Page 110 of Indigo Ridge (The Edens 1)

Now it made sense why Mom and Dad had opted to skip.

They probably suspected this dinner would get rowdy.

It did.

Eloise convinced everyone to try her sangria, promising that no one would die. There’d been a lot of grimaces but the pitcher was empty and my sisters were hammered.

“Let’s build a fire.” Talia shoved out of her seat on the deck that overlooked the backyard. She staggered the first few steps toward the staircase that led to the firepit.

“Yes!” Lyla cheered. “And do s’mores.”

“No.” I shook my head. “It’s too dry for a fire.”

“You’re no fun,” Eloise slurred from her chair beside mine. Her eyelids were barely open to slits. “Winn, your boyfriend is a bummer.”

She giggled from her seat on my lap. “He’s not so bad.”

“No offense, Winn,” Mateo said from his seat beside Eloise, “but your opinion doesn’t count. You’re the only one who will get to see Fun Griff tonight.”

“Eww.” Talia gagged.

“Too far, Mateo.” Lyla cringed.

Winn buried her face in my shoulder and laughed.

“Mateo, remember when Griff was the fun brother?” Eloise asked.

“Griff was never fun.”

“Excuse me.” I leaned forward to shoot him a glare. “I bought you beer when you were underage.”

Mateo scoffed. “When I was twenty. Six days before I turned twenty-one. That’s not fun.”

Winn sat up straight. “Contributing to the delinquency of minors?”

“Don’t listen.” I covered her ears with my palms. “You guys are fucking killing me tonight.”

Knox walked out from the house with two fresh beers, handing one to me. “Sounds like you need this.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. “I’m going to start locking the goddamn door.”

Winn snuggled deeper, kissing my cheek. “You’re having fun.”

“Yeah, I am.” I grinned, holding her close as she yawned.

The sun had set hours ago. The stars were putting on their nightly show, twinkling down from their throne in the midnight sky.

I was beat, and even though tomorrow—today—was Sunday, my task list was long. But I didn’t want to be anywhere else but in this chair with Winn on my lap, listening as my brothers and sisters razzed me ruthlessly.

“What else can we tell Winn?” Lyla asked.

“Nothing,” I grumbled. “You’ve done enough.”

Any embarrassing story from my life, they’d told it. Shitheads.

“What about that time he got caught freshman year with that girl under the bleachers at the football game?” Mateo asked.

“No, thanks.” Winn waved him off. “Let’s skip that one, please.”