Jace

Jules wasn't kidding when she said Max wanted to leave at nine in the morning. We loaded the bags into the cargo area and climbed into the Expedition. I sat in the front seat with Max, per Max's orders. Jules and Jas sat behind us while Casp checked his lists in the back.

Casp needs to relax before he drives everyone nuts. While lists are helpful, no one uses them constantly. He would learn this one day.

"So, tell me about yourself, Jace, since I know nothing about you," Max said.

Jules rolled her eyes as Jas laughed.

"I have lived next door to Jules since I was eight," I said.

"Okay, that tells me, dick," Max said.

Jules popped her head between the seats. "Excuse my uncle. He doesn't have a filter."

"You should talk, shorty. You were born without one."

"I blame my dad."

"I blame your dad for many things. Now, back to your boyfriend. Go on, Jace."

"Uh, okay. My mom and dad adopted me when I was seven. Then, they adopted my brothers, who play Major League Baseball."

"Wait. Your brothers are Dallas and Braydon Wilson?"

I nodded in response.

"They're one hell of ball players. Dallas is the best catcher I've ever seen. And Braydon has skills."

"My brothers are idiots. They signed a contract during our senior year in college."

Max chuckled. "I hear you. Did you not have an opportunity to play ball?"

"Oh, I did. I earned my carpentry degree and contractor's license to work with my dad."

"Wait." Max contemplated what I said before snapping his fingers and wagging it at me. "Now, I remember. You're Bradley and Hazel's oldest boy. You were in the weddings."

I nodded again.

"Damn, I didn't recognize you."

"It happens." I shrugged. "So, you and Dexter bet on Jules and me?"

Max chuckled. "Yeah. The family saw the closeness between you and Jules. I told Dexter you two would end up dating. Dexter told me I was full of shit."

"I can't blame Dexter."

"You can't?" Everyone asked.

I turned slightly and looked at Jules. "No father wants to consider their daughter dating. I wouldn't like it if my daughter dated an older person."

Jules raised her brow.

"But I'm not your parent." I smirked.

"Okay, Romeo. You're heading into dangerous territory. That's still my niece," Max said.

"And I respect your niece."

"Uh, huh." Max wasn't stupid.

"Uncle Max, can we get food? Juju wouldn't feed me before we left the house," Jas said.

"Because you didn't get up when I told you the first fifty times," Jules said.

"It's summer vacation, Juju. No one wakes up early."

"You do when you have a job."

"I'm twelve, not fifty like Casp is." Jas thumbed at Casp.

Casp pointed his pen at Jas. "I'll have you know girls dig maturity."

"I pray for the girl who dates your old ass."

"Jasmine," Max warned.

"Sorry, Uncle Max."

"You're too young to swear. Wait until you're eighteen."

Jas grinned.

"Shouldn't you help Jas stay away from swearing?" I asked.

"I did. But again, I'm the fun uncle." Max smirked.

Why did this trip seem like it would be a free-for-all?

******
Julia

The thing about Uncle Max is that he was responsible and fun. When Dad would act crazy, Uncle Max would step in and help me while watching Cinderella with me.

"What do you do for a living, Max?" Jace asked.

"I'm an attorney and work at Uncle Grayson's law firm," Uncle Max said.

"Do you like it?"

"It has its moments. But the family will need a lawyer when Uncle Grayson retires. My dad plans to retire from medicine in a few years so he and my ma can travel."

"Jules has a big family since I met them several times."

"You're related to Oliver and his brood, right?"

"Yeah. Uncle Conner is my dad's brother. Jules and I have family in common, but we're not related."

"Yeah, I quit asking about the family history. It's too confusing since everyone likes to marry into the same damn family."

Jace snickered as I shook my head.

"So, shorty, when are you introducing Jace to your grandparents?" Uncle Max asked, looking at me from the rearview mirror.

"At some point during the summer when Mom and Dad have a barbecue," I said.

"Good luck."

I rolled my eyes.

Uncle Max exited the interstate and pulled into the drive-thru of a Wendy's. We fired off our orders to him so he could place them. He pulled around, paid, grabbed our drinks and food, and pulled away. Jace handed out the food to us. I passed Casp his food and drink before taking mine.

"We need to stop at the local grocery store before we get to the cabin. I don't plan to venture to town over the next few days," Uncle Max said.

"Don't you like going to town?" I asked.

