Page 64 of Stay With Me

“I won’t be related toallof them,” Wilder defends. “And who’s to say you can’t find your soulmate with your second or third cousin?” He laughs because even he knows he sounds ridiculous.

“My great-aunt Polly married her cousin,” Gramma Grace says, and we all snap our gazes toward her.

“Who?” Mom asks, clearly unaware of this, which makes it even more entertaining.

“Uncle Freddy. They were second cousins by blood. Got married and went on to have seven boys,” Gramma Grace explains.

“Well, see, now that explains a lot about the bloodline.” Noah chuckles, then adds, “Because it only affected the double X chromosomes.”

“God, our family is weird.” Landen shakes his head. “First, Gramma Grace married her pastor-teacher twice her age and now we learn we’re all incested.”

I snort at his dramatics, but it is funny. Especially seeing Mom’s horrified expression.

Last year, Gramma Grace shared the story of how she met our grandfather and it’s safe to say we were all surprised. And even more when it came out that Noah and Fisher were dating. History was practically repeating itself in the forbidden love department.

“We’re all linked in one way or another,” Gramma Grace says. “It wasn’t unheard of for members of wealthy families to marry and reproduce to keep the bloodline strong. Especially in royal families.”

“Well, we’re neither billionaires nor royals, so…” I stare pointedly at Wilder. “No baggin’ a cousin.”

He scoffs, and Mom shakes her head, clearly giving up on scolding us.

“What if it’s by marriage?” Waylon asks as if he’s a hundred percent serious in his question. “There’s no bloodline crossing, then.”

Dad blows out an exaggerated breath, obviously so done with the five of us. But he sticks around and listens to our antics.

“That’s a good loophole!” Wilder exclaims. “So where’s this guest list of yours, Noah? I need to see who my options are ahead of time.”

We laugh at the way she glares at him, and he continues to taunt her until we finally pack up and call it a night.

“Thanks for dinner, Ma.” I give her a hug before kissing her cheek. “It’s gonna be an interestin’ week, huh?”

“A nerve-wrackin’ one, yes. I’m marrying off my youngest baby.” She wipes her cheek. “It’s gonna be emotional, but I’m so happy for them.”

“If it helps, she’ll probably be the only one of us who gets hitched.” I smirk because she knows I’m only teasing. One of the twins will be drunk enough to wake up married someday.

“Oh, don’t play coy with me.”

I furrow my brows. “What’s that mean?”

She rolls her eyes as if I should know what she’s talking about, but I honestly don’t.

Once I say goodbye to everyone else, I head to my truck and then fish out my phone. It’s been at least two hours since I’ve responded to Magnolia, and I’m expecting a full-on freak-out text.

Except when I see she’s sent me a photo with her hand in her panties, I’m the one having the freak-out.

Magnolia

I had to finish without you. What a shame.

Tripp

My grandma was in the same room as me! I couldn’t step away.

Magnolia

*yawn* Sorry, who is this?

Two can play this little game.