Page 64 of Sing For Me

“No, but Haylee spent some time with her and she said she was justdelightful,” Paige gushes.

“You guys know I’m standing right here, right?” I ask.

“Everyone’s just excited for you,” my dad cuts in, and I tense, already knowing what’s coming next. “It’s been so long since you’ve dated.”

“And there’s a good reason for that,” I mutter, giving him a warning glare. We are not talking about that here.

He studies my face for a moment before sighing. “We all just want you to be happy, Will.”

“I’d be much happier if you guys dropped this.”

“Will—”

To my great relief, Rose is heading our way. “You’re taking too long with my burger,” she calls out to me, winking, and I know she must have read my irritation from across the lawn and is coming to rescue me. Good old Rose.

Of course, when she hits the patio all of my uncles’ attention goes to her.

“Rosie! How are you, baby girl?”

“I’m good, Uncle Reed,” she says, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

“Good to see you, sweetheart,” Lennon says, wrapping an arm around her.

“Where’s my kiss?” my dad asks, mock-hurt, and she rolls her eyes before coming over to kiss his cheek, too.

Rose is the best distraction from my dad and uncles because they’re all crazy about her. We talk a lot about how CeCe, the youngest, is the baby of the family but the truth is, Rose will always be the baby as far as her uncles are concerned. Since Wyatt didn’t meet the family until he was eight, Rose was the first offspring they all knew since birth. According to our moms, they were all obnoxiously smitten with her from the start, a sentiment that hasn’t changed no matter how many kids followed her.

“How’s school going, Rosie?” my dad asks. “You still kicking total ass with all those eggheads?”

“Of course she is,” her dad says proudly, slinging an arm around his daughter’s shoulders. “My girl is a badass at everything she tries. Gonna have her PHD in a few years. Dr. Ransome.”

Rose leans into her dad’s side and I can’t help the little twinge of jealousy I feel. She’s so close with her parents.

How long has it been since I’ve felt that way?

“Hey, this kid actually listens to you,” Uncle Reed says to her, pointing at me. “Why don’t you convince him to bring his new girlfriend over here to meet us?”

I groan. So much for the distraction. Rose’s eyes are flashing with humor as she looks at me. “I think you’re going to give him a stroke,” she whispers loudly.

“Why wouldn’t you want her to meet us?” Uncle Daltrey asks me. “We’re awesome.”

“You’re annoying as fuck,” I shoot back, and he puts a hand over his heart, mock-wounded.

A commotion erupts behind us in the pool—apparently the kids have moved on from volleyball to playing chicken which led to Nix trying to pants Silas. Everyone in the pool is either yelling or hysterically laughing. I raise an eyebrow at my uncles. “Point proven.”

My phone dings in my pocket and I pull it out, hoping for some kind of escape from this crazy. I try very hard not to smile when I see the text is from Eva.

But apparently, I don’t do a good enough job because my uncles immediately start to chuckle. “Oh,” Aunt Paige cries, clapping. “That’s her, isn’t it? You should see your face. You’re so freaking cute!”

“You do look a little moony, buddy,” Uncle Reed says, grinning.

“Super in love,” Uncle Lennon adds.

“I hate all of you,” I tell them, typing a quick response to Eva, letting her know that pizza tomorrow sounds great, before pocketing my phone.

“Are you going out tonight?” Aunt Daisy asks.

“Ooh, we could help you get ready!” Aunt Paige squeals.