“I suspected something was going on with him, but I didn’t know about Eva either, buddy,” Liam says, patting Brody on the shoulder.
“We’ve been keeping it to ourselves,” I say, cutting through their ribbing. “She’s everything, man. We just had to keep it quiet because of her career and goals and the fact that I’m a player. But we’re done keeping it a secret.”
Liam is watching me, and a slow grin spreads across his face. He steps over to me, and his hand comes down on my shoulder. “I’m happy for you, man. She’s a good one. She’s tough enoughto handle the noise that comes with her family name, and I’m sure she’s tough enough to handle you.”
“Thanks, brother,” I say, nodding.
“So, it’s really happening. I’m happy for you,” Saint says, nodding.
“Yeah, I mean, she needs to talk to her dad, and it’s a little complicated on my end, too, so we just want to do it clean,” I explain.
“Smart,” Liam says firmly. “A lot of pressure goes along with someone with a family like hers.”
The door of the locker room clicks open, and we look over to see Alie and Presley walking in. They’re both carrying a box and Stanleys with the Titans logo on them.
Alie sets her box down on Liam’s bench. “Here’s that box, babe.” She tilts her head up, and he leans down to kiss her. “What are you guys talking about? We could hear you guys in the hallway, and then you stopped talking when we came in.”
“Our boy here is seeing someone we all know,” Brody announces, pointing a finger at me like a kid on a playground. “He’s been dating Eva. Sneaky little shit.”
Presley stops next to Saint, her eyes darting from Brody to me, a huge smile breaking across her face. She twines her arm with her husband’s, then looks back at me. “You finally told them about Eva?”
Brody blinks at her. “You knew?”
“Vaughn, please,” Presley scoffs, her tone laced with sisterly amusement. “I know everything that happens on that sideline. And I listen when people think no one’s listening.”
Alie lets out a laugh and joins in. “I’m really happy for you, Aston. I kind of knew too. It wasn’t a coincidence that I invited her to dinner.”
“I caught on to that, Al.” I laugh, and my chest expands with a massive wave of pride and relief that it’s not just a secret anymore.
“Well, we should have another dinner,” Alie declares,tapping her fingers against Liam’s cubby wall. “And this time, you guys can sit next to each other so you don’t have to make eyes across the table.”
“Seriously, how did I not see this?” Brody pouts.
I look at him and snicker. “Don’t take it personally, Vaughn.”
“I’m—” His phone buzzing on the shelf in his cubby interrupts him. He picks it up, then starts to gather his belongings. “They can toss whatever’s left in here. I gotta run. I’ll talk to you guys later.”
And then he’s out the door before any of us can ask questions.
Ten minutes later, the locker room is cleared out for the most part. Saint went down to the equipment room to return something. And Alie and Presley are both looking at something together on Alie’s phone, smiling.
Liam pulls on his jacket slowly and looks over his shoulder to where his wife is, and then his eyes cut back to me.
“Aston,” he says, his voice dropping, “you good with all this? Her father isn’t just an executive. He owns the whole board. Could be a lot of pressure on you. Her family dynamic is not like yours.”
“Yeah, I know. But I trust her to handle it the way she needs to with her dad.” I shrug.
“Okay.” Liam nods. “But have you told your family yet? Ace?” He pauses, his eyes searching my face intensely.
I shake my head and look down, then look back at him. “No,” I rasp. “I haven’t told any of them yet.”
Liam’s eyebrows pull together. “Aston, you have to tell them.”
“I know, and I’ll handle it as soon as she tells her dad.” Frustration seeps into my voice.
I stand and face him, my expression unyielding. “Can you do me a favor and not mention it to Archie?” I ask. “I want to handle it. I don’t want my family hearing it from anyone but me.”
Liam stares at me for a second, then nods slowly. “All right. My lips are sealed,” he says. “But don’t wait too long. You know I don’t keep things from your brother. He’s my best friend. My family.”
