Page 52 of Already Callin’ You Mine

Grabbing our beers, I nod at Milo and head toward the tables. From here I can already see Hux and Ewan toward the middle of the table, deep in a discussion about God knows what. Knowing those two, probably trees. As the lumber and outdoors experts of the family, they tend to end up down that road a lot. Gus trails behind us, a drink in each hand, and instantly I feel lighter.

This is what I needed tonight. An easygoing, low-key, no pressure night out with my brothers. Scanning down the table, I see the girls all huddled together, the lightness in my chest increasing, a calmness settling in with the knowledge that this is how it should be. Each one of those women is amazing in her own right, and the absolute perfect match for my brothers. Every time I watch them all together, I wait for them to plot to take over the world. They could do it, and with an efficiency that would probably be scary.

“It was an accident really. I was the only one in the department who could use my phone for something other than calling and texting. Next thing I know, I was being labeled the social media expert.”

Laughter rings out, the gaggle of beautiful women congregated together all joining in the chorus. But one stands out, sending a shiver down my spine. Right along with that sweet, melodic voice.

Presley Callahan.

“I can’t complain too much; it pays the bills. It’s what made it possible for me to land on my feet after my ex turned out to be more Mr. Hyde than Dr. Jekyll.”

My heart squeezes, my stomach following suit as it does somersaults. I break out in a light sweat, my body reacting in overtime to seeing her. What is she doing here?

With my sisters-in-law.

“You good?” Gus asks, slapping me on the back again, making me realize I stopped moving.

“Y-yeah. Yeah,” I mutter, trying to get my bearings about me.

“I would have castrated him,” Margeaux says, her voice carrying enough to be heard over the rest of the crowd. “And then made his life hell in court.”

“I considered it.” Presley laughs.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard her mention an ex. Presumably Otis’s father. I’m significantly more intrigued than I should be, making an attempt to eavesdrop as I slide onto the picnic table bench next to Hux.

“Good, settle this for us,” Ewan says, pulling me into their conversation. “Do we replace the Hayes games rifles with the newest model we’re releasing or continue with the ones we’ve always used?”

Seriously, that’s what these two are debating?

Hayes Games—a series of competitions that the six of us boys do every year after we win tug-o-war on the Fourth of July—is a long-standing tradition for our family. They started when Milo and Gus were in high school, thinking it would be more fun than the town picnic. Ewan and I were still pretty young, but all in nonetheless. None of us cared one bit about eggs on a spoon or a water balloon toss. So my brothers created something better. The events have changed over the years as we’ve gotten older, but it’s still a highlight of our year.

“Pros and cons?” I ask, trying to make sure that I look like they have my undivided attention while I still keep an ear on what Presley is saying.

“The newest Hayes rifle is pretty slick. Much better accuracy than the twenty-some-year-old ones we’ve been using,” Ewan comments.

“But the ones we’ve been using since year one are part of the tradition,” Hux counters. “And half the fun is that they are kinda old and outdated.”

Can a gun be outdated?

I’m the personal safety expert, and zero about what I do, practice, or preach involves firearms. Despite that being how my family initially found its fortune. I know only enough to use them when I go hunting or to shoot the target during the games. Exactly how I like it.

Meaning, I am not the one to settle this discussion.

“I dunno.” I shrug. “Doesn’t really matter to me.”

“Someone has got to have an opinion on this,” Hux says.

“What did the others say?”

“They don’t care either,” Ewan tells me.

Well, I’m not going to be much more help.

“Tell Gus to make the choice. He likes bossing everyone around; this is right up his alley.”

“Jace!” Margeaux exclaims.

Oooops. Didn’t realize I said that loud enough for the newest Mrs. Hayes to hear me rag on her husband.