Page 133 of The Wife Situation

“So, how did you two meet?” Brett asks as he takes a bite of potatoes.

“I stole his watch.” Lexi laughs. “Then, he got me fired.”

“I felt awful,” I admit. “It was a misunderstanding.”

Chris laughs. “Sounds like she deserved it.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Lexi stresses. “But it’s neither here nor there. Afterward, we ran into each other randomly. Itwas a lot of serendipitous events, and I quickly realized how good we could be together.”

“Sounds like love at first sight,” her mother says.

“It was,” Lexi agrees, squeezing my hand. “Which is also very weird.”

“No,” Chris offers. “Dad said he fell in love with Mom the first time he saw her. I don’t think it’s that unbelievable. It happens to some people.”

Lexi smiles and sucks in a deep breath.

“So, you want to marry my sister?” Brett focuses on me.

I notice the tattoos on his arm. It’s a Western theme with a cactus, mountains, and night sky.

“Yes,” I say without any hesitation. “It would be my greatest honor to have Lexi as my wife. She makes me a better person,” I say, meeting her eyes. “I wanted this conversation to be more private without her here, but?—”

“My timing is shit,” Lexi says. “It is what it is.”

“If you’re asking for my blessing, Easton, you have it,” her mother says.

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“Don’t have ours though. Come back before dark, and we’ll discuss it,” Chris says. “Beside the house is a long dirt road leading to our horse barn.”

“Can we not do this?” Lexi asks.

“I’ll be there,” I say, not intimidated.

Maybe Lexi’s right though, and I should be. I don’t know their capabilities, but I won’t back down.

“We’ll see you then,” Brett tells me as they finish eating.

“Well, this was agreattalk,” Lexi says. I can hear the sarcasm in her voice. “Love you, Mom. I think we’re gonna let y’all finish up and head out.”

Lexi stands and pulls me with her.

“So soon?” her mother asks.

Lexi kisses her on the head. “Yeah. I won’t be a stranger though.”

“It was an honor meeting you all,” I say, then glance at her brothers. “I’ll see you soon.”

Lexi drags me away.

When we’re outside, she places her hands on top of her head and breathes out as she looks at the sky. A butterfly skirts by and she shakes her head. “That went terribly. They’re going to haze you.”

“Whatever it takes.”

She turns to me with seriousness written on her face. “They won’t play by any rules, Easton.”

“I have a little sister. I understand how this works. I’m not concerned.”

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