The Secret (Single in Seattle 1)

“Good,” Will says. “Even if it isn’t a concussion, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“Wish someone had said that to you back in the day,” Meg says, rolling her eyes. “Can I get you a beer, Kelly?”

“Yes, please.”

“You got it.”

I look down to see Vaughn watching us, and I give him a thumbs-up. His face is ashen. I know he’s just as worried for Jamal as Kelly is.

He sits back down and rests his elbows on his knees, looking down at the field.

Caleb reaches out and pats Vaughn on the shoulder. I can’t hear what he says to him, but Vaughn nods and then smiles at my uncle.

Caleb can be intense. He’s kind of a badass. As a former Navy SEAL, he’s the strong, silent type. His poor daughters had a hell of a time dating in high school because he always threatened to kill their dates.

The scariest part is, he could do it and make it look like an accident.

But he’s also a genuinely nice guy, and I can see that he’s showing Vaughn that kindness now.

I love my family. I’m proud of them. Bringing Vaughn and Kelly up to the family’s luxury box was definitely the right thing to do today. I intended for it to just be a fun day, but it turned into so much more.

“Are you coming to cousins’ night tonight?” I ask Liam and Lucy, who are sitting on a couch nearby, looking at something on their phones.

“Duh,” Liam says with a grin. “And this time, I won’t get caught.”

“For God’s sake, keep your clothes on, sicko,” Lucy says, shaking her head. “I dare you.”

“You’re no fun,” Liam says with a grumble. “It’s not like I got jail time or anything.”

“I want to come,” my cousin Hudson says. “I’ll be twenty-one in a month. Let me come. You know you’re my favorite, Livie.”

I grin at him. “Of course, I am. But we don’t let the underagers come, and you know it.”

“One month,” he repeats. “And I won’t drink. I’ll just hang and eat and stuff. I can be a sober driver if anyone needs it.”

Okay, the kid has a good point. “You can come, but you will not drink, or I’ll tell Uncle Mark and Aunt Meredith, and you’ll get your ass whooped.”

“I’m not stupid,” he says with a scowl. “And I have to work tomorrow morning. If I show up to the jobsite hungover, my dad will kill me.”

“Exactly,” I agree. “Okay, fine. Bring some salsa, okay?”

“Mom just made some,” he says with a grin. “I’ll swipe a jar.”

Meredith makes the best salsa. “Cool.”

“When can I come? I’m a cousin.” I turn to Zoey, Erin’s younger sister.

“In about two years.”

“So lame,” Zoey says with a roll of her eyes and walks away.

“She’s nineteen,” Will reminds me as he watches his daughter sulk. “And she’s really good at it.”

“I was, too, when I was that age.”

“I guess it’s a rite of passage,” Will responds, and then we turn back to the game when we hear everyone cheer. “That’s right! Get it, boys!”

Seattle scores a touchdown, and I return to my seat next to Vaughn.

“You okay?” I ask him.

“Yeah. Scared the shit out of me, but he’s gonna be fine. I like your uncle Caleb a lot, by the way.”

I look over my shoulder at my uncle and offer him a smile.

Caleb just winks back at me and pops a cube of cheese into his mouth.

“Yeah, I do, too.”

“Pizza’s here,” Stella announces as she and Drew come into the kitchen, each hidden behind a stack of boxes. “I got extra.”

“Keaton will eat one whole large by himself,” Drew says.

“Like you won’t?” Erin asks, and Drew just smiles and opens a box, pulling out a slice of pepperoni before taking a huge bite.

“That’s a lot of pizza,” Vaughn says. “And a ton of vodka.”

“One thing we learned from the old ladies,” Haley says as she lines up martini glasses, “is our love for lemon drop martinis. Especially on these nights. But we have plenty of beer in the cooler outside for anyone who doesn’t want vodka.”

“How many people are coming?” Vaughn asks.

“A lot,” I reply with a sigh as I try to count in my head. “At least…a dozen? It’s probably easier to count the underagers, who I heard are all going to my parents’ house for a sober party.”

“Not me,” Hudson says as he walks into the kitchen, a wide grin on his handsome face. “I’m here. I’m sober. And I’ll stay that way. You won’t have to cut my balls off or anything.”

“Good, because…ew,” I reply. “There’s all kinds of soda and stuff in the fridge.”

I walk into the living room and study it for a minute. Drew and Vaughn moved the furniture so there’s more space for sitting. Dining room chairs are scattered about. Some will just sit on the floor, which is fine.