Batter of Wits (Green Valley Chronicles #22) - Smartypants Romance Page 0,34

not some fated, perfect match. There was no love at first sight magic with us. We were just … two people who never should've gotten married." She sighed. "So, if what you're saying is true, it wasn't true for me and your father."

And I knew that. They didn't hate each other, there was no ill-will or horrible fighting. There was apathy. The inexorable knowledge that they were far, far better apart than they'd ever been together. Which did not help me, as I tried to wrap my head around what I did or didn't feel for Tucker.

"I know, Mom."

She cleared her throat. "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but have you talked to your cousins? Or your uncle? They certainly seem to … buy in, so to speak."

"Uncle Robert and Aunt Fran are in Nashville, but I could ask Connor or Levi."

"You know that I struggle to believe that any of this has a basis in reality, but even if they can help you make sense of it, maybe you should try."

I sank back in the chair and pulled my legs up to my chest. "Yeah, maybe I will. I have to talk to someone about this before I meet with Tucker tomorrow."

"Let me know what happens, okay?"

"I will," I promised.

"I love you, Grace. And I miss you."

I closed my eyes, wishing desperately that she was still a forty-minute drive away from me, so I could curl up on her couch and talk this out. "Miss you too, Mom. I'll call you later."

"And tell your brother thanks a lot for letting me know he made it in one piece," she added.

I was smiling when I hung up, which was probably her intention. But the smile didn't last long, because I had a feeling that my cousin Levi would only affirm what I already knew.

I was so incredibly screwed.

With the time difference, it was probably just past dinner time where he lived with his girlfriend Joss in Seattle. As a trainer for the Washington Wolves, Levi worked crazy hours during the season, but he'd probably be done by now.

Hopefully.

Tapping out a text, I didn't even care how dramatic I sounded.

Me: This is a "911, you better answer your cousin because she's about to lose her mind and you're the only one who can help her" kind of call.

It went through to his phone, and within five seconds, he started calling me.

I breathed a sigh of relief and answered. "Hi. Thank you. I'm hanging up and switching to FaceTime because I need eyeball to eyeball for this."

"Ohhhhkay then," he said.

When we reconnected, he was smiling into the camera. Levi could have been tossed in with me and Grady as a triplet. We had the same tawny colored hair and goldish green hazel eyes, the same wide smile. But at the sight of my face, his smile dropped. "Green Valley not treating you well?"

"Tell me about this stupid curse."

Understanding softened his face. "Ahh. I see."

"Did you know that there's only been one other Buchanan woman born in the last five generations besides me? Did you know that?"

He scratched the side of his face. "Ah, no. I didn't. I thought you were the only one."

"Yeah, well, there was. And she had to deal with the same bullshit that I've been dealing with since I got to this bullshit town with its bullshit family love curses."

Levi's mouth curled up. "Love at first sight isn't so fun, is it?"

"Ha," I burst out harshly. "Oh, get this … Buchanan women? AKA Me and Miss Rose Margaret, we have hate at first sight. Hate!"

His eyebrows bent in a confused 'V'. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

I told him the story. He listened carefully, with hums of sympathy and surprised widening of the eyes and a grimace when he put two and two together about Tucker and Magnolia.

"Yeah, they've been together forever. Since the summer before senior year of high school, I think."

"Great," I muttered.

"And your dad works for Bobby Jo, doesn't he?"

"Sure does."

Levi whistled. "You've got a mess on your hands, that's for damn sure."

I scrubbed a hand over my face. "Thanks for the reminder. You're supposed to be helping me figure out what to do with this … feeling."

He tipped his head back and laughed. "Honestly, Grace, all I can tell you is that there isn't a rule book to figuring it out. All of us have had different experiences with this one issue. Some relationships take longer than others. Connor and my parents, it was fast for both of