Page 9 of Wrong For Me

River snorts. “Our night out started with VIP passes for the summer’s biggest musical festival. Have some perspective, you whiny bastard.”

Will takes a deep breath, clearly trying to reign in his temper, and I can’t help but grin. Eva’s influence on the old grouch is so evident.

Everly and Alex finally appear and Riv lets out a loud wolf whistle when he sees them. “Looking good, ladies.”

Everly gives a little twirl. “I’m ready to get my dance on.”

My younger cousins apparently decided to go all out for the club tonight, in short, flirty dresses and the kind of heels I would definitely break an ankle in. I have no idea how they manage to get their hair to fall in such perfect, full waves over their shoulders, and they’re both rocking the dramatic smoky eye look. I can barely manage to pull off mascara, let alone figure out how to do that winged eyeliner thing they’re so good at.

“Where did you get your dress, Alex?” I ask, but Will interrupts with a groan.

“Can we talk about our fashion choices in the car? I want to get out of here before—”

“Ah, here are the little party animals,” a voice calls from the doorway, and we all turn to see a hoard of parents approaching.

“Beforethathappens,” Will mutters.

“Too late,” Alex tells him cheerfully.

“Doesn’t it bring back memories?” Uncle Cash continues as five sets of parents crowd around us. “We used to be young and fun like you.”

“A very long time ago,” Will says, laughing.

“Hey,” Aunt Paige cuts in. “I’m still fun!” She walks over to her daughter and smooths a strand of Everly’s hair, expression a little wistful. “You girls look so pretty. I wish I was going out with you.”

Uncle Reed slips an arm around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. “The kids don’t want us old farts cramping their style.” He eyes his daughter’s dress and his expression turns stony. “Speaking of style, that’s a little short, don’t you think?”

Everly rolls her eyes and moves to kiss both parents on the cheek, completely ignoring her dad’s question. “We’ll be good, I promise.”

“Don’t beentirelygood,” Uncle Cash says with his familiar rock star smirk. “You’re turning twenty-one, for God’s sake. You should be having some fun.”

“Just nottoomuch,” my dad adds. He gives River a stern look. “Take care of your sister.”

“I’m two years older than him!” I protest. “If anything, I should be looking after him.”

“Besides,” my brother adds. “You guys don’t have a lot of room to lecture anyone about behavior. We’ve all read the articles about the famous Ransom partying, you know. The internet is a thing.”

My dad opens his mouth to argue but Will cuts him off. “Can we please get going?”

Uncle Cash slings an arm around his son’s shoulder—an amusing sight, considering Will has several inches on his dad. “Your cousin is right. You have a long and storied tradition of partying to live up to. Make me proud, son.”

Will rolls his eyes and pushes his dad away, but I can see the way his lips are twitching at the corners, like he’s trying not to smile.

“Come on,” Alex says in a teasing voice. “The old people probably want to get back to their puzzles and slippers and glasses of warm milk.”

“Hilarious,” her mom says, then they all move forward to dole out hugs and kisses as if their oldest children are leaving them for a month, not a few hours.

Did I mention our parents are a little overprotective?

Of course, after saying goodbye to their own kids, my uncles gather around me. It’s a running joke in the family—all of the uncles doting on sweet little Rose. There is literally nothing that the Ransome brothers won’t turn into a competition, including, it would appear, trying to be the favorite uncle of the first-born offspring. Which is why I get kisses and hugs from every one of them while my cousins stand by the door bitching about it.

“Yes, yes, you all love Rose the best, we get it,” River grouses. “Can we leave now?”

“Don’t tell any of my kids, but wedolove you the best,” Uncle Cash stage-whispers, hugging me one last time, and I laugh before Alex grabs a firm hold on my arm and pulls me away to start our night out on the town.

* * *

“I love this place!”Everly cries happily, looking around with wide, excited eyes. Wide, excited, starting-to-look-glazed-over eyes.