Page 62 of Until the End

Goose—

You still owe me a swimsuit fashion show. Don’t think I forgot about that.

—Duck

Chapter 37

Ginny

Laughter fills my house. It’s the best sound in the world. Watching the women of my family tease and joke with each other has always been one of my favorite sights. It’s been a long time since I’ve attended a proper girls’ night.

We’ve put together a paint-and-sip activity for tonight. I found a video tutorial for us to follow, but I highly doubt we’ll end up finishing it. Usually by the time we’re halfway through, we’re too buzzed to keep painting. It’s still one of our favorite activities.

My living room furniture has been pushed to the outer edges to make room for the long table. There are paint palettes at each space, along with easels and canvases. There are too many of us to get our schedules well-matched, so not all of the girls were able to attend tonight, but most of us will be here.

Lottie, Gia, and I work together to put everyone’s drinks on the table while our moms get the food gathered. Adalaide helps Carson’s mom with divvying up the paint bottles, and in just a few minutes, everything is ready to go.

“What are the boys up to tonight?” Addie asks when she sits next to me.

“They’re playing laser tag.” I smirk at her.

“Is the freezer stocked with ice packs?” she teases.

“I brought several when Tucker told me what they had planned,” Carson’s mom, Natalie, says about her husband. She’s always prepared for the guys to disrupt our girls’ nights with their antics. Tonight is going to include a whole lot of babying. The guys always go a little nuts when they play laser tag. If only one of them comes back with an injury, I’ll be shocked.

Lottie’s mom, Quinn, leans around Addie. “Cooper scoffed at me when I told him I refilled my travel bottle of Tylenol.”

“It amazes me that they wholeheartedly believe this time will be different from the last,” Lottie says.

“Carson said he’s going to make sure no one breaks something,” I tell them.

“Oh, god,” Natalie groans. “Tucker was so stubborn after spraining his ankle the last time they played. If he comes back with an injury, I’ll kill him myself.”

The whole table starts giggling at that. Aunt Natalie has always been a force to be reckoned with. I would not envy Uncle Tucker if he comes back hurt.

“Hey, speaking of my son,” Natalie says to me. “Is he treating you right? You’re happy with him? If not, let me know. I’ll remind him how he should be treating his girl.”

I grin at her. “He’s been great. We’re both insanely happy to be home.”

“Are they planning another tour for your new album?” Quinn asks.

“Of course. But it shouldn’t be as grueling as the last one. Plus, if Carson can go with me, it’ll be even better.”

“He better go with you,” Natalie insists. “He’s the only one I trust to take care of you like you deserve while you’re on the road.”

She’s not wrong. Carson would be an amazing asset while I’m touring. He’d make sure every single one of my needs is met. But what about his needs? It would be incredibly selfish of me to constantly be the taker in our relationship. He needs to be taken care of, too. Our relationship has to be reciprocal, otherwise it’ll fail.

Gia wiggles her finger at me. “What’s that face about?”

“What face?” I deny.

“The one that looks like you’re about to cry.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not about to cry.”

“You aren’t thinking happy thoughts, that’s for sure.”

“Talk to us, hon. You know we’re always going to be on your side, no matter what.” Natalie’s words make me smile. Despite the fact that I’m in love with her son, I have no doubt she’d side with me if he was being a jerk.

---