The room falls quiet until Dare jolts. “You think Dad knew?”
I nod. “He said Em brought the family together and she was the one who would bring the mountain back together. The way I see it, if he didn’t know, he could surely sense it,” I reply.
Dare’s lips twitch before curling into a wide, shit-eating grin. “This is goin’ to be so good.”
I swear I’ll be leaving here with whiplash at this rate.
All eyes turn to the oldest Wilson brother. “What are you talkin’ about?” Ash asks.
Dare nods my way. “Imagine what Em’s goin’ to say when this one tells her their weddin’ was bindin’?”
The twins snicker before they lose it and collapse against each other in a fit of laughter. “Oh, damn. Em’smarried. Forreal,” BJ says in between snorts. “She will be so pissed.”
“What?” I splutter.
Ash smirks. “Our sister has never been the kind of girl who grew up wantin’ to get married. Now that this has happened, youget to tell her that sheismarried—and for real, and it’s all got to do with the mountain prophesy we’ve only heard about but never thought would happen to us.”
I stare at Asher absolutely dumbfounded by his revelation. Dare mutters a curse under his breath. “She doesknowabout the Call, Jude. She’s just never put much faith in fate and there bein’ a predestined ‘plan’.”
“You think it’s somethin’ she mightconsiderthough?” I ask. I mean, she’s fascinated with earthquakes. They’re one of the most unpredictable things out there.
Dare reaches out and claps me on the back of the shoulder. “Honestly, I think that’s the least of your worries. First you’ve got to tell her that your symbolic gesture is now somethin’ a lot more formal and alotmore legal. But to answer your question, the mountain’s Call won’t hurt your case. Not if Em likes you.”
“Shouldn’t you be tellin’ him that he needs all the help he can get?” Ash says. “We’re supposed to be the big, scary, protective brothers.”
Dare rolls his eyes. “You forget that heknowsus.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not scary,” I mutter, earning amused grins from all of the Wilson men.
“Speakin’ of scary, when are you goin’ to call Em and tell her?” EJ asks.
“I’m not. I’m leavin’ from here and drivin’ to Palmer. She deserves to hear it in person.”
Somehow, out of everything I’ve told the Wilson men in this room, it’sthatdeclaration that seems to earn me at leastsomeapproval. Given they’re my brothers-in-law now, I’m calling that progress.
“Guess you’ll be needin’ her address,” Will says.
“That’s why I’m here.”
Ash’s brows jump high. “You sayin’ youwouldn’thave told us otherwise?”
I look him dead in the eye when I answer. “Not before my wife, no.”
A slow-growing smile appears on his face. “Good answer.”
Chapter 9
Em
Jude: Hey. How was your day?
I’m surprised when his message comes through. He’s been uncharacteristically quiet since last night. That’s because since we first started talking almost two weeks ago, not a day has passed when we haven’t touched base at least once, though it’s usually a lot more than that.
What I hadn’t realized was how tense my entire body has been today, not until I saw his name on my phone and felt all of that tightness fade away almost instantaneously. Even the dull ache I’ve had in the back of my head all day has all but gone.
Em: Hey. It was good. How about yours?
Leaning against my kitchen counter, I watch as Jude starts typing before stopping again. This happens about three or four times.