Page 14 of The Mr. Right Checklist

To give Marshall a minute, I step in. “Destiny, this is my older brother, Chuck, and my younger brother, Jimmy.”

“Brothers? Isn’t this fun? Which one of you is getting married? I cannot wait to go to the wedding.”

Fuck. I guess we’re doing this now.

The shock on my brothers’ faces is inescapable, but their smirks quickly push it away, and I know they’re about to give me shit.

“You’re coming to my wedding?” Jimmy asks.

“And you have a coffee date with Ryry that he failed to mention?” Chuck asks.

His use of my childhood nickname grates on my nerves. “Yes, she’s coming to the wedding, and don’t make a big thing out of it. Jimmy, please let Beth know Destiny will be my plus-one.”

“Is she coming to the rehearsal dinner, too?” Jimmy asks in a way that tells me the answer will signify something bigger than just a plus-one. “Mom will need to know for a head count.”

I’m about to shut that shit down, when Destiny gives me an I’ve-got-your-back glance and says, “Of course I’m going to the rehearsal dinner. I wouldn’t miss it! So y’all back off from trying to set him up with your lady friends. I’m sure it seems fast to you boys, but I’ve been Molly’s groomer for three months, and I’ve had my eye on this handsome guy the whole time.” She puts her hand on his shoulder. “Even though we didn’t know each other very well until . . . Well, that doesn’t matter. When you’ve found the one, you know it. Right, Jimmy?”

Fuck. She is laying it on too thick, but my brothers are eating it up. If I’m going to pull this off and get them off my back, I need to keep my mouth shut.

“Yeah, one hundred percent.” Jimmy looks at me, baffled.

“You’ve been holding out on us, huh, bro?” Marshall asks. He looks skeptical. Smart man.

“Hush, Marshall, or he’ll get all up in his head again the way he does and scare himself into runnin’ away from this magical thing between us. We don’t want that now, do we?”

Chuck elbows me. “Dude, she’s got your number.”

“On that note, we’re out of here. I’ll catch up with you guys later.” I toss my empty water bottle in the trash can, put on my shirt, and take Destiny by the arm, leading her away from them.

“Wait! I still have questions,” Jimmy calls after us.

I flip him the bird.

“Was that too much too soon?” Destiny asks, walking fast to try to keep up.

“You could say that.”

Chapter Six

FLETCH

Destiny grabs a table near the back of La Love Café while I order coffee for me and sweet tea for her. As I carry our drinks to the table, I watch her tuck a pen behind her ear and withdraw a few colorful notebooks from that big yellow tote bag, stacking them on the table.

“Here you go.” I set her tea on the table and sit across from her.

“Thank you.” She takes a drink. “Mm. So good.” She licks her lips, and the slide of her tongue stirs thoughts I have no business thinking about her. “I’m sorry for taking it too far with your brothers. I was just trying to do you proud.”

“It’s okay. You sold it well.”

She sits up taller. “Thank you. They’re really nice, and handsome.”

That pang of jealousy returns, and I hate myself for what comes out of my mouth next. “You seemed pretty interested in Marshall.”

“He’s a little tall for me, but he definitely checks a few of my boxes.”

She has a height requirement?

“He’s rough around the edges, and I’m not gonna lie. I find all that ink intriguing, and I bet a man like that is good with his hands—”