"I don't mind it. But I want to relax before dealing with my next case."

I didn't ask Uncle Max about his next case since he wouldn't tell me.

"Have you decided what you're studying at school, shorty?"

"I want to earn a public relations degree since no family member has one."

"You can earn a lot of money in that field since athletes and celebrities need one after a lawsuit or a scandal.

"I'm unsure if I want to do it for the money. But I wouldn't mind helping people. God knows there's a lot of people who need help."

Uncle Max chuckled. "I'm sure you'll do well in the field."

I didn't realize it yet, but Jace's brothers would need my help when the shit hit the fan with them. My help would set in motion for someone close to me to find love.

*******
Jace

You learn something new about someone every day. I learned that my girl wants to work in public relations. It would be the perfect job for Jules since she is level-headed.

I gathered everyone's discarded wrappers and containers and shoved them into the paper sack until we reached a trash can. Max arrived in the area of the cabin and drove to the local store. Thanks to Casp, we had a list of the groceries we needed.

I discarded our trash into the trash can outside the store before entering it. Max grabbed and pushed a shopping cart while Casp walked alongside him with his list. Jas ventured around the store, looking for junk food, while Jules and I hung back.

"Your uncle is very different from what I imagined," I said.

"What did you imagine with Uncle Max?" Jules asked.

"Neurotic like your dad." I shrugged.

Jules giggled. "No one is like my dad."

"No, they're not. Dexter takes the cake."

Jules burst into a fit of giggles. I grabbed containers of strawberries, blueberries, and watermelon. Jules grabbed a bag of green grapes and bananas. We found Max and Casp at the deli counter and put the fruit in the cart. Jas walked towards us with an armful of bags of chips and dumped them into the cart.

"Jas, do you plan to survive on chips during this trip?" Max asked.

"Uncle Max, chips are a requirement when you're on a trip, and so are candy, cookies, and ice cream. You can't have one without the others on a trip," Jas said.

"Jas, I pray for whoever you date. They will never leave the junk food aisle."

Jules and I snickered while Jas rolled her eyes. Casp grabbed the packages of lunchmeat and cheese and put them in the cart. We grabbed hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken while adding bread, buns, and condiments.

Then, it was breakfast food. We tossed frozen waffles, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches into the cart, adding precooked bacon, sausages, and juice.

Next, we found ourselves in the ice cream section, picking out different flavors of ice cream and toppings. I must admit you ate well on a road trip with Jules and her family. Plus, with three guys, we ate a lot of food.

After checking out, Max loaded the bags of food into the Expedition and drove to the cabin. Once we arrived, we unloaded the food and our bags before putting the food away and figuring out the sleeping arrangements.

Max took one bedroom. Jules and Jas called dibs on the other two rooms while Casp and I shared the spacious loft.

I set my bag on a bed while Casp unpacked his clothes and put them in a dresser. "Why are you unpacking? We're only staying three nights."

"I always unpack when I come to the cabin. Didn't anyone teach you traveling etiquette? You unpack when you stay anywhere," Casp said.

"Usually, I don't stay longer than a few days at someplace. So unpacking doesn't apply."

"Didn't your parents take you on family trips?"

"My folks took my brothers and me on a trip for a few days because of money. They budgeted for any extras so they could pay bills. Not everyone comes from a lavish lifestyle."

Casp furrowed his brows and shook his head. "I didn't mean to insult you, Jace."

"You didn't. But our parents taught us about money. I would rather have my family than money. If that means not going on expensive trips or buying brand-name clothes, so be it."

Casp sat down on the other bed. "My folks don't spend exuberant amounts of money on my brothers and me. They taught us to appreciate everything they provide us. I don't want you to think I'm a spoiled brat."

I sat on the other bed and faced Casp. "I don't think that. But it would help if you learned tact with people. No one likes arrogance. It turns them off, especially girls."

"So, how do I do that?"

"Ease up with the stringent views. Casp, no one says you need to change everything about yourself. But it would help if you also were likable. Bragging doesn't help. It will turn people away."

"My dad said I need to cool it with the bragging."

"Odin is pretty levelheaded when it comes to people. Plus, he loves you, your brothers, and your mom. And he tasked me as your supervisor."

"Better you than Jordin."

I snickered because Jordin could be a bit much at times.

Casp and I talked for a while. I didn't realize how much he needed help with people, but I figured this trip would help while spending time with Jules. It may even surprise people.