Page 71 of Under the Influence

Erin opens her mouth to say something likely dismissive but then thinks better of it. Instead, her gaze finds me. “I’m going to ask this one thing only this one time. Whatever your answer, I’ll never mention it again, okay?”

Dubious now, I mutter, “Sure.”

“Is it possible you’re going through a midlife crisis?”

Shrugging, I admit, “On paper, I can see how it’d look that way. Call it homestead magic or simple chemistry, but Edith owned me right off the bat. Wanting her wasn’t an option. Or convenient. Her dad is a man I can’t afford to piss off. But there was no walking away.”

“Men in the throes of a midlife crisis might feel the same way you do,” Erin says, likely unwilling to believe our family isn’t cursed to be alone.

Val rests his hand on Erin’s shoulder. “The magic can’t be denied. I knew Lola was mine as soon as we met. Her screaming at me at the grocery store and playing cold couldn’t defeat the magic. That’s just how it works at the homestead.”

Clover’s green eyes dart around as if she might be under attack. “In that case, I should probably leave and never return.”

“Baby sister-in-law, if it’s meant to be, it will be,” Val states. “Doesn’t matter where you run.”

“Ugh,” Clover says and shakes her head before smiling at me. “I thought you went crazy when you walked over and kissed Edith. Like, you’d snapped or something. I’m relieved to know she’s your girlfriend.”

Chuckling at Clover’s concern, I hug her and tug Lola into the mix.

“When were you planning on telling us?” Lola asks.

“Tomorrow.”

“Well, I fully support this relationship,” Val announces, winning a scowl from Erin. “Edith is a great chick. She deserves a quality man. Plus, now, she doesn’t need to move to Arcadia. It’s all worked out.”

“I don’t know,” Erin mutters.

Val ignores her worries and focuses on fondling Lola. My daughters both watch me with curious gazes. They’re likely replaying our conversations from the last few weeks. I did the same thing when Lola admitted she had been harboring feelings for Val before the engagement. I wondered how I could have missed what she was going through.

“Are we okay?” I ask my girls once Val has Lola wrapped up against him.

“What happens now?” Clover asks, still glancing around as if she might get tackled by romance.

“I don’t know. I hadn’t planned everything coming out this way. I suspect Edith’s parents’ reaction will dictate how much drama happens.”

“Tuesday has already fake-fainted,” Val says and points out the window. “My ma and Auntie Justice are nearly pawing at the back door of Auntie Journey’s place. That’s normal. The homestead ladies love making noise. However, I suspect Uncle Donovan will rile up the men.”

“Well, you can be my human shield.”

Val smiles bigger. “Of course, but we might want to fill up our water pistols just in case. Court and my pa are sure to be genuinely irritated, but the womenfolk will likely want to get everyone wet.”

“But that was going to happen anyway,” Clover points out. “Your family ends every party with a water fight.”

“Not the engagement one,” Lola says.

“I told them to behave that day,” Val announces full of pride before shrugging. “But I think they only listened because Uncle Court said the same shit.”

I glance out the door to find Edith’s aunts peeking through the windows at the Mooney house.

Edith looked worn down earlier. I can’t imagine her parents giving her too much grief. Yet, I nearly text to ask if she’s okay. What should my next move be?

Lola joins me at the back door and looks out at the other house. Clover appears between us. We watch Poppy and Justice goof around as they wait to create drama. My gaze flashes toward Court and Emmett on Jared’s back deck. They’re drinking beers and pointing at the dogs running around the yard.

My tension eases. The homestead isn’t on fire after learning Edith and I are dating.

As Clover slides her hand into mine, I find a soft smile on her face. “You were a good dad when I was little, but I think you got better as you got older.”

I share her grin. “If I want to keep Edith, I’ll need to give her a baby. It’s her one dealbreaker.”

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