Page 160 of Take My Love

Silas has replaced Bear once and Teddy twice after they died without telling me. He thinks I don’t know, but I noticed right away and didn’t have the heart to tell him.

It’s either psycho behavior or extremely sweet—either way, I play along to make him happy.

It also makes it easier on me emotionally so I don’t get too sad when they die only a couple years later. I got Teddy on a whim one day, so he’ll always be my special first baby, but I fall in love with the new ones, too.

Teddy II didn’t live long, and I think it’s because he was lonely since the original Bear was in mourning after Teddy passed. So once Bear II arrived, I suggested we get a third rat so they’d have more opportunities to socialize.

And now they’re all doing great.

Since we’ll be gone all weekend, Amaya and her boyfriend, Jack—our new goat yoga demonstrator—are house sitting so the rats aren’t left alone and Marjorie doesn’t worry about us being away.

But I’m waiting for the moment Amaya texts me and finds all the cabinet doors and drawers randomly open.

But I did warn Marjorie and tell her to be nice.

The wedding is at Wilder’s family property— Sugarland Creek Ranch and Equine Retreat. We used to visit there a lot as kids or they’d come up and go camping with us, but we haven’tseen our cousins since our wedding. It’ll be nice to catch up with everyone this weekend and actually have time to chat.

I usually hear any family gossip through my mom since her brother’s wife, Dena, is her best friend and my aunt. They’re always sharing each other’s kids’ tea, then relaying it to the rest of us.

Four months ago, Wilder and Delilah got drunkenly hitched in Vegas when they attended the National Finals Rodeo to watch Ellie compete in barrel racing.

Delilah used to date Wilder’s twin brother, Waylon, years ago. But then he started seeing Delilah’s little sister, Harlow, and now they’re together.

It’s as weird and complicated as it sounds.

But I guess everyone’s happy so that’s all that matters.

When Wilder and Delilah decided to stay together and not get an annulment, they planned for a summer vows ceremony for the whole family to enjoy.

But then she got knocked up with twins on their honeymoon.

So they pushed it up a couple months to April.

Funny enough, most of us met Delilah on their honeymoon since they stayed at our resort for a week.

“We’re here,” Silas announces, pulling into the parking lot.

There isn’t enough room for everyone at the ranch, so my family booked hotel rooms in town.

“Thank God, I gotta pee!” I bounce in my seat, eagerly waiting to jump out.

“We stopped thirty minutes ago so you could use the bathroom.”

I shrug. “Well, that slushie went right through me.”

After I race inside and relieve myself, I meet Silas at the front desk.

The rest of my siblings are already here, so we grab our luggage and head up to our floor.

Colton’s room is across from ours, Bellamy’s to our right, Bodie’s across from her, and then my parents are to our left.

Warren and Maisie booked a suite on another floor so they don’t get bothered.

Honestly, it’s smart.

Our siblings can be annoying.

“What time do we have to be there?” Silas asks.