Page 92 (2/2)

Second best Second best You’re nothing but second best

And second best didn’t even deserve a goodbye

CHAPTER ONE

Travis

The lake sparkled beyond the trees as I pushed openthe silence of the still su Noise that was quickly and boisterously joined by the front door banging open andup the sloping yard to greet me

“Uncle Travis! Uncle Travis!” the boys yelled in unison, their short legs carrying the around, tails wagging in a way that would have let any knife-wielding burglar or serial killer entering the property know they were more than welcome to join the family

I laughed as Connor and Charlie reachedthem up, one in each arm “I have two stomachs!” Connor declared “My daddy says”

“It’s a Hale trait,” I explained “It’s hoe grow big and—”

“I prolly have three stomachs!” Charlie stated, not to be outdone by his twin

I peered down curiously at his stoers to tickle his side Charlie shrieked with laughter The dogs wove in and out of s and I sidestepped the brown one who seerinned that constantly was obviously insane

“Did you ever see an elephant, Uncle Trav?” Charlie asked

“Not in person—”

“What about a bear?” Connor inquired

“Too many to—”

“Elephants weigh more than cars!”

“Bears sleep all winter! It’s called hide your nation”

“Hide your nation? What’s a nation?” I asked

Connor leaned in, cupping his hand over his mouth as he “whispered” loudly, “It’s prolly his hairy butt!”

Then both boys hoith laughter, their little bodies shaking with hilarity I laughed too, because if you were a guy, the phrase hairy butt was funny, whether you were five or over thirty Or a hundred fifty, I was going to assume