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“I just needed some fresh air, that’s all.”
Misty takes a deep breath. “You’d never know that y’all are so close to the city. It feels like you’re out in the country here.”
“I know. It’s one of the things I love about it. It’s so quiet, but within ten minutes, I can be at all the shops and restaurants I want. Keaton chose a good spot.”
“He also chose the right girl.”
I grin over at her. “Yeah, he did, didn’t he? Thanks for taking a break in your schedule to come to Seattle for this.”
“Are you freaking kidding me? Your best friend only gets married once. Well, maybe twice, but I wouldn’t miss the first one for the world.”
We laugh at that until our sides hurt.
“I’m not doing this again. He’s the one for me.”
We hear loud laughter coming from inside, and we smile at each other.
“What are they doing in there?” I ask her.
“Well, when I came out to find you, they were just getting ready to play a drinking game, but with Jell-O shots.”
“I didn’t have any Jell-O shots.”
“I think Keaton’s aunt Samantha brought them. She’s married to Leo, right?”
“Yeah. Well, let’s go get some Jell-O shots.”
When we walk inside, I’m surprised to find that it’s just the aunts and moms, including my mom, sitting in a circle on the living room floor, with a heaping platter of shots sitting in the middle.
“Never have I ever had sex on a tour bus,” Jules says and then points and laughs when Sam reaches for a shot.
I wade my way in and pluck my own shot off the top, making everyone roar with laughter.
“Atta girl,” Meg says, offering me her hand for a high five, and then we all laugh when Misty also reaches for a shot.
“Where are the others?”
“Oh, the young ones are out in Keaton’s shop, listening to music and doing who knows what.” Natalie gestures to the general area of the shop, and I feel my eyes go wide.
“Keaton specifically said we’re supposed to stay out of there.”
“Since when do the women in this family do as they’re told?” Stacy asks. “Okay, moving on. Never have I ever had sex in a cemetery.”
I don’t wait to see who takes a shot on that one, but I hear someone exclaim, “Jeanie!” and I do not want to know about my mother’s cemetery sexcapades.
“Your mom—” Misty begins, but I cut her off with a shake of my head.
“Not going there. No way.”
Misty laughs as we make our way to the shop, where I can already hear the music and laughter coming from inside.
And when I open the door, I sigh in resignation.
“Y’all are trying to get me divorced before I even get married.”
Stella looks my way and grins. “We’re not touching anything. We’re just sitting on these blankets, eating snacks, and talking about sex, I promise.”
“Just so you know,” I inform them all and point to the cameras up in the corners of the building, “Keaton’s watching every move we make in here.”
“He’ll be bored,” Liv says and pats the spot next to her on the blanket. “Come on, sit with us. You too, Misty. Get in here.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” Misty plops down next to Stella, accepts a glass of champagne, and digs into a bowl of chips. “Come on, Sterling, don’t be a party pooper.”
“I’m not a party pooper,” I reply and sit next to Liv, then glance around this big circle. All of these women are amazing, and as of tomorrow, they’ll all be my family, whether by blood or marriage or friendship.
“You’re getting sloppy,” Maya says, shaking her head. “I can see sentimentality written all over your face.”
“Nah, I’m just thinking that I’m one lucky bitch, that’s all.” I shrug a shoulder and then eye my sister. “So, now that Mom doesn’t really need a full-time caregiver anymore, maybe you’ll be having sex.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Maya says, raising her glass in cheers.
“What are you going to do now?” Stella asks her, and my sister just shrugs.
“I don’t know, honestly. Maybe I’ll travel a bit here and there. We’ll see.”
“I’m just glad that your mom is doing so well and has made such a huge turnaround that she doesn’t need to be watched all the time,” Sophie says. “That’s awesome. There are at least a dozen homes owned by our family all over the world. You should try to visit each one of them.”
“I couldn’t ask your family to—”
“I’m sorry,” Stella says, holding up a hand. “That’s our family. And I think that sounds like the most fun thing I’ve ever heard of. We’ll figure it out.”
Liv glances over to the garage bay behind me and points. “That must be my husband’s car.”
I look back and then nod. “Yep, that’s the Charger.”
“It looks haunted,” Haley says, and that makes us all laugh.
