Page 177 of By His Play

She tries digging a little deeper, but she doesn’t get very far before Kian arrives with drinks.

My scotch glass doesn’t even hit the table. I take it from his hand, lift it to my lips, and swallow it down in one go.

“Should I get you another?” Kian quips.

“That would be fantastic,” I say, smiling up at him.

He rolls his eyes but spins around to order another without complaint.

The side of my face burns with Lori’s attention.

“How are your brothers?” I ask, changing the subject.

Both of them recently finished high school and are planning their move to South Carolina for college.

Wilder is a kickass football player who I suspect is going to go far. He did well securing a place with the Trinity Royal Titans. They’re a fantastic team. Their head coach is a hardass who will push him in all the best ways.

“Yeah, they’re good. Wilder is…well, Wilder. He’s ready to embark on college life. Hendrix is a little more skeptical.”

“He’ll be fine once he gets there.”

“That’s what I keep saying. I know it’s not as easy for him academically, but he’ll find his place. Plus, he has Noelle by his side.”

“They together yet?” I ask, happy to focus on them. Hendrix is totally in love with Noelle, and the feeling is most definitely reciprocated. Not that either of them will do anything about it.

“Nope. Still fighting the inevitable. Just like two other people I know,” she says, quirking a brow at me.

“Whatever,” I mutter as Kian returns—with two drinks for me this time.

“Just promise me you won’t drive home,” he says before sliding them in front of me.

“You got it, Dad,” I mock.

The scotch helps. I relax more than I have in a few days, and finally, my knees stop bouncing.

It doesn’t stop me from checking my cell every ten minutes to see if she’s messaged me.

But as usual, it remains silent. Well, silent from her, at least.

When I got back to Chicago, I turned most of my notifications off.

Every time my watch buzzed, my heart would jump into my throat thinking it was her.

Now, I only have messages and calls with notifications, which has slowed it down somewhat. I still can’t get rid of the little bit of hope that it’ll be her making the first move.

Kian is busy telling me a story about why Kenzie, one of our little sisters, was suspended from school again when my cell buzzes.

I already know it won’t be from her, but I’m powerless to check.

Kian continues talking, something about Kenzie pranking some other kid and embarrassing him in front of the entire class, but his voice fades to nothing.

And it disappears completely when I read the message that just came through from a friend in the IT department at the KC Foundation.

Effie is back.

43

EFFIE

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