Compass (Siren Songs Book 2) Read Free Page A

leading the rest of the Fish to do the same. “To Piper and Moby.” With my wine in hand, my friends wish my husband and me happiness.

T here’re lots of great things about being a guy but I’ve just decided the best being: my friends won’t demand an explanation for cutting them out of a wedding, rather they’ll likely be thanking me they got to avoid that shit. My brothers, on the other hand, are another story. I don’t think Brooks and Landis care, but Dax has to care because his fiancée cares. We just eliminated her role in planning two weddings with her best friend.
    I mistakenly believe I have escaped the wrath by leaving the girls in the kitchen and retreat to the solitude of the porch. Thankfully, the smoke from the grill is keeping the mosquitos at bay and the sun is no longer blinding.
    “I’m not going to attack you, Mo, but Mom and Dad are going to go bat-shit crazy.” I’m not sure when Dax appointed himself the keeper of the clan, but his Father Knows Best mantra is getting annoying.
    “No, they aren’t.”
    “Are you insane? You’re the first one of the four of us to get married. Mom’s going to cry.” Landis thinks he knows it all. He and Rachel should hook up. They would have genius children who know even more than their parents do.
    Taking a draw of my beer, I lean back against the house, crossing my ankles. “They knew before it happened. So did Piper’s parents. They were happy for us.” Acting like a five-year-old, I stick my tongue out at my brothers, and the Wright boys. I’m a Mama’s boy through and through. There’s no way in hell I would take a chance upsetting her or risk her holding that shit over Piper’s head for years to come. I’d do anything for my wife but messing with my mama is a big no-no. Thankfully, Piper agreed.
    “Mom and Dad knew?” Brooks smirks at me as though he now knows some huge secret. “You shithead.”
    “I did you a favor. No wedding to attend. Suck it up. The only one who has any room to bitch is Dax because he’s going to have to listen to Cam whine for God knows how long.” My brothers roar in laughter while Dax gives us all an “eat shit” look.
    “How’d you get Mom to agree to allow you and Piper to elope?” Brooks is a mama’s boy, too—hell, we all are. He wants to make sure she’s okay, and I respect that.
    “I didn’t. Piper did. We went over there last Thursday night, sat down with them, and she told Mom why she wasn’t interested in any of the traditional wedding hoopla. You know the moment Mom heard Piper rationalize not spending the money, not wanting a show, the months of planning, the stress, blah blah blah; Mom took her face in her hands, you know how she still does to Landis right before she kisses him,” they all laugh at my little brother, causing him to roll his eyes, “and said, ‘sweetheart, if eloping with my baby makes you happy, I’m happy.’ Then she kissed her on the forehead and sealed the deal. Boom bitches!”
    My best friend pipes in. “Her parents were cool with it?” Joey loves Piper. I didn’t tell him the date, but he knew about the ring and how many times I’ve asked her to marry me. I never admitted we were planning to elope, but I think somehow he knew.
    “Yep. In fact, her dad gave us the money they had planned to spend on her wedding as a gift. Said he was proud of us not blowing that wad of cash on a party. You guys have heard Piper talk; you know how utilitarian she is. Where do you think she got that trait?”
    “What about her mom?” I start to wonder if Joey is planning to kick my ass if I upset her parents. Hell, maybe he’s in the process of planning to anyway, regardless of her parents’ approval.
    “Damn, Joe; you’re awfully concerned about how her parents took the news. I think her mom was so ecstatic to find out she was getting married she didn’t care how it happened.” I sigh. “Guys, Piper’s thirty-six years old. She wants a family. We want a family. Time