The Secret (Single in Seattle 1)

“The conversation in here is very interesting.”

“We wanted to hear all about the sexy stuff,” Stella says. “And we’re not sorry.”

“Neither am I. It sounds…stimulating.”

“Okay, let’s play Never Have I Ever,” Haley says as the other guys come in the room, looking glassy-eyed and rosy-cheeked. “It’s easy and fun. I refuse to play Truth or Dare because that’s how Liam got arrested last time.”

“Drink refills first,” Drew says as he marches back into the kitchen.

“And a pee break,” Liam agrees.

For the next fifteen minutes, there’s a little chaos as everyone fills up on drinks and food and takes a pit stop.

“I didn’t know you liked the hair thing so much,” Vaughn whispers in my ear.

“It might be the hottest thing you do.”

His eyebrow wings up in surprise. “That is?”

I nod and lick my lips. “Yeah. Definitely.”

“Honey, if that’s the thing that floats your boat, I need to step up my game a bit.”

“You might kill me if it’s any better.”

Vaughn laughs, and the others filter back in to resume their seats.

“You know, I don’t think I formally introduced you to everyone. I’ll go around the room real quick. Don’t worry if you can’t remember names later because it’s a lot.”

“Let’s do this,” he agrees.

I start immediately to my right. “You know Stella. Next to her is Maddie, and right over there is Maddie’s twin, Josie. They’re the oldest of us and are Caleb’s daughters. You know their brother, Drew.”

“Met him in his underwear,” Vaughn agrees, much to everyone’s delight.

“That’s Hudson, sitting on the floor with a Coke. He’s not quite twenty-one yet, but he’s super close. His sister is Lucy, and they’re my uncle Mark’s kids.”

“Hey,” Lucy says with a wave.

“Haley and Keaton are my sibs, and you’ve met them,” I continue, looking around to see who I’m missing, then point at Sophie. “Sophie and Liam are my uncle Isaac’s kiddos. Who did I forget?”

“Just me, but we’ve met,” Erin says with a smile. “I’m Will’s oldest.”

“And that’s everyone here. There are five more, of course. Chelsea, Zoey, Abby, Finn, and Emma. And that’s all of us.” I take Vaughn’s hand and link our fingers. “Okay, let’s play this game.”

“Me first, since it was my idea,” Haley says with an excited grin. “Never have I ever been to Scotland.”

Vaughn’s the only one who drinks. “I filmed a movie there. And why do I have the feeling that I’m about to get really drunk? Maybe I should grab some water.”

“We’ll go easy on you,” Liam says. “Maybe.”

“Never have I ever been arrested for streaking,” Vaughn says, and Liam laughs, then drinks.

“I like you,” Liam says. “Okay, never have I ever captained a boat.”

And so it goes for the next hour.

“Never have I ever had sex in a public place,” Lucy says, and we laugh when about half of the group drinks.

Vaughn and I don’t.

“Never have I ever sent a dirty text to the wrong person,” Sophie adds.

I drink. Vaughn stares at me, and I giggle and shrug. “Oops. Never have I ever said the wrong name in bed.”

Keaton and Vaughn both drink, and I slap Vaughn’s arm.

“It was in a scene,” he says, defending himself. “I couldn’t remember the character’s name, and I called her something else.”

“I don’t think that counts,” Stella says.

“Trust me, in that moment, it counted,” Vaughn says.

“And what was your excuse?” Stella asks Keaton.

“I’m a dumbass,” Keaton replies with a shrug. “Okay, never have I ever…”

Chapter 13

~Vaughn~

“I think I have to take literally everyone home,” Hudson says as he shakes his head at all his drunk cousins. As far as I can tell, there are two of him right now.

The room is a little spinny.

Drinking games are the fucking devil. I know better.

But at least there’s no threat of stupid photos being released to the press here. And isn’t that just a goddamn miracle?

“That’s what you signed on for,” Liv reminds Hudson. “In exchange for coming, you’re the sober driver.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hudson says as we help get the others all into Hudson’s SUV. “I don’t have enough seatbelts for all of you. If I get pulled over, I’m fucked.”

“I think the cop will be grateful that you’re getting them all home safely,” Drew says and claps Hudson on the shoulder. “You’re a bonafide fucking hero, my boy.”

“That’s my boob, you perv,” Lucy says.

“Did Liam cop a feel?” Haley asks. “That’s gross.”

“No, it was Sophie,” Lucy replies with a laugh.

Good God, these people are hilarious.

Once the door is closed and Hudson’s behind the wheel, he takes off, and I survey all the cars on the street.

“I guess they’ll be back for their cars tomorrow?”

“That’s how it works,” Stella says with a drunk smile. “I’m gonna go to bed. Bye.”

“I wanna go to bed, too,” Liv says as she practically falls into me. “I can’t see.”

“Your eyes are closed.” I wrap my arm around her and guide her back inside. “We just have to get upstairs.”