver for Tabitha,” he explained. “She can’t find her car keys.”
Sloane pushed off the cabinets. “I’ll take her home.”
“Let Rhys call a car service,” Mom insisted.
“It’s fine.” Sloane gave Mom a quick hug. “Catch up with your girls.”
Dad banged on the French door. “Someone, bring out the veggie kabobs.”
Mom held up her hand as she walked to the refrigerator. “If you change your mind, Sloane, come back. We’ll have more than enough.”
