Fable smiles and slowly shakes her head. “He was sort of a nightmare. They both were, Owen and Wade. They’d get in trouble all the time. They made me crazy, but Wade’s mom was so good to both of them, and to me. I’m so thankful she helped me out back then. It was a rough time. And those boys just didn’t give a shit.” She makes a face. “Pardon my language. I’ve gotten better about the cursing thing, but the occasional bomb flies out.”

“Wade was a troublemaker?” I’m surprised. At Fable’s questioning look, I continue. “He just seems so…intense all the time. Like he’s always trying to do the right thing.”

“He’s changed a lot these last few years. He’s straightened up, gotten serious about his career and what he wants out of life. But there’s still a mischievous side to him—a naughty side. I bet it’s just buried deep.”

Interesting. I wouldn’t describe Wade as mischievous. Or naughty. Then again, I don’t know him that well at all.

“In college he was a total ladies’ man. So was my brother, until he met his girlfriend. She changed his player ways,” Fable says.

“Did Wade have a lot of girlfriends?”

Fable shakes her head. “He had a lot of girls, but none of them were serious. I’m telling you, they lived in a well-known party house. Wade always had some girl on his arm, sometimes two, but they never meant anything to him.”

Sometimes two? “Oh.” I understand why he would be a player. I mean, look at him. But I’d never peg him as one now, what with the way he acts most of the time. He seems like the type to keep to himself.

But maybe I’ve read him totally wrong. I don’t have a ton of experience with guys. He could have me totally snowed, and I’d never be the wiser.

“Our lives were so different then.” Fable’s expression grows distant. “I didn’t have the best mother. My dad was nonexistent, and our mom had a drinking problem, so I had to take care of Owen a lot on my own when I was growing up. I became like a second mom to him.”

I had no idea. She seems to live this enchanted life. I can’t imagine her suffering and having to take care of her brother on her own. “Are you still in contact with your mom?”

“She died a few years ago.” Fable sighs. “I sound awful, but it was probably…for the best. She was a drug addict and an alcoholic, and she could never keep a job. Her life was miserable, and she made everyone else around her miserable too.”

“I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. I thought my parents were bad. Her mom sounds awful.

“It’s okay. I met Drew and he eventually changed my life for the better.” Fable smiles, her expression soft now, and full of happiness. “Maybe it could work out between you and Wade like it did for Drew and me.”

“Ah, I don’t know about that.” I’m suddenly flustered. It’s ridiculous to think Wade and I could have something real, something beautiful and full of love like what Drew and Fable share.

“Don’t count it out,” Fable says, almost cryptically. “He’s a good guy. Solid. Smart. Attractive. On the offensive line for the San Francisco 49ers.” She starts to laugh. “You could do worse, you know.”

I giggle along with her, shaking my head. “Can I confess something to you?”

Fable’s eyes light up. “Of course.”

“I don’t know anything about football.”

The disappointment on Fable’s face is clear. “Damn it, I was hoping you were going to tell me something juicy! Like you’re already madly in love with Wade and praying he feels the same way.”

I can feel my cheeks go hot. “No, I’m not in love with him! Besides, I already told you, I barely know him. This entire situation is all kinds of awkward. I’m terrified we won’t be able to pull it off.”

“Just go with it,” Fable says, her voice firm. “You’ll be fine. Your first public outing is tonight, right?”

“Yeah, he’s coming back here with Drew.” And I’m nervous as hell every time I even think about what we’re going to do. I hold up my hands in front of me to see that they’re shaking. “I hope I don’t make a mess of it.”

“You can’t make a mess of it if you just be yourself,” Fable reassures me.

“That’s the part where I think I’ll mess it up,” I say, making Fable laugh and shake her head.

Jacob chooses that particular moment to walk up to me and throw his yellow plastic block right at my head. I dodge it so the block only grazes my hair and doesn’t make actual contact. “Ouch, buddy!”

“Aw, you little meanie.” Fable grabs hold of Jacob by the waist and hauls him into her lap, giving him a little shake and making him laugh. “No throwing blocks at girls!”

“Isn’t that the way boys used to show their love?” I tease.

“Yeah, back in kindergarten.” Fable tickles Jacob, sending him into peals of laughter. He’s so stinking cute. He looks just like Drew, where Autumn resembles Fable, with the exception of her dark hair versus Fable’s blonde. “Want me to help you get ready tonight?”

“Would you?”

“Absolutely. We might have these monkeys underfoot, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”

“I’ll take you up on that offer.”

“Good.” Fable’s smile slowly fades. “After all, I’m responsible for you having to deal with all of this. The least I can do is help you as much as possible.”