Page 142 of Duke
“But I do mind you carrying everyone else’s bags.” I meet eyes with Wheeler. Her jaw twitches. I get why she’s pissed. “Y’allhead inside. I’ll set your luggage in your rooms and meet you in the kitchen.”
Wheeler’s brows curve upward. “You sure? I can—”
“You won’t. And yes, I’m sure.”
“I’m sorry they suck,” she says.
“Wheeler.” Frannie gives her a look.
Wow, lots of family dynamics happening here. No wonder Wheeler’s been such a mess.
We have the world’s most awkward lunch ever with my brothers and their wives and girlfriends in the kitchen. My family is predictably loud, but they also go out of their way to be friendly. Ava tries to engage Tim on his work, but he responds with one-word answers. He also takes one bite of his chicken salad—I made it with red grapes, walnuts, and celery, and it’s out-of-this-world good—then drops his fork and pushes away his plate, clearly pissed.
Sawyer meets my eyes across the table.What’s his deal?
Wheeler, meanwhile, is literally sweating as she tries to keep the conversation going. Preston quietly sips his water as his gaze wanders around the kitchen. I’m sure he’s assessing how much everything costs and in turn how wealthy we are.
A lot richer than you, dickhead.
Haines is the first to jump up and offer to help do dishes. Grateful the meal is finally over, I start to grab plates too. Wheeler tries to help, but I shoo her away.
“Rest.” I place her plate in the crook of my elbow. “Go put your feet up if you need to, yeah?”
That’s when I catch Tim watching me, his eyes narrowed.
Shit. Did I just give us away? Wheeler told her parents we were dating, but they obviously don’t know about the baby yet.
“I know everyone’s tired,” I add swiftly. “Your rooms are ready, so feel free to lie down for a bit.”
Cash stops me on the way to the sink. “You got this?” he murmurs, glancing over his shoulder. “Seems like a tough crowd.”
“I’m fine. It’s Wheeler I’m worried about.” I look at my girlfriend, whose posture tells me everything I need to know: stiff expression, shoulders slumped. Defeat is written all over her.
My chest clenches. If I didn’t know why Wheeler loved travel before, I do now: she wanted to get the hell out of the house she was raised in.
“Mollie is on standby,” Cash replies. “She’s known the Rankins for a long time. Which means she knows Wheeler is gonna need extra TLC this weekend.”
I tap his chest with my free elbow. “Appreciate that.”
“And you know you just gotta say the word, right? We’re all available if you need to, ahem, end the weekend early.”
My chest clenches again, for a different reason this time. I’ve always loved my family, but now, I appreciate having them more than ever. Growing up one of five kids was no picnic, but being part of such a close-knit crew certainly has its perks—my brothers having my back among them, no questions asked.
I want that for Wheeler too.
I want that for our baby too.
____
Thankfully the Rankins retreat to their rooms in the New House for the afternoon. Mollie whisks away Wheeler, the two of them disappearing to Mollie and Cash’s cabin.
Meanwhile, Wyatt gets a call from our contractor that there’s an issue with the new irrigation we’re installing on the Rivers’ side of the ranch. He and I hop in his truck and drive that way. We get stuck, literally and figuratively, in a ditch that’s ten feet deep and a hundred feet long trying to help the crew fix it.
So much for staying clean.
Back at home, I grab a late afternoon shower, then get dressed in my—our—bedroom. That way, Wheeler has plenty of time in the bathroom to get ready for dinner while I finish prepping the food.
She arrives at the cottage a few minutes later, looking tired but better than she did at lunch.
