I wave him off. “I’m wearing a hoodie and pants.”
He grins. “My hoodie.”
Rolling my eyes, I lean into him as Mrs. Sinclair says, “Avery, you have such a gorgeous voice. I enjoyed your performance very much.”
I grin at her. “Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure. I feel so proud, all the girls my boys are in love with are so talented. I have a dancer, a hockey player, and now a singer. Pretty proud lady right here. Must have raised y’all right.”
Jude scoffs. “Mom, don’t act like you raised Jace. We all know it was the wolves.”
“I thought it was bears?” Jayden asks. “Didn’t we find him in a bear cave?”
“No, it was a raccoons. Remember we found him in the Dumpster?” Lucy supplies, which sends everyone into an uproar. But I’m still caught up on the fact that she said Jace loved me.
“Screw you guys. Mom, just tell them I’m your favorite and that’s why you decided to stop after me. She had to get it right, you see. That’s why I’m the best at everything I do,” he says to me, and I roll my eyes at his cockiness. It’s suffocating sometimes, but I love it.
“That’s right, honey,” his mom says, cupping his face.
“Yeah, honey, the best ever,” Jude says, mocking his mom.
“What would we do if we weren’t blessed with the best human possible?” Lucy asks. “Jesus, Mom, thanks for bringing him in from the Dumpster.”
“Really, Mom, best choice ever. But I still think the cat would have been easier to keep up with,” Jayden adds and Jace just glares.
Man, I wish this were my life. I would have taken this over being ignored anytime. My brothers didn’t even care enough to tease me, but these guys are ruthless. It’s so funny.
As I reach for my drink, Jude says, “Hey, Avery, I think it’s great that you’re dating a hermaphrodite.”
And I promptly spew it on the table.
“Jude, really?” Jace yells.
“Yeah, he’s not a hermaphrodite,” Lucy says, handing me a napkin. “He’s transgender, remember?”
“That’s right,” Jude says with a nod, a grin pulling at his face.
“I hate all of you,” Jace murmurs, shaking his head as I wipe my mouth and the table.
“That’s enough. Jeez, leave him be,” Mrs. Sinclair yells out and her cheeks are red in embarrassment. “Y’all got my crazy out in the middle of this restaurant. I’m so sorry, River.”
But Jace’s coach just gives her a lopsided grin. “It’s fine, baby.”
When all four of her children and Baylor gag, I can’t help but giggle.
“Shut up, all of you. Baylor, honey, your face, erase that,” Mrs. Sinclair says, but Baylor just keeps looking as if she is going to puke while Jayden laughs from his gut.
“Is this not weird to anyone else?” Baylor asks and everyone nods but Claire and me, oh, and Angie. But Coach and Mrs. Sinclair look hopelessly in love. It’s sweet.
“I can’t even look him in the eye,” Jace admits.
“I look at his forehead,” Jude says.
“I don’t even look at him at all,” Jayden adds.
“I only come to his chest, so I stare at that… Oh my God, not in a creepy way— Can I get a margarita?” Lucy begs, which sends everyone into a fit of laughter. “No, really. I need alcohol, like now.”
“Lucy Lane, please,” Mrs. Sinclair scolds and Lucy gives her a stressed look.