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14
EVAN
“If you don’t set the table right this instant, I’m going to?—”
Liam waves his wife off. “We’re going, we’re going.”
“These men grumble about nothing but sports and farming.” Gabby chuckles to herself, but I know she doesn’t mean it harshly.
Gabby is my fierce sister-in-law, while Cass is soft and kind. Not that Gabrielle isn’t a good person to her core, but she’s more direct about things and keeps this family in line just like Alana does.
She’s been telling Patrick and Liam to set the table at my parents’ house for Sunday dinner since they all arrived at two p.m. It’s now three hours later, and my brothers are about to be in the doghouse if their wives have any say.
“You tell ’em, sis.” I bump my hip into hers as we stand at the island together.
She put together a seven-layer dip to go with the meal, and I’m whipping up my famous guacamole. It’s a recipe I developed while studying under a world-renowned chef in Mexico, which is why it’s on the menu tonight.
Several years ago, the four Ashton siblings agreed to have Sunday dinner with our parents. But the catch is that we can’t have Italian food. Of course, it’s what my mother and father would traditionally make at home, but we all ate and cooked so much of it at the restaurant growing up that we begged them to switch it up on Sundays.
Tonight’s dinner is from a local Mexican restaurant that makes burritos the size of my face. Their entrees are so delicious, I’ve been dreaming about this meal the entire week.
“Men.” She rolls her eyes but coos at her son, who is happily bouncing in a baby activity center in a corner of the kitchen. “But not you, my sweet boy.”
“Hey, don’t corrupt our son.” Liam comes in, grabbing Gabby around the waist and dipping her until she relents and kisses him with way too much tongue for a family hangout.
“Gross. You’ve gotten so sappy since you fell in love, Liam.” I make a gagging noise.
“And you have a stick up your a-s-s, Evan. Probably because you haven’t been properly loved.” He taunts me the way every older brother rags on their youngest one.
“Oh, I’ve been properly loved.” I smirk like the devil at him.
“There are children present,” Gabby tuts at me.
“Oh, like they know what sex is yet.” I roll my eyes.
“Says the guy who heard his parents doing the nasty.” Cass walks in, dropping that deadpan sentence in a way that makes my jaw drop.
“You’re spending too much time around this family, and I’m so proud of you.” Alana comes in after her, complimenting our most reserved sister-in-law for her savage comeback.
“They’re your in-laws, you know,” I sputter. “It should be just as gross to you.”
“I happen to hope that Patrick and I are just like them when we’re that age.” She winks at me, and Liam bursts into gravelly laughter.
“That we’re just like what?” Patrick comes into the kitchen now, confused about the topic of conversation.
“Knocking boots just like your parents do at their age.” Cass grins at her husband.
Patrick’s expression morphs into disgust. “Oh, babe, gross.”
I point at my brother. “Thank you!”
“Time for dinner, everyone!” Mom sticks her head in to wrangle us all to the table.
The doorbell rings as we shuffle into the dining room, and Mom asks me to get it before I sit.
The foyer is empty save for the sound of the baby’s noise machine coming from upstairs as I walk to my parents’ front door. Pulling it open, August is revealed, holding a bottle of wine with her blond curls floating around her.
“Hi.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face at her unexpectedly showing up.
