Page 45 of Take My Love

I haveno desire to find a date for the wedding, especially since I’m still processing my own getting canceled. If Mrs. Langston hadn’t invited me herself, I wouldn’t go. But if everyone else is bringing a date, then I guess I need one too.

In one week, I was supposed to stand at the altar and exchange vows with who I thought was the love of my life.

But now I realize it was a lie.

Aundrea’s parents hired a wedding planner so there wasn’t anything for me to do besides tell my family. After telling my parents and siblings the day after she left, they’ve given me space, but now they’re on my ass for an update.

“Silas, darlin’!” Mom beams, giving me a hug. As soon as she pulls back, she smacks my cheek. “Why haven’t you called?”

“Ma, was that necessary?” I rub my palm over where she hit.

“I’ve been worried about you.” She walks to the stovetop and stirs the gravy. “Are you sleepin’ okay? You look tired. Are you gettin’ enough vitamins in your food? You look pale.How?—”

“I’m fine, Ma. Got a new job and temporary place to live. Eatin’ and sleepin’ just fine.”

Perhaps it should be telling that I’m not more sick over the breakup but mostly embarrassed that I didn’t see it coming.

I glance around the kitchen that hasn’t been remodeled since the nineties. Old wallpaper that’s seen better days and a wood panel that goes midway down to the floor. Although it’s outdated and no longer stylish, it makes me smile at the nostalgia from growing up here with my three older sisters. Our dad passed when I was thirteen from an aggressive form of lung cancer, so it’s been the five of us ever since.

As the baby of the family and only boy, my mom’s always been overprotective of me. My sisters too. Although I’m thirty, they treat me like I’m still a teenager.

“Where’s the job and house?”

“I’m workin’ at the goat farm on the Langston ranch. Warren’s sister, Posey, runs it and she has a spare room, so I’m stayin’ with her until I find my own place.”

“Posey…which one’s that? The blonde or brunette?”

I chuckle at why it matters. “Blonde.”

“Oh, she’s a cutie. Are you two…” She arches a suggestive brow.

“No, she barely tolerates me. We’re just roommates.”

“Well…doesn’t mean that can’t change.”

“I wouldn’t hold your breath. We’re goin’ out tonight to help each other find dates for her cousin’s weddin’ next month.”

“A date? Shoulda told me. My nail lady has a daughter?—”

“No blind dates.” I quickly shake my head. She tortured me enough with that before I met Aundrea.

“You’re not gettin’ any younger. Your sisters were all married by twenty-five and had their first babies by twenty-seven.”

I nod along because it’s nothing I haven’t heard before. They were thrilled when Aundrea and I got engaged and now they’re going to try and set me up right away.

“Thirty ain’t that old, Ma. Plenty of people in my generation are waitin’ to get married until they’re older.”

“You wanna be fifty with a newborn? Trust me, you don’t.”

I snort, taking a drink of my pop that she handed me in between her ranting about my love life.Or lack thereof.

“Mama, leave him alone,” my oldest sister, Celeste, walks in with my niece on her hip.

Mama puts her big spoon down, then quickly grabs Abbie from my sister’s arms. “I’m just tellin’ him he doesn’t have much time to wait.”

“Meanin’ she thinks I’m gonna die sad and alone.”

Celeste comes over to hug me and ruffles my hair. “You need a haircut.”