Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers 3)

“We’re going by my office tomorrow. We’ll drop by the farm afterward,” Evin answers for us.

“That’ll work. And I think this calls for much more than a small family dinner.”

“Wednesday night, our place. Anyone is welcome to come early and we’ll make it a pool party, too.” Ashlyn speaks the loudest and with total authority.

Annie narrows her eyes and Darby’s face falls. “Not fair! I was distracted.”

“Rookie mistake. I called it first,” Ashlyn gloats, blowing a sarcastic kiss to the screen.

“Early dinner, Poppy has to catch a flight on Thursday,” Evin tells them.

A slight ache coils in my stomach at the reminder, but it’s forgotten as the subject turns to the menu.

“Hey!” Stephanie shouts. “I’m going to back to my honeymoon and letting y’all plan this. Happy for you two.”

They exit and the conversation keeps on. There’s not much for me to add, so I sink into Evin and enjoy the banter. After a few minutes, people drop off, mostly the men.

“I’ve given it ten minutes. Can we end this now?” Evin asks quietly.

“Yes, I think it would put the husbands out of misery.”

He sits us up, explaining that he’s ending the call and everyone can call each other to make the plans. Without waiting for responses, he shuts it down.

“Well, that went well. I’m sorry it wasn’t the way you pictured it.”

“Are you happy?” His question strikes me as odd.

“Absolutely.”

“All I wanted was to share our news. However that happened was fine.”

Once again, I’m reminded of how lucky I am. Before I can show my appreciation, my phone rings.

“Answer it, baby. My phone’s about to blow up, too.”

I take the call, sliding off his lap. “Hey.”

“Girl!”

Uh-oh, I know this tone. Ryanne’s in a mood. “What?”

“We will dissect that call in a minute, right now I’m wondering why I’m not kicking your and Dante’s asses for not telling me how fucking hot Ashlyn’s brothers are! Especially Andrew!” she yells so loud Evin rolls his eyes.

I howl, bending over, and Evin mutters, “Jesus,” before getting up to take his own call.

“I was blinded the moment I saw Evin.”

“Ugh, gooey. I knew if I sent you down there you’d turn into a mushy southern hippie.”

“It’s not gooey and mushy if it’s true.”

“Fine, you get a pass. But next trip, my ass in on a plane with you.”

The phone clicks with facetime request, and I switch, seeing Dante’s face as well.

“You good?”

“I’m perfect now. When the call was about to start, my nerves hit big time. Then I saw Stephanie and Todd, and with what they thought this call was about, my stomach was in knots. But having you two and Evin, it all went away.”

“Ryanne and I had a plan if this went downhill, but we knew it wasn’t necessary. We watched the faces of everyone on that screen, and you’re good, Pips.”

“I think so.”

“I almost died with Ashlyn and the pregnancy thing!” Ryanne cackles. “If only she knew.”

“She knows! It’s not smart to drink with those two pregnant women. They coaxed it out of me this weekend. Can you imagine me having to explain to all those people that my episode this afternoon was not a telltale sign of pregnancy since I’ve only been having sex for ten days?”

Both of them lose it, and I nestle deeper into the sofa. Evin walks through with his phone to his ear, flashing me a grin on his way upstairs.

“Spill it, we want to hear about the weekend,” Dante demands, and I launch into details.

Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at the door and Evin’s flying down the stairs. Runner barks, rushing to greet visitors.

“Guys, I have to go. Someone’s here.” I toss the phone on the ottoman and stand. “Who’s that?”

“My guess is my parents,” he grumbles in annoyance, opening the door.

A blur flies past him, and Annie is in my face, pulling me into a firm embrace.

“Beautiful girl, I am…” her voice cracks and breath hitches. She trembles slightly in my embrace.

“Annie, I love him.”

She draws back, completely composed. “And he loves you. You don’t have a mama around to say this. But now you have me. I am tickled beyond belief.”

Nostalgia hits and a pain slices in my chest. “Tickled,” I clear my throat and swallow the lump forming. “My grandmother used to say that. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard it.”

Her eyes soften and she grins. “Then you know exactly what I mean.”

“I do.”

Edward comes up, extending his arms wide with an enormous smile. I step to him and am immediately off my feet and engulfed. “Glad to know I didn’t raise a stupid boy.”

I giggle, still loving that he refers to Evin as a boy.

“Can we stop jerking my wife around like a rag doll? She was sick a few hours ago.”

“He’s a bit dramatic.”

Edward sets me on my feet and focuses over my shoulder. “Happy for you, Evin.”