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“Which reminds me, we never figured out how to handle telling my brother.” she says.
“I’ll take him out for dinner after the honeymoon. We’ll be in a public place, so he can’t murder me.”
“Maybe I should be there too,” she suggests.
“I think it’s better if I go alone. Then he can say everything he needs to without worrying about what your reaction will be.”
She pats my chest. “Okay. I trust your judgment.” Her rosy lips stretch, arching upward at the corners. “This is really going to happen, right?”
I brush the tip of my nose over hers. “Yes. We’re really going to happen.”
CHAPTER18
CALISTA
Ryder and Walterhelp me carry everything outside to the back patio while Alice and Brandon get the kids dried off. We set dinner up buffet style on a long side table. Walter is the first to serve himself.
“Age before beauty,” he says, passing by me with a full plate.
“Hey, get your dinner,” Ryder tells me.
“I can wait until everyone else has theirs. I might ask if they want me to hold the baby while they eat.”
“The baby’s asleep in the playpen right now.” He points to a shaded spot under an umbrella. “You and I are going to eat together for once. Get your cute ass over there and fill your plate.”
I move over to the table, holding my hands up in a helpless gesture. “Okay. Okay. I just like to be helpful when I can,” I explain, taking a paper plate from the stack. I add a scoop of salad, sprinkle feta on top, and put a skewer of chicken next to it.
“You need more than that,” Ryder tells me.
“I weigh half of what you do, this is plenty. You and your food kink.”
He laughs deeply. “You’re hilarious. As I told you before, it's ayoukink.” I watch him fill his plate to overflowing. We join Walter at the large round table.
“Better eat fast before the kids come over here,” he says, popping a piece of chicken in his mouth.
“Why? What happens then?”
“Chaos. Lots and lots of chaos.”
I laugh. “I’m the oldest of four and the only girl, so I’m familiar with that term. My brothers are still chaotic. At least two of them are. The other one plays hockey with Ryder, so he’s got his life together.”
“Darius, right?” Walter asks.
“Yes. Have you met him?”
“I have. He’s a great guy. A good hockey player too.”
“He’s worked hard at it for most of his life.”
“That’s what it takes to reach that level of success. Ryder’s had a drive like no other when it comes to hockey,” he says, his fatherly pride evident in his tone and expression.
“That drive applies to getting you too,” Ryder says, winking at me.
“I guess it paid off for you.”
“Of course it did.” He grins knowingly.
“Calista, thank you for this delicious meal,” Walter says.
