AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come with me to my family’s cookout.”
She blinks up at me, tilting her head to the side in confusion. “What?”
“Grayson and Levi are here to get me, but I’ll tell them to leave and we can go together. You can meet my sister and her family and spend the day with us.”
“As much as I’d like to meet them, how is that going to help me with my embarrassment? I don’t want to see your brothers again for alongtime. Long enough for them to forget that situation … or the fact that they ever met me.”
I chuckle. “Think of it as another confidence lesson. I’ll help you see that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks in a relaxed setting.”
“I’ll have to change.”
She looks down, drawing my attention to her curve-hugging dress … and the fact that we’re still pressed together. We both take a step back at the same time. She smooths her dress skirt and avoids my eyes.
“Take your time. I’m going to kick my brothers out and whenever you’re ready we can head over.”
“Okay,” she says in a quiet voice.
“It’s going to be okay, Juliette,” I tell her and she musters a soft smile. “If anyone says anything you don’t like, I’ll hit them. Unless it’s a woman, then we’ll have a stern talk.”
She giggles at my words and nods. “Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”
I wait for the door to close behind her and Murphy before storming across our shared lawn to where my brothers are waiting with Cheshire cat grins on their faces.
“Now, wasn’t that a fun surprise?” Levi asks, leaning against the front door.
“If either of you mention this to anyone–includingJuliette–I will punch you in the stomach so hard you won’t even want to eat whatever dessert Maverick makes.”
“I thought Grayson was exaggerating when he talked about you being gone for this girl, but you really are.”
“She’s awomannot a girl, and I’m not gone for her, she’s my friend.” I cross my arms over my chest again. “I’m bringing her to the cookout, so I’ll be driving. You can leave.”
“That’s even better than us taking you. Everyone is going to go crazy that you brought awomanhome,” Levi says with a grin.
I glare at him and try to take deep breaths through my nose, feeling on the edge of raging like a bull.
“Come on, Levi. Let’s go before he starts swinging.”
“Your first intelligent decision of the day,” I grit out.
“I really hope your girlfriend cheers you up before you get to Dad’s house. Because right now you’re looking like a storm cloud.” Grayson’s cheeky smile sets me off.
I reach for him, but he dances away from my swing, laughing. He rushes to the truck with Levi, then waves like some kind of parade member as they back out of the drive.
I already regret inviting Juliette.
Chapter twenty-one
Juliette Monroe
Ican’tbelieveIagreed to do this.My brush snags in my hair, making me wince. After coming face to face with three of the Carter brothers while sporting raccoon eyes and bedhead, all I want to do is crawl under my comforter and not come out for at least seven business days. But here I am, raking my messy hair into a ponytail so that I don’t take too long getting ready.
I’m not sure what kind of family starts a cookout this early in the day, but if this is how they do things I don’t want to be the reason Adrian is late. Even if Adrian’s brothers know that I didn’t wake up anticipating an invitation to a family event this morning.
Once my hair is in a–rather messy–ponytail, I scrub my face with a makeup wipe. I’ve likely ripped out half my eyelashes in the process, but I need this melted smokey eye off my lidsfast. All the estheticians in the world are shuddering at my treatment of my skin for sure as I immediately dab on my foundation over my barely clean skin. Tonight once I’m home I’ll do a face mask and pretend that will save the damage I’m doing, but right now I just need to look mildly presentable.
I want to make a good impression on his family. Adrian clearly loves them–in his own grumpy way–so if I want any chance with him, they need to like me too. It would have been nice to have had time to prepare and agonize over my appearance and what I’m going to say … but maybe this is for the best. Now I quite literally don’t have time to overthink. I’ll have to save that for the car ride over there.
Once my makeup is passable, I tug on a pair of high-rise jeans and a sage green turtleneck sweater. I’m going for classic and cozy, so I add some faux pearl earrings and call it done. A knock sounds at the door, making me fall to the side as I’m shoving my left foot into one of my boots.
