It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(69)

Chapter 20





Elliot



Rules Were Made to be Broken


“I just don’t understand why us girls can’t play blackjack with you guys one night?” Vienna lifts her water bottle to her lips, taking a sip.

Laney rolls her eyes. “Trust me, Vienna. It’s a lost cause. Dilynne and I have been asking for years.”

Henley shrugs from where he’s standing on my left. “It’s a tradition with the boys. Letting you girls play would be…”

Elodie leans forward, raising her eyebrows, her arms crossed over her chest. “What would it be, honey? And I suggest you think long and hard about how you finish that thought, otherwise, you might be sleeping on the couch tonight.”

Dilynne holds her stomach as she laughs on my other side. “God, it will never get old watching you be pussy-whipped, big brother.”

Hen ley rubs the back of his neck. “Blackjack is part of the foundation of our friendship. It’s not that we don’t want you there, it’s just that it would go against tradition.”

Dilynne rolls her eyes. “Again, Elodie. I think they’re just scared to lose to us.”

Vienna nods in agreement. “Yup. I think that’s exactly what it is.”

“What’s everyone talking about?” Rhonan asks as he approaches where we’re gathered next to the popcorn cart at Hart Winery for movie night.

The winery’s packed for one of the many events their mom started before she passed. I’ve always tried to show up and support as much as possible, and tonight, it feels good to be fully present with my friends—well, except for the persistent reminder of how my feelings toward Dilynne are only getting stronger.

Dinner with my parents a few days ago was worse than I thought it was going to be. In fact, I haven’t spoken to my father since then. He came into the office yesterday morning after the weekend and pretended like everything was fine.

But it’s the opposite of fine.

I still don’t know if the will I saw on my father’s desk is worth exploring, and I was hoping that later I could get the boys’ opinions on the matter. I spent some time over the weekend doing some research but was only able to find the version of my grandfather’s will through public record that I remember seeing, which doesn’t explain the copy my father had.

Unless it was an older version, of course.

God, I wish I’d had more time in that room to read it.

“Vienna and I are irritated that you boys won’t let us play blackjack with you,” Elodie explains.

He wraps his arm around her shoulders. “I know. She brought this up last night, and I told her to talk to you guys.”

Henley’s brows rise. “You mean you’d be okay with them joining us?”

Rhonan glances over at Vienna and then down to Ellis, who’s busy picking blades of grass at their feet. “I don’t see the big deal. I’m trying to raise a young girl to take up space, and I think that starts with leading by example,” he says as his eyes widen and then drift to Ellis.

“Johnny doesn’t let girls play his games at recess, so I let him know that he’s a dingleberry,” Ellis declares.

Rhonan groans. “Ellis, we talked about calling people names. I know dingleberry is a funny word, but…”

“Can I call him a twat waffle then?”

Dilynne loses her composure, burying her face in my shoulder so Ellis doesn’t see her laughing. I welcome her touch. The truth is, it’s starting to feel…natural.

Rhonan sighs heavily. “Ellis, where did you learn that word?”

“From Sarah’s brother.”

Henley points a finger at Ellis. “See? This is why boys and girls don’t need to hang out together in certain situations.”

Vienna scoffs. “We’re not five-year-olds asking to hang out with teenagers, Henley. We’re all adults.”

Remy starts to fuss in Henley’s arms. “She’s probably getting hungry or needs a diaper change,” Elodie says, reaching to take her from Henley, but he keeps the baby in his arms.

“No, I’ve got it. I’m sensing that I should remove myself from this conversation.” Henley grabs the diaper bag from the ground and practically runs away from the group just as Fletcher comes over, two bottles of water in hand.

He hands one to Laney and then kisses her cheek.

“ Hey, Elliot?”

“Yeah, man?”

“I don’t want to cause any problems, but I thought I should tell you I just saw Tori walk into the main tasting room with one of the paralegals from your office.”

The spike of irritation that spreads through my veins is enough to make me want to run away like Henley just did.

Dilynne reaches up and clasps my shoulder. “Unfortunately, this is a public venue, so she has every right to be here.”

Laney glares in the direction of the main building as Tori and Tanya, the paralegal, walk into the courtyard. “Yeah, but we reserve the right to refuse service to someone if they start trouble, so just let me know if I need to get physical with her.” She dramatically thrusts her fist into the opposite palm.

Fletcher pulls Laney in closer to him. “Uh, you’re carrying my kid right now, so that’s the last thing you’ll be doing, angel.”