Page 25 of Somehow You Knew

My mother huffs out a laugh as she takes Michael from Dallas and rubs his back while he stirs awake. “Oh, don’t try to pass it off as nothing, Hazel,” she says, with a warning look directed at me.

“What’s going on?” Penn chimes in.

I exhale sharply. “Let’s eat first, and then I’ll tell you what’s going on, okay?”

Parker eyes me suspiciously. “Now I’m nervous. If Hazel has something important to say, I’m afraid it might involve throwing dildos at our heads if we don’t like it.”

Penn barks out a laugh, shoving Parker’s shoulder.

I roll my eyes but smile at the memory. The time I hurled a very realistic-looking dildo at my brothers during a Carrington Cove Passion Party? Legendary. They’re never letting that one go.

“Just remember what I’m capable of before you react, then,” I warn, even though my stomach churns as I think about having to announce my impending nuptials to my family.

As we settle in to dinner, Dallas eyes me curiously across the table.

“What? Do I have food on my face or something?”

He continues to chew as he stares. “I’m just trying to figure out what this announcement is and how my wife knew about it before I did.”

Willow shoves his shoulder. “Oh calm down, you big ogre. All I know is that she has something to tell us, not what it is, okay?”

His eyes soften as he looks at her. “I don’t like secrets, Goose. You know that.”

I groan. “You act like I’m about to tell you that I’m secretly a stripper who fell for a mafia boss or something.” I pause, then shrug. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that…”

Cashlynn giggles from across the table. “Sounds like the plot of a romance novel.”

“It was, but my life isn’t that dramatic, okay?”

Dallas grunts. “Then what is this big announcement, Hazelnut?”

I glance over at my mother, hoping she can sense my need for her support right now. She gives me an encouraging nod.

I take a deep breath. “Fine. I do have some news, but your criticism isn’t necessary and just know, no matter what you think, I’m not changing my mind.”

“Not gonna lie, I’m a little scared,” Penn mutters.

Astrid rubs his shoulder but locks eyes with me. “We’re not going anywhere, Hazel. Now, what’s going on?”

“I’m…” The words are on the tip of my tongue, ready to spill out. But I let myself soak in the last moment before this decision actually becomes reality.

“I’m getting married.”

Silence descends upon the table, eyes moving around the table with unspoken questions.

“His name is Gage,” I continue. “He’s Diane’s nephew. We just met and I know it’s fast, but—”

“I’m sorry.” Dallas leans forward, planting his hands on the table as he stares at me like I’ve just lost my damn mind. “Did you saymarried?”

“Do you need a hearing aid already, older brother?”

He flips me off before settling back into his chair. “Sorry for being concerned, but—”

My mother interrupts him, waving a hand. “Oh, please. Don’t act so surprised, Dallas. You know your sister, and if she says she knows, well then, we need to trust her judgment.”

Dallas stares at her as if she’s grown two heads. “You’re really okay with this?”

Sheshrugs. “Even if I weren’t, I can’t control what Hazel does. And neither can you. Hell, all four of you have made questionable decisions over the years, but did I interfere?” She glances between Dallas, Penn, Parker, and me. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it’s that telling you my opinion, especially if it isn’t what you want to hear, isn’t going to change anything.”

---