Nate

She went completely still, her eyes enlarging, and even though she didn’t move a muscle, I felt her shrinking back from my touch.

I pressed there, and she let it go. When she didn’t immediately bite down again, I moved back. “No more hurting yourself, please.” I ignored her slight groan and placed a hand behind her back. With a firm but gentle touch, I walked us inside.

I knew Graham would be watching for us, and he proved me right.

He took me in, then his sister, and whatever he’d been thinking or feeling was masked.

“How about it, Quince?”

“What?” She faltered, going up the first of the steps.

He pretended to whip out a microphone and began bouncing his shoulders up and down. He started to sing the song lyrics, at the same time bobbing his head to the right. “How about it? Family karaoke night? You and me? I need a partner. Cynthia doesn’t think I know who Lady Sovereign is.” He turned to face inside and raised his voice. “But HA! Little does she know that ‘Love Me Or Hate Me’ is my most favorite song EVER!” He threw me a grin, moving aside so we could enter. “What do you all think I listen to to warm up before my games? I didn’t get pumped up to Yanni.”

“Who’s Cynthia?”

That grin went to his sister, and he moved to shut the door. “My girlfriend. Be nice to her. She’s meeting the rest of the family tonight.”

Quincey froze again. “Are you kidding me? You’re introducing her to the family tonight?”

“Yeah. Why not? It was in the text.”

“I thought when everyone else piled on that you wouldn’t bring her. This is the worst night to have her meet me.”

He laughed.

A golden retriever came barreling from the back, followed by a yell. “She got loose!”

Graham flashed Quincey a smirk. “Cynthia’s my dog. My best girlfriend. I named her after my favorite Atlanta housewife.”

A female was coming from the back with a rueful look on her face. She was slim with her hair up in some ’do. She saw us and stopped in her tracks. “Oh, good gracious. The guests are already here.” She glared at Graham. “You could’ve told me they were here. I haven’t even gotten dressed.”

Graham went over, throwing his arm around her and walking her to us. “This is my girlfriend, and no stress, Quince. She’s met the family already.”

“You’re—” Quincey’s mouth dropped open. “You two are together?”

The girl’s cheeks pinked, and she held her hands together, clasping her fingers tight. “Calihan had a hard time with it at first, but we’ve moved past that rocky ground. Thank goodness your mom loves me.” She started laughing and tipped her head up to see Graham shooting me a concerned look before his frown found Quincey. “Oh.” Her voice trailed off.

“I don’t know you. I’m Nate.” I held my hand out, giving both siblings a look. “What’s the awkward history here? I have to know all the gossip because Logan will be pissed if I don’t fill him in.”

Graham relaxed, barking out a laugh. “That Kade doesn’t change, huh?”

“Have you met my friends?”

“It’d be cool to all get together. When does Mason’s team…?” He trailed off after his girlfriend’s elbow nudged him in the chest. Hard. “Sorry. Uh, this is my little sister’s best friend. My other sister. Calihan.”

“Britney grew up with us. She and Calihan were, are, inseparable.”

“We still are. I’m technically her roommate.” Britney held her hand out. “You’re Nate Monson. I’ve heard a lot about you, and when I say a lot, I mean a lot a lot. You’re all anyone talks about in this family now. You, and the whole situation. You know.” She shot Graham a frown. “You are supposed to stop me when I ramble like this.”

He beamed at her, tapping her nose. “I happen to think it’s adorable, so I’ll never stop you.”

“Oh God.” Quincey moved to the side. “I need a drink. Do you still keep the liquor back here?” Britney blinked a second, then shot after her. She linked their elbows. “Let me show you. Cal and I were experimenting, and I think we found the next big drink. Everyone’s going to love it. We’re thinking of putting it on our YouTube channel.”

They turned the corner, and I found Graham inspecting me.

“What?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You look intense.”

“I feel intense.” My phone started buzzing again. “I need a room and thirty minutes to have some hard conversations. Your sister can’t overhear in any way.”

His eyes got hard, but he nodded. “Follow me.”

He took me to the basement and into a far back room.

I was reading through the rest of the texts as soon as he left, shutting the door.

Logan: You need to call me.

Logan: Seriously. Now. I don’t care if you’re fucking.

Logan: Or driving.

Logan: K. I care. Be safe. Wrap yourself.