Page 25

Jack

“ A pricot caught a chipmunk, Daddy! And she tore its head off, and she left the body part on the step for Aunt Deedee. There was blood everywhere!” Kimmie is wound up when I arrive at my family’s old house up the hill from Cooters & Shooters.

Dylan and Logan live here now, and it’s not far from my place.

“That’s pretty gross, Peanut.”

“I don’t know if she’s a mouser like Miss Gina said, but she can hunt!”

“I thought Apricot lived at the restaurant.” I watch my bundle of energy, skipping around me as I enter the back door.

“It’s just right there, Daddy!” She points out the door, shaking her dark curls. “She’s going to wander around her territory. Cats are nocturnal. She can even see in the dark! Miss Allie told me.”

Miss Allie . A smile curls my lips at the mention of her name, and an ache of longing twists my chest.

I wonder how to broach the subject of dating with a seven-year-old. Could she possibly understand what it means? Is it better not to say anything and let her think what she wants?

“I’m taking her outside to see if she’ll catch another one for me!” Kimmie pushes through the screen door, letting it slam behind her.

“Hey, big brother.” Dylan meets me in the kitchen, holding out a mug of coffee. “Did you get a good night’s sleep?”

Nope. Not at all.

“Sure.” I deflect. “Thanks for taking care of my little firecracker.”

Dylan’s nose wrinkles with her smile. “You know I love that little girl like my own.”

“Speaking of your own…” I take a sip of coffee, watching her move around the kitchen. I know she and Logan have been trying to get pregnant, and when her cheeks flush, I grin. “Are you planning to tell everybody?”

“We only just found out two days ago. I took a home pregnancy test, then I went to see Dr. Pierce yesterday to confirm it.”

I place my coffee mug on the counter and walk over to pull my little sister into a hug. “Congratulations.”

Her shoulders drop, and she exhales a laugh, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’ve never been so happy!”

Releasing her, I go back to lean against the counter. “From what I’ve heard, pregnancy hormones are pretty crazy.”

“Well, so far, so good—other than being dead tired.” She stares at the coffee pot like she’s trying to make a decision. “Dr. Pierce said I’m ten weeks along. I should probably wait three more weeks to tell everybody.”

“That’s the second trimester?”

She makes a little grimace and nods. “Supposedly you’re out of the woods by then.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“I wonder if mine are.” She laughs, ducking her head. “You know I suck at keeping secrets.”

“Hey, bro.” Logan walks into the kitchen, going straight to the coffee pot, cutting me a glance. “Did you and Allie have that sleepover last night?”

My expression remains neutral as I glide right past his question. “I heard congratulations are in order.”

His face breaks into a big smile, and he turns to Dylan. “I thought we weren’t telling anybody yet?”

“He guessed!” Dylan’s tone is so much like Kimmie’s. “Anyway, he’s my big brother. I had to tell Jack.”

Holding out my hands, I shrug. “She had to tell me.”

Logan exhales a laugh, walking over to my pint-sized sister, who’s leaning against the bar in shorts and a T-shirt and bare feet.

“What am I going to do with you?” His voice is low, and he pulls her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

I turn to get a refill on my coffee, ignoring the pinch in my chest.

I’m happy for my little sister. She has something I never did, as much as I wanted it. A loving partner, excitement for a new life.

Danielle had already soured on our marriage when she turned up pregnant with Kimmie. I’m just thankful she told me and didn’t do anything unforgivable.

I wonder how Allie feels about having another baby. As if we’ve even gotten anywhere close to such questions. I’ve got to get a handle on my fantasies.

“I can’t keep a secret!” Dylan’s laugh draws my attention. “Jack will tell you—I always ruined Christmas.”

“You never ruined it.” I put cream in my mug before taking a sip. “We learned pretty fast what not to tell you.”

“See?” She gestures to me while looking up at her husband.

“Does this mean I can tell the guys now?”

She inhales slowly. “We really should wait before we tell everybody.”

Logan looks at me, shaking his head. “The girls will all know by the end of the week. Bet me.”

“Nope.” I hold up a hand, polishing off my coffee .

“Just have my back when the dogpile begins.”

“I got you.” I put the mug in the sink and head for the door. “I’ll grab Kimmie, if I can get her away from that cat.”

“You should let her keep Apricot,” Dylan calls after me. “She’s a great mouser.”

“Don’t start. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be at Garrett’s. I need to get him back out to practice.”

“I’d like to have you on the show soon, if you’re available.”

Pausing at the back door, I think about appearing on Logan’s radio show. He always wants me to talk about the seniors to watch, and from what I hear, a lot of scouts—as well as parents and fans—tune in to what I say.

“Let’s wait until Austin is able to get some time on the field. He should be back in the game next week.”

“I’m ready when you are.”

I give him a wave as I head out to find my daughter.

“I hope you made the most of last night.” Garrett meets me at the door of his cottage on the bay. “Allie was looking fine in those glasses, and that thing she’s doing with her hair now.”

I’m about to punch him on the shoulder when my daughter pushes past us.

