Chapter 4

Wheezie Cameron was turning 16, and the shopping mission was serious business."She's impossible to shop for," Sarah groaned, pushing the cart through the store with JJ and Lily in tow. "One minute she wants something trendy, the next she's into vintage stuff."JJ studied a rack of graphic t-shirts. "Teenager logic is its special language."Lily, ever the strategic shopper, had her own opinions. "What about a gift card?" she suggested, then quickly added, "But with a cool personal touch!"A nearby mom overheard their conversation, her eyes lingering on JJ. "Hello, Mr.Cameron, where is your husband?" she asked, a subtle hint of interest in her voice.Sarah, without missing a beat, threw an arm around JJ. "Oh, my brother Rafe is at home. Devastated, he's missing this epic shopping adventure."JJ played along, rolling his eyes dramatically. "He's organizing our closets. Again."The mom looked momentarily confused. Lily stifled a giggle."Daddy LOVES color-coding," she announced seriously, which was entirely true.They finally settled on a vintage vinyl record player–something both trendy and classic that would appeal to Wheezie's eclectic teenage taste. JJ found a collection of classic rock albums to go with it, while Lily picked out some fairy lights to make the gift "more aesthetic"–a word she'd learned from her teenage almost-sister."She's gonna love this," Sarah declared.Lily beamed. "Mission accomplished!"Their unexpected family–complete with its layers of complicated relationships and inside jokes–moved through the mall, a perfect blend of chaos and love."No wedding rings," Emma whispered to Wheezie, her eyes not-so-subtly tracking JJ as he helped set up the sound system. "And seriously, your brother's friend looks like a literal surfing model."Her friend Sophia nodded, watching Rafe arrange party decorations with military precision. "And Your brother? Total GQ model vibes. Like, crisp button-down, perfect hair, could be on a magazine cover."Weezie groaned. "Gross. Those are My Brother's."JJ, his sun-bleached hair falling perfectly, muscles flexing as he adjusted speakers, looked like he'd stepped out of a beach lifestyle magazine. Rafe, pristine in a light blue button-down that highlighted his build, could have been a poster boy for preppy sophistication."They're not married," Emma continued, "which means they're technically available."Wheezie stepped between her friends and her family. "No," she declared. "That's MY brother and MY brother-in-law. You do NOT get to look at them like that."Lily, watching from the sidelines, rolled her eyes. "Teenagers are weird," she told Sarah.Sarah just laughed. "Some things never change."JJ caught Rafe's eye, both were slightly confused by the teenage drama unfolding around them."Should we be concerned?" JJ muttered.Rafe's lips twitched. "Teenage logic is its universe."Wheezie stood guard, her territorial defense firmly in place. "Keep your eyes to yourself""They're engaged," Wheezie announced confidently to her friends, cutting off their speculation about JJ and Rafe's marital status.Emma's eyes went wide. "What?"Before JJ or Rafe could interject, Wheezie steamrolled forward. "Engaged. Super in love. Not available." "They don't wear rings because JJ keeps losing his ring, so Rafe puts his ring away as well."JJ, walking by with a tray of snacks, caught the tail end of the conversation. He opened his mouth to correct her.Wheezie gave him a look that could freeze lava.Rafe approached, straightening some decorations. "Did someone say—""Don't. Even. Start." Wheezie muttered under her breath.Her friends looked simultaneously disappointed and impressed. JJ and Rafe exchanged a bewildered glance."Papa!" Lily interrupted, saving them from the awkward moment. "Can you help me with the music?"As JJ walked away, Wheezie turned to her friends. "See? Engaged. Off-limits."Sarah, overhearing, bit back a laugh. The teenage territorial defense was strong.And JJ and Rafe? They were too confused to even protest.The birthday party continued, with Wheezie maintaining her elaborate fiction with impressive dedication."When's the wedding?" Emma whispered, still eyeing JJ and Rafe."Oh," Wheezie said smoothly, "they're waiting until after Lily's adoption is finalized. Very romantic. But I think they have the wedding in June it would be beautiful, right? "JJ, passing by with a plate of cupcakes, caught a snippet and looked utterly bewildered. He started to say something, but Wheezie's death glare could have stopped a hurricane.Rafe, adjusting the sound system, raised an eyebrow when he heard the word "wedding" but was immediately distracted by Lily asking about speaker placement.Sarah watched the entire scenario unfold, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. John B leaned over. "Should we intervene?""Nope," Sarah whispered back. "This is too good."Lily, completely oblivious, was the only one treating the day as a normal birthday celebration. She danced between JJ and Rafe, completely unaware of the teenage romantic conspiracy happening around her."They're married in my mind anyway," Wheezie muttered to her friends, watching JJ and Rafe coordinate the music and food with an almost telepathic connection.The teenage territorial defense continued. And JJ and Rafe remained blissfully unaware of their "engagement."