Chapter 5

Clearly, by her shocked face, Ivy hadn't expected that response. Not that an hour ago I had expected to say it either.

My phone buzzed again. My fucking brother.

I couldn't even focus on the conversation around me because he wouldn't shut up. Daisy Henderson was always in the know giving everyone updates on the goings on around her. But damn she'd texted my mother fast with complete inaccurate facts about our wedding. Or I guess I should say upcoming wedding?

Declan, like the bossy know it all that he was, jumped in with so much to say after my mom texted him the news. They all assumed this was just one more impulsive action on my part and I needed to be talked off the ledge.

I glanced through our conversation so far, still pounding with anger.

Declan: You cannot do something as epically irresponsible as getting married on a whim.

Me: I didn't give you a hard time about Natalie

Declan: Not the same

Me: Why? Because it's me?

Declan: Yes. I take things seriously. You think life is fun. Marriage is work and responsibility, not something you do because you're bored in the mountains. This is the exact shit that makes me nervous about letting you run our business.

Of course, he just assumes the worst. Every single time. I was so over this. I'd been running his business without issue for years. If I wanted to get married, why the fuck couldn't I? How was it his right to judge?

Me: I know what I'm doing.

Declan: Jesus, Finn. You say that about Tumbleweed too, and yet we've lost two clients this fall.

Me: Not to other companies, but because they weren't renting anymore.

And he should realize one of them was my supposed in-laws.

Declan: As far as you know.

I was so done with his high-and-mighty shit.

Me: This is ridiculous. I am responsible both in business and my relationship. Ivy and I are great together. You'll see because you'll be at the wedding, right?

Declan: This is by far the most impulsive thing you've done. But we'll be there.

Me: Good, ‘cause you're going to be my best man.

I tucked my phone in my pocket.

"Finn?" Ivy called, and I glanced back up. "You cannot be serious."

"My family already seems to think I'm getting married on Saturday, so why not?"

Daisy flushed. "I might have jumped into this a bit too much."

I waved her off. Although now that it was out there, I wasn't backing down. I didn't want to hear my big brother's I was right speech. And that is exactly what would happen if it came out that I stumbled into this and wasn't really getting married.

"Look, I'm just suggesting you seem to need help with this situation." I waved my hands at her mother. "And I could use some proof for my family that I'm not an irresponsible idiot."

Ivy sighed, not looking convinced.

"Plus, you said you had trouble adopting as a single woman. I could probably help." I glanced at her dad. "You ran a background check on me and Tumbleweed before we took over Rose Garden. You know I look great on paper."

Her father grunted. "And everyone knows your brother."

"Exactly," I managed through gritted teeth. Everyone loved good old Declan.

"This could work out perfectly." Daisy clasped her hands together. "If you could adopt the kids, we'd never have to worry about losing them."

"I don't want to leave." Kai pushed down the stairs. "I love this house. And my new dog." He flopped on the floor next to Diesel and wrapped his arm around my dog.

"If they take me away, I'll just run my butt right back here." Blair shook her head as she stomped over to climb on Ivy's lap. "I'm going to stay with you until I go to college and become a growned up."

"Grown up," Ivy corrected. "But yes, you are." She wrapped her arm around Blair's waist. "Don't worry.

"Not having to worry about a new placement would be nice," Shane sighed.

Ivy's shoulders slumped. "I know. And I tried."

Shane held his hand up. "Totally remember. I'm just saying this is a chance to fix that for everyone else."

Ivy's brown eyes flicked to mine. So much uncertainty there.

"We could stay together for a year or so," I offered. "You could adopt the kids, and then we could quietly get divorced."

"I don't know," Ivy hedged. "I guess I can file the paperwork. But you can't move in."

I was not planning to move in. I was offering help on paper. Not my babysitting services. The nagging voice in my head was whispering that my brother could be right. I locked that idea down fast. I could not be focused to utter those words aloud.

"But you might need to come over if they show up again. And we should probably know stuff about each other because they're going to ask questions when they come back."

I nodded. "Okay…"

"And you probably should kinda know the kids. You don't want the social workers to think it's fake."

Shane narrowed his eyes at me. "If you don't want to do this, now's the time to step back, dude. We'll figure out a plan without you."

"No, I'm in." Not like I had much going on for the next five weeks while the renovations were being done on my house. "We'll get married next weekend."

"And your family isn't freaking out?" Ivy asked. "My mother clearly freaked out at the idea," she muttered.

"Honestly, it seemed on par for you, Ivy," Daisy chided, but I could still see the hint of guilt.

I didn't want her to know what Declan had said, so I just shook my head. "None of them are surprised."

"Why?" She tilted her head, and her brows furrowed.

"Because, in my family, I'm the one known for doing stupid things."

Kai looked up at me from where he sat on the floor next to Diesel. "That's what everyone says about me too, Dad."

Dad. Yeah, that made me want to squirm. But I locked my shoulders in place, because Declan was wrong, I could do this. Right?

"I'm going to need another one of these." I held up the beer in my hand and then took a large swig.

Ivy lifted Blair off her lap so she could stand. "We might need something stronger."

Truth. Light beer was not going to cut it. Because apparently, I was getting married in less than a week.