Parker Sibling Series Box Set
Page 71
“Riley, how many times have I told you when Aunt Addy talks, we just ignore her?”
“Daddy says it is rude to ignore adults when they are talking to you.”
“Which is why I ignore what your daddy says, too. Let’s make a deal, remember how I taught you about stranger danger?” She bobs her little head up and down. “Well from now on if Aunt Addy tries talking to you about make-up, nectar, honey pots, or anything other than hello or good-bye, you run away screaming ‘The Freak is trying to Speak,’ and Mommy will come to your rescue.”
“Nice one, B. Riley you know your momma is kidding. Aunt Addy gives the best advice, ask Aunt Camy.” Such great advice I am still removing crosses from every room and patching nail holes from all the Jesus pictures we hung up. Riley looks at them like they are all crazy and goes back upstairs with the other kids.
“You two are certifiable. I swear to all things holy if you screw my daughter up I will turn your son against you.” I stare at Brielle and watch her give me the finger, and I can’t argue with that. Luckily, our kids are all good and well-mannered besides the normal kid stuff. We try extra hard to watch our language, so I guess it was honey pot and not pussy. I will count my blessings where I can.
I pass out beers to everyone but Teryn, and we all clink them together with “Cheers” which is how we start every Saturday night. I have no idea what shenanigans the girls will drag us into, but it is the same thing every week. We count our blessings and enjoy family while they are here.
Brielle
Looking around the table I send a silent message up to heaven with an “I love you,” and I know they are proud of us, watching how we all stuck together, welcomed new members, loved one another, fought with one another for the right reasons, but every night when we lay our heads down we know we have someone on our side, no matter what. That is the meaning of family; it isn’t blood, or last names.
“Hey new tradition. I just read this in a book. Let’s count our blessings. It is where we name something good and something bad that happened this week. No complaining, it was an amazing book and really neat idea. The author named it suck and sweet, but let’s come up with our own name, but her idea.”
“Okay but can we name it shitty and kitty, because it is always good when I get kitty,” Dustin questions.
“Yeah, the way your wife stays pregnant I am guessing you always get kitty, and no we cannot rename it that. Asshole.”
“Oh, what about good and ghetto?” Tyler asks. He is laughing too hard at himself to miss the coaster that knocks him in the forehead.
“Let’s leave it at yuck and yum. Keep it simple, stupid. Tyler, start.”
“My yuck was getting nailed in the head with a fucking coaster, and my yum was waking up with my wife this morning.”
“That is because you didn’t do something stupid and get put on the couch,” Addison tells him. “My yuck was telling Shiloh that no, she didn’t have grandparents like the other kids in her class, and my yum was the thing Tyler did last night with my new toy.”
“Fucking enough,” Brielle tells her. We all laugh. “You are up, Colby.”
“My yuck was getting kicked in the head by my son while sparring, and my yum was the thing Brielle did with her mouth last night.” I smirk at Addison. She can dish it out, but can’t take it.
“My yuck was telling Riley that her over-bearing father won’t let her compete in cheer this year, and my yum was when she replied, ‘We will see about that.’”
Mitch goes next, “My yuck was Haley and Heather wanting to take cheer instead of t-ball and my yum was knowing we were all going to be together tonight.”
Kayleigh kisses him. “My yuck was seeing Mitch upset when the girls chose cheer, and my yum was Lukas telling him he would stay with baseball since Daddy likes it so much.”
Max smirks. “My yuck was when Ariel told me she was going to marry a prince, because then I had to tell her she wasn’t marrying anyone, and she cried, and my yum was when Caroline said she was going to marry her Daddy.” Can you say sucker?
Cambree laughs. “My yuck was when Caroline said she was never leaving the house, because that is some bullshit. My yum was when Ariel wanted to pick out her luggage that I told her she was getting for her eighteenth birthday.” Max growls at her, and I can’t stop the giggle.
Dustin can’t be outdone, “My yuck was when my wife refused to suck, and my yum was when she did the next night.”
“You are a pig. I blame Addison for this shit.”
Teryn laughs. “You feed into it, that is why he does it. My yuck was telling Dustin the baby factory is closed and seeing his face fall, but really no more kids. My yum was when he agreed to get a vasectomy.”
“Why wouldn’t you get one before?”
“Uh, I didn’t want anyone around my junk. I have a rule, my wife’s fingers, mouth, or vagina. That is it.” I walked into that one.
