your mother. I have to read about your antics in those magazines. My Eli is too important to find a good girl. Makes his mother have to worry about being all alone without someone to take care of him.”
I laugh as she gives him shit. He doesn’t fight her back, he just tucks her in his side. “You love me.”
She smacks his stomach and laughs. “Come sit, Heather. This is my sister, Martha.”
I take the seat next to her, and Eli leans in, kisses my cheek, and wishes me luck. I watch him grin as he walks off. Asshole. Way to feed me to the lions.
His mother is absolutely perfect. She asks me a million questions about my job, my family, and her eyes fill with sympathy when I tell her about Stephanie. Her entire being is filled with warmth, and it’s comforting being around her. Claudia tells me a little about Eli before he was famous, and I can’t picture him that way. She talks about how scrawny he was, and that Randy was his only and best friend, which is something I assume followed him into adulthood.
He doesn’t talk about any friends, and now, I can’t imagine it’s easy for him to trust anyone. When you’re as successful as he is, it’s probably impossible to figure out who wants to be your friend because they gain something from you and who genuinely cares about you. It’s easier to shut them all out and not worry about it.
“You surviving?” Savannah says, handing me a beer before sitting.
“It’s been such a great day so far.”
“I’m glad. I have to tell you, we were shocked when Eli said he was bringing you to the party.”
I’m not sure if I should be upset or relieved that he doesn’t bring random girls here. I take a drink, hoping to mask my emotions. “I guess I was, too.”
“Don’t take that the wrong way.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “We’re all a little protective of Eli and haven’t been a fan of his past choices. That said, judging by everything he told us, you’re nothing like that. We were really happy he was finally going to get his head out of his ass and bring you around.”
“Vannah,” Claudia chastises her.
“You know you were happy, too, Mom. He’s been so weird since the she-bitch.”
I nearly choke on my drink. I think I love this girl. “I take it you don’t like his ex?”
She lets out a loud laugh. “No. I hated her from the first second I saw her. You know how it is, I’m sure, women can read other women pretty easily.”
“Oh, for sure,” I agree. I feel like that’s one of the advantages that make me a good cop. I have a pretty good gauge for whether someone is pulling crap or if they made a mistake.
“Guys are stupid and only care about one thing . . .”
Claudia scoffs. “Not my boys. They were raised right.”
Savannah side eyes me and grins. “Yes, Randall and Ellington would never care about that.”
If she only knew that’s what Eli and I did after knowing each other twenty minutes.
Speak of the Devils, and they shall appear. Eli and Randy walk over with a plate of burgers and hotdogs.
“Don’t scare her off with your evil ways.” Eli points at his sister-in-law. “I’m watching you.”
I inch closer to Savannah. “Don’t be mean to my new friend.”
“Great,” Eli groans. “Now I’m really screwed.”
Laughter fills the air and then we dig in. The family dynamic is fun and loving. They all make fun of themselves along with each other, and the conversation flows effortlessly. Randy dotes on his wife, showering her with little tokens of love. It’s clear where his brother learned how to treat a woman.
It’s like watching Eli with me. He hands her a drink before she asks, or takes her hand for no reason. Once again, the Walsh brother’s surprise me. People paint Randy as anything but a family man, but that’s exactly what he is.
After the sun goes down, Savannah and I head inside to start cleaning up.
“You know that when your relationship goes public, things won’t be easy,” Savannah says as we wash dishes.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
She rests her hip on the counter, giving me her full attention. “It means that women are crazy, and Eli has been this attainable guy in some of their minds. You’re not an actress or movie star, you’re relatable to them, and you need to have some thick