Oral Care

Chapter 7: Nothing Will Ever Compare

*** Evelyn's POV ***

I don't know what the hell possessed me to think coming tonight was a good idea, yet here I am walking right into the fire to strike up a conversation with Rafael's family. At least three of them are related to Raf. I can tell by their similar facial features. The brother standing there is a little bulkier and his eyes are brown, not the green-hazel I lose myself in when looking at Raf.

The girls are all gorgeous. His sisters are tall and lithe, both dressed in identical bridesmaid dresses that tastefully showcase their bodies. They all have the same hair, dark and thick. And their smiles. Just like Raf, sparkling white and straight. Someone in the family must be a dentist.

"Sorry about that. My daughter needed to get her Uncle Raf fix before she tuckers out here in the next hour. I'm Lyra." The older sister introduces herself offering a hand.

I accept with a gracious smile. "I'm Evelyn."

I'm surprised when she uses my hand to draw me into a warm hug. I hate that I stiffen, but this is weird isn't it?

"I'm Mona." The other gal says with a wave.

"And I'm Nick. This is my wife, Stacy." The brother shakes my hand as does his wife. Nick blurts out. "Okay, I need to know. How do you know my brother?"

I can't believe that Rafael is okay with the truth. My family would have strung me up if I invited a perfect stranger, a hook-up nonetheless, to a family affair like this. They would see it as highly disrespectful.

"I...uh..." I laugh at the absurdity and then decide to embrace it. I'm never going to see these folks again. "I met your brother at the spa. He invited me to join his couple's massage, which you all know, he was flying solo for."

"Smooth son of a bitch." Nick mutters which his wife swats him for.

I laugh and agree. "I thought so."

"Well, Evelyn, welcome to a Baumann family event. Although I guess technically Marlee is now a Drost. But our family always outnumbers everyone else so it's still a Baumann family event." Mona rambles.

"Yeah, what an experience to be one of fourteen! I'm sure you all have some crazy stories." I comment.

"We're only thirteen now." Presumably another brother responds, walking up.

"We'll always be fourteen, Marco." Lyra says sharply.

I pick up on the strife there. Stacy smiles at me as the siblings all eye each other. "So Evelyn, where are you from?"

"Texas." I respond.

"All my exes, live in Texas!" Another brother drawls awfully, joining the growing crowd. His eyes shamelessly skirt over me and he grins almost wickedly. "Well hello, Tex. I may not be a cowboy, but I know how to help you save a horse. I'm Joel."

Mona swats the back of Joel's head. "Leave her alone. She's here with Raf."

"What do you do for a living, Evelyn?" Marco, I think, asks.

"I'm a civil engineer." I answer.

"Sexy. What's that mean?" Joel questions. Mona wallops him again. "Stop it, Mona!"

"You stop being lecherous!" She scolds him and turns to me sweetly. "Please continue."

"I help design and plan infrastructure." I explain. "My specialty is bridges, but I have also contributed to tunnels and dams."