We decided to break into girls vs. guys to pick our song of the night. We always do this, but we usually do couples and pick a song that represents us. Tonight we are summing up our life. Of course, I know we have this one in the bag, and it is for a week’s worth of dinners.
Colby steps up to me. “Prepare to be amazed, pretty girl. Oh, and I want your lasagna tomorrow.” He puts ‘Power of A Song’ by Randy Houser, and I have to give him credit, it is an amazing song about struggles and how your mind can change in a heartbeat, but family comes first.
We listen to it and agree they did well. I step up to him and kiss him. “Cowboy, eat your heart out. I put on ‘Helluva Life’ by Frankie Ballard. After the song ends, we all plan our menus out and hand them to the guys.
THE END
PLAYLIST
Fixing Me Chase Coy
Those I’ve Loved Eric Church
I Will Blake Shelton
Never Say Never The Fray
Slipped Away Avril Lavigne
A Little Bit Stronger Sara Evans
Let Me Love You Ne-Yo
I Believe Christina Perri
Let Her Go Passenger
Witness Daughtry
Invisible Hunter Hayes
What I Really Meant To Say Cyndi Thomson
Happy Leona Lewis
Give Me Back My Hometown Eric Church
Promise Broken Gary Allan
Life Ain’t Always Beautiful Gary Allan
With Hope Steven Curtis Chapman
Ready, Set, Roll Chase Rice
Brave Sara Bareilles
Stay With Me Sam Smith
Love Never Fails Brandon Heath
Play It Again Luke Bryan
Power of A Song Randy Houser
Helluva Life Frankie Ballard
Acknowledgements
Please have patience with me . . . and understanding as this portion is not edited!
While in the editing process of this book, I lost my grandmother. She was more than just a grandmother. She was my biggest believer, supporter, and source of love in my childhood and that continued until dementia robbed her of memories. No matter what, good day or bad day, she recognized me, but her thoughts were scattered and memories not as clear. That is when I had to rely on her words of wisdom she had passed on to me for so many years. So while, I dedicated this book to my grandfather, I have to acknowledge without her in my life, NONE of my dreams would have come true.
I cannot believe this ends the Parker Siblings. It has been a wonderful journey, and in typing the end it fills my heart with joy and sadness. A bittersweet moment . . . I have grown attached to these crazy siblings and all life has thrown at them, and honestly, there is a lot of “me” in these books. Saying good-bye is hard, but I know I gave them everything they needed and am excited for the next endeavor.
Jen Wildner- OMG . . . our silly chats, inappropriate words, and true friendship gets me through many days. I never thought in this journey I would meet someone who would become such an amazing friend. Thank you is inadequate, but it is all I have.
Taira Wilds-My tr
ue sister, and friend. When I sent you the first few chapters of Not Enough, I never imagined a series would be complete less than a year later. Thank you for your encouragement, love, and support.
Sassy Sweethearts-Holy hell! Amanda, Danielle, Ebbie, Jen, Jennie, Jennifer, Kristen, Lee, Liz, Rebecca, Shawna, Stephie, Stracey, Tammie, Tracy, and Yvette . . . You girls support me, pimp me, hug me (virtually), and are just great! When I need help you are there, when I need encouragement you shout it to me, when I need a slap Kristen pulls out her shoes, and the laughter and memories I share with you is forever in my heart. So thank you, again!
Bloggers-Not one of us could do it without your support, help, and pimping. You took your love of reading and shared it across the Internet and social media, and in turn that gave us all a platform to market our work and reach thousands of readers we would have never met. You do this tirelessly, out of the goodness of your heart and sometimes you all get shitted on, and for that I am sorry, but know you have my undying appreciation and support.
Readers-Myself, included. There are so many fabulous authors that make me want to crawl inside the pages and then travel many miles to hug, slap, cry with, or stalk that author. I thank you all for taking the chance on me and my stories and know, YOU are the biggest part of this community and all of our success is because of you.
About the author . . .
Leigh Ann Lunsford is a stay at home mom turned author. She writes Romance/New Adult and loves her happily ever after in all books and movies. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs in Fleming Island, Florida. When she isn’t writing or reading you can find her stuck in front of really bad reality shows or watching Sons of Anarchy. Leigh Ann has a filthy mouth and a huge amount of sarcasm that knows no end. She hopes to give the voices in her head an outlet with many more novels to come.
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