Will turned to the girls. “You’re not supposed to be on Pippa’s side.”
“She’s family,” Hailey protested.
“So what are Jace and I? Doormen?” Will gave our baby sister his most impressive I’m-a-detective stare. As usual, it achieved nothing.
“If it helps, I think Will’s the next victim,” Blake went on.
Jace fist-bumped the air. “Excellent news.”
Will glared at him, and Jace had the grace to turn his shit-eating grin into an apologetic smirk.
“Sorry, buddy, but better you than me.”
“I need backup here, not to be stabbed in the back.”
Jace seemed to consider this. “Yeah, but if I do that, then I’ll go down with you too.”
“I always look out for both of us,” Will insisted.
“These are just my self-preservation skills at work. As a cop, you should be proud.”
Will remained dangerously silent. I could practically hear the wheels spinning in his mind. Oh, yeah. He was plotting his revenge, but it would take a while. That was okay. Brotherly revenge was best served after one put a lot of time and consideration in it.
“So, how come Pippa doesn’t have her eyes on Val and Hailey? They’re single,” Will said.
Val explained that Pippa had said she’d done her best work on her brothers.
“I’d like to point out that I didn’t need much help,” Blake said. “I knew a good thing when I saw it right off the bat, as opposed to these two.” He threw his thumb in Logan and Sebastian’s direction.
“So, basically, Will is toast.” Jace was gloating a little too much.
Will surprised everyone by replying, “Well, she can have a go at it. I’m not opposed to a relationship, just haven’t found the right person.”
Well, damn. Honesty worked better than revenge.
Jace jerked his head back. “Are you telling me I’m about to lose my best wingman soon?”
“I’m sure your teammates can pick up the slack.”
“Yeah, but as I said. You’re the best.”
It was time I added gasoline to the fire.
“Pippa and I should go into business. A joint venture of sorts. She match makes, I organize the wedding. She sells the couple engagement and wedding rings. It all comes full circle.”
Hailey chuckled. Val was laughing openly, and Will’s smile was even smugger than Logan’s had been earlier. Jace was glaring at me.
I loved Friday dinners.
***
The next Friday, I was on pins and needles as Milo, Graham, and I arrived at Val's house, but I seemed to be the only nervous one. Milo and Graham were chatting about the dribbling video they’d watched when Graham was at our house. He’d joined us on some evenings, though he hadn’t stayed overnight yet.
All my siblings were already the
re and we got introductions out of the way fairly quickly.
"Graham, I hope you like casserole." Val threw her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the kitchen.