I give him a haughty look as I pass him, but he gives me a smolder in return that makes my knees buckle a little when I try to walk. I manage to make it to the door, though, and when I open it, I’ve never been more disappointed to see anyone in my entire life. Remember when I said my family’s intrusiveness was their best quality? I was wrong.
“Hi, darlin’! We felt terrible about you being all alone over here, so we thought— Oh! Ryan! Look, everyone, Ryan is here!” says my mom with the least innocent face I’ve ever seen and a gift bag slung over her arm.
Jake and Evie (along with my dad, all three of my sisters, their spouses, and their children) are standing behind Mom, looking like the cat that ate the canary.
“Oh! Now I remember him!” says Dad.
And I guess kissing really isn’t on the table today. Wonderful.
Chapter 20 Ryan
“So, Ryan, hun, what have you been up to all these years?” asks Bonnie from where she’s just sidled up next to my elbow by the stove.
I would scoot to my right to get a little space, but I can’t because one of June’s sisters is clinging to me on that side. She has three sisters (Jennie, Julia, and Josie) as well as her sister-in-law, Evie. And yeah, they are all surrounding me. I’m completely circled by Broaden women, and it’s making me sweat. I think that’s their goal, though.
“After high school, I attended culinary school, and I’ve been working as a chef ever since.”
“A chef! Goodness, boy. I had no idea. Based on how you and June used to duel back then, I would’ve thought you’d join the military.”
I laugh and aim a smile down at her. “Oddly enough, that career path never even crossed my mind.”
She uses her hip to bump me. “Probably ’cause you were never actually fighting, right?”
“Well…” I tap the wooden spoon against the pot and set it on the counter before turning around to face all the women. “They do say love is war.”
Each of the sisters physically swoons and awwws in unison. Their choir alerts June that something is happening in here, because in the next moment, she’s rounding the corner into the kitchen. “I should have known you guys would be harassing Ryan. He’s cooking us all lunch. Let the man work in peace.”
“We’re not hindering his work in any way, are we, Ryan?” Bonnie turns her eyes up to me, and I see now that we’re choosing teams for dodgeball. I definitely want her on mine, so I wrap an arm around her shoulder and say, “I love the company.”
June rolls her eyes and turns back around. “Don’t say I never tried.”
The moment she’s out of the room, Evie turns to me and flat out asks, “So, Ryan…how many women have you been with?”
Shocked does not begin to convey how I feel after that question. My mouth falls open a little, but before I can answer, Jennie steps up to the plate. “Do you have a criminal record?”
Julia: “Why did your past relationships not work out?”
Evie: “Are you serious about June?”
Someone help me. They are closing in. How can four small women tower over me like this?
Josie: “Do you want a family?”
Jennie: “Is there a chance you already have a family that you don’t know about?” What the hell?
I glance back to the place where June just disappeared and consider shooting a flare up into the sky for help. Come back! I’m sorry! I’ll never choose your mom over you for dodgeball again!
But I’m a man. It’s time to grow a pair and give these women what they want. I roll my shoulders once and tilt my head side to side. Then, I take turns looking around the gang of women that I would never want to face in a dark alley alone.
I point to Evie first. “I’m not going to answer that because that’s a pretty personal question.” Boom. Moving on to Jennie. “A speeding ticket but no criminal record.” Julia. “Haven’t had a serious relationship because I’ve been married to my job.” Now I look at Mrs. Broaden as I answer the remaining questions, because I feel like her opinion matters most. “I’m more serious about June than I’ve ever been about anything in my life, and yes, I want a family. And no, there’s no chance. I’m always very careful. Big fan of protection.”
They all stand stunned for a full minute, glancing back and forth among one another before smiles slowly crack across their devious faces, and we all laugh. Bonnie claps me on my shoulder. “I always knew I liked you, Ryan. You’re gonna fit in with us perfectly.”
“I think I have to convince June of that first.”
This is the part where Bonnie should smile and say something encouraging like Oh, you’ve got nothing to worry about, sugar. She doesn’t. She actually looks a little apologetic. “You’re right about that. And it won’t be easy. She’s pretty set in her ways. I love my baby girl and will support her until the day I die, but I’ve gotta be honest, Ryan…I hope you can convince her, because I’d kill to see what a baby between you and June would look like.”
We’ve jumped from getting past date number one to wheeling June out of a hospital with a baby in her arms. Moms truly are a force to be reckoned with. But here’s the thing, is it weird to admit I’ve been dreaming of the same thing? Last night, I pictured June in a house of our own, with a kid on her hip, singing and making pancakes. I mean, what the hell, Ryan? I don’t even know if June wants a family—and if she doesn’t that’s fine with me. But I think I’d like one with her.
“Do you have any advice for me?” I ask Bonnie.
She tells the sisters to give us a minute alone and then turns to me and smiles. It perfectly resembles the sort of smile June gave me before she slipped a laxative in my Coke in the cafeteria (I didn’t know it until later, of course).
“Fortify yourself,” she says ominously. “June has never been one to give up without a fight. Batten down the hatches, and if you really want her, prepare to hold on in rough waters, because mark my words, sugar, there will be rough waters ahead.”
“Not the most encouraging advice.”
She pats my arms. “ ’Cause I like you, I’ll tell you something a little more practical to pair with the metaphorical. June doesn’t like jumping into cold water. Never has, never will. In the summer, she proceeds inch for inch into the pool until, finally, before she knows it, she’s up to her hair.”
I squint. “This still feels metaphorical.”
“Don’t make her jump into the cold pool, Ryan. Inch her in and let her see for herself that the water’s fine.” She reaches up and pats my cheek, and it makes my stomach ache from how much the action reminds me of my mom.
Bonnie walks out of the kitchen, and I lean back against the counter, trying to let her words settle into my thoughts.
A minute later, June peeks her head into the kitchen. “You still alive in here?” Her brown hair is tied into a cute messy bun at the back of her head, and little wisps are hanging loose around her temples. Her face is free of makeup, letting me see all the freckles on her cheekbones and that her lips are naturally cotton-candy pink. I love cotton candy.
A few days ago, she never would have let me see her without her makeup on. Mrs. Broaden’s words poke me, and I wonder if the water is up to June’s knees or hips right now.