“Where’s baby Gigi?” Kimmie runs into the house. “I want to hold her!”

“Wow,” Garrett gripes. “I remember when she used to be excited to see me.”

“Gigi’s cuter.”

“Aunt Liv’s picking Gigi up from her grandma’s.”

“Aw!” Kimmie stomps back to where we stand, her little shoulders slumped. “What am I gonna do now?”

My brother pats her shoulder. “You’ll just have to hang out with us for a few minutes.”

Kimmie’s bottom lip pokes out, and Garrett bends down to swoop her off her feet.

“Uncle Grizzlay!” she squeals.

He puts her on his back. “I know what you like.”

I shake my head following them to the kitchen.

When I get there, my child is sitting on the bar in the middle of the room, and my brother is holding a can of whipped cream. “Ready?”

“What are you—” I don’t finish the sentence before he sprays a blob into her mouth, then does the same for himself.

“It’s Redi-Whip!” She cheers with her muffled voice. “More! More!”

Garrett’s all teed up to give her another squirt, but I take the can out of his hand. “That’s enough of that.”

“Da- day !” Kimmie complains.

“Don’t be a pooper, Jack.” Garrett joins the chorus.

“I came over to talk football, not put my daughter into a sugar coma.”

“Don’t tell me you’re doing the no-sugar diet, too.” His eyes brighten. “So you did hook up with Allie.”

“I like Miss Allie.” Kimmie’s head tilts to the side. “Why would Daddy hook her?”

“Well, you see—” my brother starts, but I catch his arm in a firm grip.

“Stop.” My tone is level, and he holds up both hands.

“It’s a game.” He shifts gears, holding up his index and pinky fingers. “Like in Texas, they say ‘Hook ‘em, Horns.’”

“Can I play?” Kimmie’s little brows rise.

“Hi, guys!” Liv thankfully interrupts the conversation.

“Gigi!” Kimmie hops off the bar and runs to where her little cousin is on her feet now.

My daughter tries to hold the toddler’s hand, but Gigi only squeals, waving her arm around and trying to get away from her.

Gigi’s wearing a ruffled red onesie, and her hair is a pink halo of curls around her head. She’s a chunky little thing, and since she started walking, she’s gotten very independent. Not that Kimmie doesn’t still try nonstop to hold her or play with her or lead her around.

“Are you here because of the news?” Liv’s expression is serious as she joins us in the kitchen.

I hesitate before answering. She might be talking about Dylan being pregnant, but she might not.

“Nope.” Garrett saves me. “What’s up?”

“It’s all over the paper how Levi Powell dominated on the field last night.” Annoyance is in her tone, and she glances from my brother to me. “Everybody’s saying how he’s a rising star and not a word about Austin.”

Her eyes are worried, and my throat tightens. My mind is on Allie, and I don’t want her to be concerned.

“Levi played a good game.” I keep my tone calm, sticking to the facts. “We knew he was talented. It’s why he’s the second starting quarterback.”

“These guys were making it sound like he should be first.” Her voice is low.

“Those guys aren’t the coach.” Garrett straightens, tugging on the waist of his jeans. “Jack decides who plays and when, and they can deal with it.”

Liv glances at me. “What do you think?”

“I think Austin’s ankle needs to heal, and when he’s back in the game, they’ll say the same things about him.”

Her brow furrows. “You don’t think sitting out will kill his momentum?”

“Nah, we’ll ease him back into training, and after the way he played second week of camp, he’ll snap back.” I put the can of whipped cream on the counter. “He’s not losing anything.”

“Buncha Monday-morning quarterbacking,” Garrett grumbles.

“I wanted to talk to you about our defensive line. We got lucky last week, but we’re facing some big teams. Can you come to practice this week? ”

“I’ll be there.” Garrett holds out a hand, and I clasp it. “You know I will.”

Baby squeals come from Gigi’s room, and Kimmie stomps into the living room with her arms crossed. “Gigi won’t do anything I tell her to do. She keeps saying dog .”

“I told you.” Garrett grins at Liv. “She came out for that lady’s dog. We gotta get her a puppy.”

“I am not having a puppy and a toddler at the same time.” Liv holds up a hand. “When she’s bigger, we’ll get her a dog.”

Garrett makes a move like he’ll grab her, and Liv hops around behind me.

“You’d better hide behind Jack. You know I’ll throw you over my shoulder if you start sassing me.”

“Garrett Bradford!” Her voice goes high, but she’s trying not to laugh.

It’s another twist in my stomach, and I’m again frustrated at my siblings and their damn happy families.

“We’re taking off. See you next week.” I grab Kimmie’s hand, and Liv squeals as my brother takes off after her.

“Uncle Garrett’s got Aunt Liv over his shoulder.” My daughter watches behind me. “Is that how you get a puppy, Daddy?”

“It’s how you get something.”

Holding the door to my old red pickup, I help her into the passenger’s side and buckle her into her car seat.

My phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my pocket. On the screen is a single sentence from Allie, a.k.a., my dirty little secret .

DLS

I told Ronnie no.