“Declan said you’re a big fan, so I thought I’d send you back to New Orleans with something special.”
“Thank you.” I grin, turning the ball in my hands, looking at all the signatures. Then I surprise even myself when I throw it over to Will, who catches it easily and throws it right back.
“Good arm. Looking for a job?”
“No.” I laugh and set the ball aside. “So how do you and Declan know each other?” I ask Leo. “I’m assuming it’s through music.”
“You’re right,” Leo says with a nod. “Declan helped write and produce several songs on a few of our albums.”
“Wow.” Stop saying wow. My gaze turns to Declan, who’s watching me with happy hazel eyes. “Impressive.”
“Hasn’t he told you who he’s worked with?” Meg asks, while loading up a plate. “I used to play with Leo, before Nash went nuts. He’s my brother. Well,” she clarifies with a shrug, “the closest thing I have to a brother anyway.”
“Who have you worked with?” I ask Declan, who just shakes his head.
“Lots of people.”
“Okay, he’s being modest,” Leo says with a grin. “I’ll tell you. He works with us, but he’s also worked with Bruce Springsteen, Adele, Coldplay, just to name a few.”
My eyes are trained on Declan, who won’t meet my gaze. If I’m not mistaken, he’s blushing.
He’s embarrassed.
“That’s something to be proud of,” I murmur and kiss his shoulder. “What do you do, Meg?”
Taking the focus off of Declan makes him relax, and I learn that Meg is a nurse at the children’s hospital and Sam is a magazine editor.
I love, love, that these women are married to important, wealthy men, but have maintained their own careers, their own identities. I have a lot of respect for Sam and Meg.
Dinner is delicious, but I can’t eat much. I’m too nervous and excited to eat. After dinner, Meg, Leo and Declan wander into the sunroom/music room off the kitchen to play songs and talk music.
Sam, Will and I are cleaning up from dinner, which is easy given that dishes go in the dishwasher and the food just needs to be recovered and put in the fridge. We take our cupcakes, Will grabs four of them—grumbling when Meg yells out that he can’t have six because other people want to eat them too—some coffee, and sit in the living room. We can hear the music and murmurs from the next room, but we can still talk.
“How did you meet him?” Sam asks right away and bites into a lemon cupcake.
“I own the bar that he plays in a few nights a week,” I reply and take a bite of my own chocolate cupcake, and just about die in ecstasy. “Oh my God, these are so good.”
“Best ever,” Sam agrees. “Nic is a genius when it comes to cake.”
“Nic is my new favorite person,” I say as I stuff the rest in my mouth, not even caring that I’m not by myself.
Will smiles proudly. “Atta girl.”
“I was just teasing earlier,” I say to him and shift in my seat. “You played a good game today. I really am a Seattle fan.”
“It’s okay, Callie. I played like shit today. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Oh?” Sam asks with a raised brow. I’m still not sure how Sam and Will are connected, except through Leo and Meg, but something tells me that it goes deeper than that.
“Everything is perfect, and I’ll fill you in in just a bit.”
“Okay.” Sam nods and sips her coffee.
“Okay, I have to ask, and forgive me for being rude, but I am dying to know how all of you know each other. I mean, I know Meg said that she and Leo grew up together, but you’ve also mentioned a sister-in-law Nic.”
“Oh God, this is going to be confusing,” Sam says with a laugh and looks at Will. “You tell her.”
“I got this,” Will says confidently. “Sam’s brother is Luke Williams.”
“The movie guy?” I ask with surprise.
“That’s him,” Sam says with a nod. “And he is married to Will’s sister’s best friend, Natalie.”
“But like Leo and Meg,” Will continues, “Nat and Jules are more like sisters. I sure see her as a sister.”
“I also have another brother, Mark,” Sam says, “and he’s married to his high school sweetheart, Meredith.”
“Where does Nic fit in?” I ask, already confused, my head swimming.
“Nic is married to my brother, Matt,” Will says with a smile.
“Do you have other siblings?” I ask.
“Luke and Mark are it for me,” Sam replies and sits back into the deep couch, grinning at Will.
“Jules is the baby of the family, and she’s married to Nate,” Will says. “My oldest brother, Isaac, is married to Stacy. My brother, Caleb, is married to Stacy’s cousin, Brynna.”
“I’m so confused,” I cry out, but Sam laughs and shakes her head.
“He’s not done yet.”
“I also have a half-brother, Dominic, who is married to our event planner, Alecia.”
“This is a huge family.” I sit back and stare at them both, glassy eyed. “I thought Declan’s family was big, but that’s nothing compared to yours.”
“We are big,” Will agrees with a nod, then smiles and stands. “Follow me.”