Page 8 of Choosing Us

Like I said, massive upgrade.

My dad steps up next to me. “You’re a good man, Ryan Murphy Callahan.” He speaks quietly enough that it was just for me, but his praise means everything. My dad is not perfect, he has never pretended to be, but he’s the measure and standard of so many things in my life, so those few words speak louder than any public proclamation.

I nod as he claps me on the back. “Thanks, Dad.”

“She’d be proud of you, too. She was proud of all of you.” He doesn’t have to define who he’s talking about, and I don’t have to respond to that statement, which is good because my eyes are feeling like something got in them.

“Okay, people, let’s eat!” Finn interrupts the serious moment as he carries a large tray of grilled meats, and everyone grabs a dish from the kitchen to head to the large dining table.

“After we eat, I want to run through everyone’s roles one more time. It’s officially September, y’all, and we don’t have that much time left before the big day,” Savannah announces as I suppress my groan. Vivian and Walker are getting married at his family’s expansive ranch in Texas in less than two weeks, but Savannah is taking her maid of honor duties as seriously as possible.

I don’t point out that she wasn’t this strict when she was the maid of honor for Vivian’s first marriage because, well, I don’t want her to throw a shoe at me.

Savannah, not Vivian.

Viv would never, but Savannah would not hesitate.

I look over to Theo to make sure he knows what he’s getting into, but the dude has a goofy grin on his face and is looking at Savannah like she hung the moon and isn’t on the verge of morphing into a maid of honor monster.

If I were a betting man—and I am—I don’t think it will be too long before Vivian will be able to reciprocate the maid of honor duties for her, and after everything both of my sisters went through in their first marriages, I couldn’t be happier for them.

And I also am smart enough to have a healthy amount of fear when it comes to my sister Savannah. There’s a reason she’s known as a force, but my sisters were raised to believe in themselves and accept who they are, without worrying about everyone else’s expectations of who they should or should not be.

They were raised by the woman that taught all of us to not fear a woman’s power, but to respect and support it. Intelligence, capability, and drive are not something to smother, but are rather admired in our family.

And when it comes to Savannah, a healthy dose of fear is more than fair. It only takes getting nailed in the head from her chucking a shoe at you once for you to never question her aim.

Theo has seen this side of her, but it doesn’t seem to deter him, and I love that for my sister.

I also need to pick a seat further away from her the next time we have to attend a mandatory wedding prep meeting.

CHAPTER FIVE

“It feels like it’s been months since I’ve had a taco this good,” Kelly mumbles as he takes another massive bite of his carnitas taco.

“To be fair, it probably has,” Mason adds as he unfolds the wrapper around his own three-cheese quesadilla. It’s Monday, and Mason isn’t a vegetarian but does partake in Meatless Mondays. He said it started out for health reasons and as a way to stand in solidarity with one of his siblings that is a vegetarian. I understand, and I love cheese, but this girl loves steak a little too much to consider missing out.

“I’ve missed Task Force Taco Time so much. I don’t know if that’s an official thing, but we should definitely make it a thing.” Tara moans in delight as she takes another bite of her burrito.

“Seriously, Christine, best idea ever,” I say before diving into my own birria tacos. Walker’s assistant suggested getting takeout from our favorite street taco spot for a working lunch, and the entire task force agreed. Christine is the glue for our team and not only keeps us functioning in chaos but makes sure we all eat well, too.

My phone vibrates, and I look down to check the screen. Incoming Call: Astor R. Morgan-Lane. I know better than to decline it, but I let it ring out until voicemail picks up. I’m in a meeting, and just because she calls does not mean she gets to reach me.

But I’m sure I’ll hear about it later.

My mother does not like to be ignored. I slide my phone back into my pocket, where I feel it vibrating with another call. It stops for a moment, and then vibrates again, but I don’t need to look to know it is a text from her following up as to why I am not taking her calls. For someone who does an amazing job of broadcasting my accomplishments to her social circle, she really does not grasp what my daily life actually looks like and fails to understand why I don’t pick up every single time she calls me.

In addition to availability in my schedule, she’s emotionally taxing, and my team deserves my attention right now.

“That’s why Christine is the best.” Walker nods in agreement before adding a generous pour of salsa to his tacos. We dig in and take turns updating our team members on anything we need to share since we got back from Atlanta on Saturday.

I glance at my phone after I finish my tacos.

Astor R. Morgan-Lane

I would appreciate it if you would answer my phone calls, Harlow.

Astor R. Morgan-Lane