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“Piper,” Blaire said, sticking her head in my door. “You coming?”
“Yeah. Just…finally checking the results.”
“Hollin won!”
“You already knew?”
She laughed. “Uh, duh! It was hard as fuck not to tell you.”
“I’m happy for them.”
Blaire plopped down next to me. “You sound really sad when you say that.”
“I know. But I am happy. I’m also…sad about everything.” I huffed and finally revealed my plan. “I’m quitting.”
Blaire gasped. “What?”
“The winery. I’m quitting. I decided on the drive home that I’m not going to work there anymore. I just…I can’t do it. I can’t work for that man. I’d rather find something else to be passionate about.”
“Wow.” Blaire’s eyes were wide in horror. “But, Piper…it’s your dream.”
“Trust me, I know. I’ve thought about it. Dad’s going to be pissed, too. I can’t stay either.”
“I’m sorry.” Blaire stood and hugged me. “You still want to go to the Memorial Day party?”
I nodded, swiping at my eyes. “Yeah. It’ll be good to be out. Plus, Hollin won’t be there.”
“Okay. Well, you look hot,” she said.
I looked down at the pink bikini she’d thrown at me this morning. “I’m wearing your clothes.”
“Exactly.” She winked at me. “Let’s go.”
I followed her out of my room, grabbing my beach bag and heading out to my Jeep. I spent a few minutes removing the top, and then we drove out of town and toward Ransom Canyon. Jensen Wright had a lake house right on the water at the bottom of the canyon. It was tradition for him to have a giant party to celebrate the start of summer.
We parked behind Sutton’s Range Rover and migrated inside. The Wrights were in full swing. Austin and Patrick stood with Julia. She was arguing with them about some old fight they’d had. Apparently, she’d left him at the top of the canyon after he made a move. I cracked up as I passed and found Jensen with baby Logan swaddled across his six-pack. My heart melted. Jensen Wright, baby, six-pack. Dear God.
“Thank you so much for having us,” I told him with a smile.
“Of course. I like that the parties are growing,” he said.
Blaire handed him a bottle of gin. “I brought the goods.”
“Oh, gin,” Morgan said with a smile. “The good stuff.”
Jensen laughed at his sister. “Well, Morgan is thrilled. But you didn’t have to bring anything. The wet bar is fully stocked.”
“It’s nice of them,” Morgan said. “You get Tanqueray. Not Bombay.”
“Forgive me,” he said with an eye roll as he bounced the baby. “Maybe go offer that to Emery and Heidi. They look like they could use a break from the constant, ‘Mom. Mom. Mom. Mommy. Mommmm.’ ”
I chuckled at the impression of all the kids out on the lawn that led to the dock and lake.
“On it,” Blaire said, snagging a few limes.
I grabbed Solo cups, and Morgan headed outside with us. We found Emery, Heidi, and Sutton sitting on lawn chairs, supervising the brood of Wright children. Emery’s one-year-old, Robin, was toddling along after Heidi’s oldest, Holden, and Sutton’s youngest, Madison. David was on his feet, running interference on the youngest ones to make sure no one fell into the lake. Colton, Jensen’s oldest, who was now a teenager, held court with Emery’s nieces, Lilyanne, who was closest to his age, and Bethany; Sutton’s oldest, Jason; and Isaac’s daughter, Aly. Aly and Bethany were best friends, and Isaac and Peyton had agreed to let her spend the day at the lake with Bethany while they were still on their honeymoon.
“We brought drinks!” Morgan cried, flopping down next to them.
“Please, dear God,” Emery said. “Anything.”
Heidi held out her hand. “Gimme.”
Sutton held hers up with a sleepy smile. “I’m good. I’m nursing this one.”
“Lame,” Heidi said.
“Madison kept me up all night for no reason at all. The twos are absolutely terrible.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Heidi said.
Emery sighed. “Robin is only one and so good.”
“That’s how they get you,” Sutton said. “Have one, and they’re a perfect angel. The second is a hellion, I swear. It’s like they trick you on purpose.”
Emery made a face that said, Save me.
“Speaking of, where are the twins?” I asked Heidi.
She pointed up the hill and back toward the house. Landon stood with both of the boys in a stroller, rocking them back and forth and doing some kind of silly bedtime dance. All the girls laughed but also simultaneously turned into a puddle of goo.
“That’s adorable,” Blaire gushed.
Jennifer skipped down the hill and grabbed another one of the chairs. “Hey, y’all. What a perfect day.” She brought her camera up to her eye and took pictures of us as we poured out heaping amounts of gin to survive the mass of children sprawled across the lawn.
“Did you come with Julian and Jordan?” Morgan asked.
“Yeah. They’re still talking to Jensen inside. Annie is attached to Jordan’s hip but should be down here soon, too,” Jennifer said.
