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“Which leads us to the elephant in the room,” Cage said. “Time for you to go watch a movie for a little bit, munchkin. And then we’re heading home. You’ve got school tomorrow.”
“I’ll go get her set up,” Lila said, pushing to stand and leading Gracie to the family room where she’d get her settled on the couch while the grownups harassed us.
Of course, my siblings were ready to pounce. They all had the patience of a toddler on a sugar high.
“Okay, let’s get into it.” Brinkley rubbed her hands together. “Is this the real deal?”
“I’ve got money on this, so you best tell the truth.” My oldest brother turned his attention to me.
“You’re betting on us now?” I said over my laughter.
“That was Cage’s idea,” Hugh said.
“Well, I tossed in ten bucks. I think this is some sort of stunt to get that annoying ex of yours back,” Olivia said, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at Reese.
“Let’s not talk poorly about Carl,” Jenny said. “And let them speak, for goodness’ sake.”
Lila came back and took her seat beside Hugh. “What did I miss?”
“Well, this is a ‘code of silence’ moment. So everyone here has to agree to keep this a secret.” Reese glanced around the table.
“What happens at the Reynolds’ house stays at the Reynolds’ house,” Georgia said.
“I don’t know that we can say that. You and Brinks have had too many slips to put that slogan on a T-shirt,” Cage grumped.
“Don’t be a hater,” Brinkley said, shooting him a warning look. “A Reynolds-Murphy code of silence is different. Obviously, we will all keep our mouths closed.”
“Finn and I are just going to have some fun. I wasn’t ready to face Carl and his new girlfriend,” Reese said before clearing her throat. It was obvious that even the mention of them dating caused her pain.
“Whom we shall leave unnamed because the fact that she uses a three-name title is annoying as hell.” Olivia held her wine glass up, and everyone raised their glasses and chuckled as they clinked them together.
“It’s not that big of a deal. She wants to make Carl jealous because he can’t stand the idea of her being with me. And it will clean up my image and hopefully put Jessica’s claims to rest. She’s going to live with me anyway, and we’re always together, so it’s a win-win. We’ll keep up appearances for the next two months, and then I’ll head back to filming after the holidays, and Reese will get her happily ever after.” I shrugged.
I saw the disappointment on our mothers’ faces, but they both nodded.
“Well, I’m not paying until the gig is up and they end this thing,” Cage said, throwing his hands in the air.
“Listen, if you want to pull this off, you can’t be sloppy,” Brinkley said after she set her wine glass down. “You’ve got Marilyn there cleaning your house, and you know she’s a gossip. She’s best friends with Mrs. Runither. So Reese better keep her things in your room and make it look like she’s staying in there with you.”
“I often wonder where that devious mind of yours comes from. How do you think of these things?” Cage asked as the table erupted in laughter once again.
“I’m a reporter. It’s my job to think of these things,” Brinkley said, unable to hide her smile.
“Wouldn’t change one hair on your head, sweetheart.” Lincoln wrapped an arm around her shoulder and tugged her closer.
“So, what’s the plan? Finn cleans up his image that Jessica has tainted, and Reese gets back together with Carl?” Georgia asked.
“That’s the plan. Now that I know what I want to do with my life professionally, I want to move forward in my personal life, as well. It was never that I didn’t want to marry Carl. I just wanted him to support my dreams the way I’ve supported his.”
“And you think he’s done that?” Olivia asked, and she didn’t hide her irritation. I knew she wasn’t a fan of Carl because she’d opened up to me at Maddox and Georgia’s wedding in Paris when Reese had stepped out of the reception to take a call from her ex. Olivia and Carl used to be close, but since he’d ended the engagement, she was most definitely protective of her sister.
“He supports me. He just didn’t like us being apart for a year. There’s a difference.”
Everyone at the table shared a glance, and I saw the uncertainty. But they all loved Reese, and they’d agree because they didn’t want to say what was really on their minds.
That her ex had behaved like a selfish prick, and he didn’t deserve her.
I knew it.
