CHAPTER TEN
SOREN
“Heard you had a date. Who's the lucky woman?” Beckett asks after our family's weekly Sunday dinner together.
“Who spilled the beans? Sara Beth?” She's been peppering me with questions about last night ever since Kennedy dropped her off at home this morning.
“A buddy of mine saw you at Hatchet Crazy.” Beckett drops onto the worn leather sofa in the living room and flips the TV on to a baseball game. He lowers the volume from the blasting eardrum level Gramps likes to keep it at, and we share a wry look.
We don't know how Griffen handles the noise. Our younger brother prefers peace and quiet. Something you'd think he'd get as our grandpa's live-in caretaker, but nope, Gramps is a social butterfly—always heading to the senior center and needing the TV and radio turned up to the highest settings.
Beckett’s expression morphs into confusion a second later. “Wait, Sara Beth knows about her? It must be serious if you've already shared the dating news.”
“Diana is the new vet tech at Dr. Winston’s. When we brought Whiskers in for an injury he was faking, Sara Beth met her. It didn't seem worth hiding after that.”
“Faking an injury?” I nod, and Beckett laughs before imitating Elmer Fudd. “That pesky wabbit!”
“Still watching cartoons?” Ezra, Beckett's more put-together twin, teases as he enters the room with his girl, Lauren, behind him and heads for a chair.
“As a matter of fact, yes, I am.” Beckett proudly puffs his chest. “They're slower-paced and less visually stimulating, so they're relaxing to watch. Plus, there's the whole nostalgia aspect.”
“He's got a point,” Lauren agrees from her spot on Ezra's lap in the recliner. “I've read some articles discussing the potential benefits of older cartoons.”
“For kids,” Ezra jokes, pressing a kiss behind her ear.
Beckett rolls his eyes at his twin. “My TV watching habits aren't up for discussion. Soren's date on the other hand…”
I groan as they focus on me. At least the rest of the family is hanging out in the kitchen while finishing dessert, so I’ve only got three people to distract from this conversation before everyone dives into my personal life.
“You should invite her to the All Schools Day parade, so we can meet her.”
“Bombard her with you hooligans? I don't think so.”
“It'll happen eventually, and the parade will keep it low pressure. Lots of people around. Entertaining floats that make interrogations hard.”
“Or I can just pop by the vet with Biscuit,” Beckett threatens. He's the primary caretaker for the firehouse dog, which would make it entirely possible for him to ambush Diana at work.
“Fine, I'll ask Diana if she's free.”
“Free for what?” My daughter walks into the room with Kennedy, Wyatt, Griffen, and Gramps not far behind. So much for avoiding the rest of my family poking their noses in my business.
“How would you feel about asking Diana to join us at the All Schools Day parade?”
Her face lights up. “That's a great idea. She can see me with my class!” The fourth graders are riding in a decorated trailer to celebrate the end of the school year. It’s all Sara Beth’s been talking about for the past month.
“Then it’s settled.” Kennedy claps her hands in finality. “Soren is bringing a date, and we all agree to be on our best behavior.”
Beckett crosses his heart while sharing a mischievous smile with his twin.
Damn nosy siblings…