Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I make my move early, while everybody’s still chatting. I walk Nick toward the living room where Teagan’s got herself into a corner with a glass of wine. But before I can open my mouth to make the introduction Nick says, “Teagan.”
She says, “Coach.”
And I’m left standing there with my hand half-raised for an introduction between two very frigid people.
“Oh, right, you already know each other,” I say, playing oblivious. Still, I’m hoping Nick’s picking up what I’m not putting down. He doesn’t and rocks back on his heels.
Shit. This is going to be harder than I thought.
“Nick and I are old high school rivals,” I begin. “And he dated my wife.”
Teagan’s eyebrow arches. “Oh.”
Nick glares at me.
What else was I supposed to say? Admit he raised my son for his first ten years? Nope, no thanks.
“Really? That’s a hell of a thing to hand somebody,” Nick says, to me, not to her.
Josie’s at my elbow before it turns into anything. “Food’s ready,” she says and steers me away.
“Liam, was that seriously the best you could’ve led with?” she says under her breath.
“I put him in front of her and they’re cold to each other. He did something to piss her off.”
“You only think Nick did something wrong because you don’t like him.”
“That’s not true. I tolerate him. He’s my frenemy.”
Josie shakes her head and leads me toward the buffet she has set up. “For someone dishing advice over the air, you’re clueless when it comes to people.”
“I’ll try harder.” I feel like I’ve failed at something I really didn’t want to take on until my wife put the idea in my head. I make my plate, mingle, get seconds, and finally find a place to sit.
Teagan sits next to me. “Everybody knows everybody.”
“Perks of a small town.”
“Maybe. I’ve never been invited to a bartender’s house.”
I laugh, end up choking on my food, and have to beat my chest to clear the lump in my throat. “I’m not often the bartender. I own the bar and my son manages it because he’s retired. I help out when I’m needed or bored. As for being invited, that’s who Josie and I are. Bex—” I nod toward her. “She’s also new in town and we figured this would be a nice little get together.”
“It’s all your family,” she points out.
I pretend to look. “You’re new in town, so I’ll tell you now, in case you don’t know, my family is da bomb. Legit coolest family in Beaumont. My wife’s amazing. My kids are the best. My daughter-in-law rivals all daughters-in-law. My niece is fierce and her husband is one of a kind, and then there’s my nephew.” I point at Quinn. “He’s married so don’t get any ideas, but he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”
Teagan looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
I probably have.
“And Mr. Ashford . . . how does he fit in other than dating your wife at one time?”
“And being my high school rival,” I remind her.
She doesn’t look amused.
I sigh heavily. “He’s family. As much as I hate to admit it, he is.”
“Because he raised Noah?”
Now I’m the one looking at her funny. “How’d you know?”
“My son heard Noah calling Mr. Ashford Dad one day at practice and referred to Mack as his brother. I asked around. It’s not a secret.”
“There aren’t any secrets in Beaumont. Also, call him Nick.”
“Nick,” she says as if she’s trying it out for the first time.
“But yeah, I was an idiot. He raised my boy. That’s that.”
She accepts what I’ve said, and I think we’re done talking until she asks, “And the two of you are all right now.”
“We tolerate each other. And I returned the favor when he got divorced. It works for our family.”
“I thought my life was messy.”
“The joys of a small town. Everyone knows everyone and everything,” I say.
Teagan and I talk a bit more until Noah says he needs me. He wants my ruling on a quarterback he thinks is overrated. Bex and Elle corner me together now, tag-teaming me with ideas, and I tell them both to talk to each other and leave me out of it, which they were already doing.
Around the time the food’s gone, Quinn brings one of the guitars up from the studio in the basement. Justine sits next to him and the two start to harmonize. Elle sets up her phone to record, saying this is prime social media content and fears the wrath of Paige if she doesn’t capture this moment.
Everyone ends up in the living room, listening. Peyton and Noah are swaying together, and Ben has his arm around Elle.
Josie pulls her phone out and calls Katelyn, putting her and Harrison on video chat so they can see their son and daughter-in-law perform.
When they’re done, everyone gives them a massive round of applause. Quinn’s cheeks redden and he ducks his head. He stands and holds the guitar out for me. I shake my head.