Page 162 of Preacher Man

“Now we got rid of him, he’s so fuckin' nosy, he gets that from his mom. We can have some booze, and you can tell us how the boy of ours talked you down the aisle.” The Spanish inquisition, she could do this, they’d practiced at home some of the things his parents might ask.Just tell ‘em you fell for my dick and rode me like a bull.She would not be using Preacher’s suggestion.

“His natural good looks, obviously! He gets that from me as well.” Birdie hair-fluffed and teased a grin Ruby’s way.

Growing up the way she had, needing to be the responsible adult way before her time, Ruby was always on the lookout for the obvious criticism, her mom would say she was overly defensive, but coming from an addict who couldn’t hold a job or her life together and called Ruby every name under the sun when she didn’t have the money for her drugs, her defensiveness had been warranted, you wait long enough for those emotional punches and one is going to smack you unawares. So, while she chatted with the Priests, she looked out for it, it was coming, right? Surely there was a snarky gold digger comment ready to be fired slyly.

But none came.

Not one.

In fact, they were the perfect hosts. They chatted, his dad flirted in that friendly older man kind of way, calling sweetheart and doll, Birdie was the definition of nice, so much so she was starting to believe Preacher was adopted, if not for the fact he looked like a younger version of his dad and swore just as much.

Speaking of. “This little shithead wants to invite his girlie-friend over, Ma. I said bring her to the lion's den. You’re the lion. She won't stand a chance.” He smirked. The much younger boy followed behind, his face beet-red.

“Shut your mouth, Ash. I didn’t say that, Ma. She’s busy anyway.”

Preacher cuffed the dirty-blond haired boy in a headlock, ruffling all his shaggy hair. Preacher’s broad chest rose and fell as he laughed and taunted his brother some more for having a girlfriend.

“Maybe I’ll come to your club,” Tyler smirked.

“You’ll stay the fuck away, Ty. I already told you, you’re gonna be a lawyer or some boring accountant shit like that so we can all retire in the Bahamas, don’t make me break your damn skull.”

Threats of violence seemed to be normal and accepted around here. Ruby bit back a grin and buried her mouth in her second glass of margarita feeling a warm buzz.

“Boys!” Birdie clucked flicking them both with her tea towel as she assembled a pasta salad. What kind of salad had fruit in it? Ruby speculated, as she watched chopped peaches go into the wide glass bowl. Her stomach did a little flip and she affirmed right there she’d choke that fucker down and not puke in her purse, mainly because she’d left her purse in the car outside, you don’t complain about the food when you meet the parents, that was the second rule. “What kinda impression are you giving to Ruby? We don’t show our vicious side until a few months’ time.”

Ruby laughed.

Yes, she was going to like the Priests.

Her new family.

Damn. Her chest started to feel tight and warm all at once. Now if only she could get Sebastian to shower with love, to make his little life all better again.

“You okay, baby?” A quiet husky voice said from behind, interrupting her dark puking salad thoughts. Preacher’s lips brushed her ear. She shivered and leaned her back into his chest. “Mmhm.”

“You a bit toasted?” Amused tone.

“Maybe a little. Your dad made it strong.”

“Shoulda warned you, those things will blow your head off, worse than my granddaddy’s moonshine back in the day.”

“Warning schwarning, son. Gotta test out the girl’s metal and she’s doing just fine, a Priest if I ever saw one, your grandma could drink any man under the table.” Maxwell grinned over and toasted her. Of course, she lifted her glass and toasted him right back. So, she was going to eat peach pasta salad and get drunk as a skunk, she could so do this. She was a Priest now.

“Your granny also died of liver disease.”

“Semantics, dear, she was ninety-five after all.” Max told his wife. “Good woman, she gave me a nip of whiskey every night on my gums when I couldn’t sleep.”

“And how’d that work out for you, Pops?”

“Never did me any harm.”

“Don’t take parenting advice from this one, Ruby.”

“Either of them, sis-in-law. Ma once left me in Walmart for two hours. I was six.” added Tyler slouched over at the middle island throwing cheese slices into his mouth.

“Iforgotyou were with me. It was a genuine mistake, I was distracted in Hobby Lobby picking out fabric for your Halloween costume. It was a nice Ninja tortoise costume, Ty, and I came back for you eventually.” It appeared to be an old family favorite story as each of them smiled.

“Turtle, Ma.” he grinned.