"You're a friend of Michael's?" Adaline asked.
"Miss Adaline is Michael's Mom," Isabel said softly.
Things finally clicked in the muck of her brain, and Isabel sucked in a breath. "And Everett is one of Michael's fraternity buddies."
Andthiswas a prank.That was it!
They'd pranked Michael with the fake wedding pics from thefake wedding chapel, and now the two frat boys were prankingherby saying it was real.
A huff of a laugh escaped her as relief filled her body and she hid the sound with a cough, her mind scrambling to figure out how she could turn the tables back on them.
"A Columbia man," Cheryl said as though that alone sealed Everett's authenticity as a human being.
"I am," Everett said with a nod and a smile that brought sighs from all the Babes.
Izzy fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Men. Her handsome male cousins could do no wrong, and now all Everett had to do was smile and the Babes turned to mush.
Just like that he won them over. How was that possible?
She could do a handstand and balance a ball on her nose and still not get the smiling, approving looks from the Babes.
Then again, she supposed her balancing act wasn't exactly comparable to the overachieving men in her extended family. Did they all have to be doctors and architects and such?
That kinda put some pressure on a girl who’d dropped out of community college, beauty school, and real estate classes.
"Please, come sit down. Would you like something to drink? A snack?" Mary Elizabeth said. "As you can see, we have plenty left over. I'd be happy to make you a plate. The food was quite delicious."
"We definitely know how to throw a party," Rayna Jo added.
Isabel watched as Everett dipped his head and smiled until the dimples on his cheeks came out to play as a result. He shook his head after a glance down at her, however.
"Later, perhaps. Congratulations," he said to Amelia before his hand settled on Isabel's shoulder and gently squeezed.
"I’ll let you get back to the party. Walk me outside," Everett suggested in a no-nonsense tone.
"Of course." Izzy glanced at Amelia and found her bestie frowning much the way Allie was. Like she knew this wasn't a normal visit from a normal friend and that things just weren't...normal.
But they didn’t know what she knew, and when she got her hands on Michael for undoubtedly setting up this little scheme…
"Ladies, enjoy the rest of your evening," Everett said. "I'm sorry to have intruded."
"Nonsense. You haven't bothered us at all, and I'm sure you were excited to see Izzy. I hope we'll see you again soon?" her mama asked. "I know, come back tomorrow. We have all this food. I'll have a brunch for everyone. Michael and his brother included," she said. "You must come."
A chorus of pleases erupted from the Babes, and after another glance down at her, Everett nodded.
"Of course. I'd be honored."
"Ten-ish?" her mother suggested.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll be here."
Everett kept his hand on Izzy's shoulder, and now that he'd agreed to return and was free to go, he turned them both toward the front door. The moment they stepped out of sight and earshot, she grabbed his hand and shoved it off of her with a glare. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“For meeting your family?”
"For this prank!Thatwasn't funny. You almost had me," she growled as she yanked the front door open and walked out.