“Yeah, thanks for bringin’ this meathead back. We’ve missed him,” Will teases.
“He broughtmeback.” I realize then I’m not just talking about the mountain.
Birdie’s eyes track down to my hand. “Wait. You’re still wearin’ it. Does that mean…?”
Jude chuckles and rolls his thumb over my ring, something he does every chance he gets. “I asked Em to marry me again a few weeks ago.”
“AndIasked Jude last weekend after getting’ Mary-Lou and Cap’s blessin’,” I tag on at the end.
That causes a chorus of cheers and congratulations to ring out.
“Well, now. That sounds like cause for celebration,” Case announces, slinging his arm over EJ’s shoulder.
I cock my head. “When did you two become besties?”
“When my sister andhisbrother decided to fake marry then fall in love,” EJ explains. “We knew you two were keepers so we bet each other that whoever won at pool–best of three–would get to house the happy couple.”
Jude barks out a surprised laugh. “Youbeton which ranch we’d live on?”
“Oh yeah.” BJ comes up next to Sutton, mimicking our other brothers’ pose. “Then Sutt and I agreed it wasn’t fair if we didn’t get to compete too.”
“That’s when we tried darts,” Sutt explains.
“Except now there’s a fair few more holes in the Lair’s walls than there were before,” EJ states proudly.
I look between them then BJ and Case before I catch Ash’s shrug and Dare’s ‘what can you do’ expression.
“So who won?”
“There was never any doubt,” Wyatt pipes up. “Because it didn’t matter what the result was.”
Now I’m really confused. “What do you mean?” Jude asks.
Dare and Will share a silent conversation, Will nodding at my big brother before both men turn to us.
“Wy’s right. It didn’t matter who won because I promised you I’d take care of it, and I have–”
“Wehave,” Will amends, causing Dare to roll his eyes and sigh.
“Yes, weallhave.”
Jude looks around the group. “Can someone clue us in here?”
Dare smiles. “It’s better to show you.”
Sick of everyone talking around what they’re meaning I throw my spare hand up in the air. “OK, can someone just show us then, rather than talkin’ about it, bettin’ on us, or whatever y’all have been doin’. We don’t want to be the reason for anewrivalry.”
“Hey,” Jude says, his lips twitching as he tilts my face up to his. “Breathe, wifey. We’re all family now.”
“Only because we’re married for real.”
He bounces a shoulder. “I think we were headin’ that way anyway. You and I bein’ called together just sped up theprocess.” Lowering his mouth to mine, he kisses me softly, our eyes locked the whole time. “I don’t care where we live. Even if it’s a box. Remember?”
Hearing my words repeated back to me warms me from the inside out. Right. Time to get this show on the road so I can see my new home with my One.
“I love you, hubby,” I murmur, kissing him one more time.
“Love you more, wifey.”