Page 89 of Trust Me Always

Alister eats up his words, determined to learn the way he knows how.

He would have picked the basketball in his little test.

“I will,” he swears.

Brady nods, glancing between Alister and me. He holds my gaze a second longer, and I see the beginnings of a small frown forming along his forehead just before he turns and walks away.

He’s giving me a minute alone with Alister in case I need one.

The thing is, I don’t think I do, so I just curve my lips up at Alister. “Good luck tomorrow, not that you’ll need it,” I offer, jogging to catch up with Brady.

He’s tugging his door open as I reach him, his eyes widening when he realizes I’m right there, slipping under his arm and onto the seat.

He follows with a smile.

As we park in front of my dorm not five minutes later, I wait for him to meet my gaze. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being all the things I know you to be and more.”

He reaches over, hauling me up until I’m sitting sideways on his lap. “Don’t give me too much credit, all right? Coach pretty much forced me to work with him, and if I let him get his ass kicked tomorrow, it’s only gonna hurt the team. I can’t have that. Mason secured us a spot in the playoffs, and I’m not going to let anything mess that up.”

“I know.” I smile, twisting the strings of his hoodie around my finger. “Just like I know the kindness you’re showing him has nothing to do with what you just said.”

“Oh yeah?” he teases, tickling my sides lightly, making me squirm.

“Yeah.” I settle against the steering wheel at my side. “It’s a part of your nature and formybenefit. Layers upon layers, you have, Mr. Lancaster.”

I’ve known this man since he wasn’t one, since we were babies, then gangly little kids, both he and I taller than the others for a few of our younger years.

I was awkward and he was strong.

He’s only stronger now—mentally, physically.

I wonder if there are still things I’ve yet to learn about him?

“What’s with the frown, pretty girl?” he murmurs.

My eyes lift to his, and it’s like there’s a little magnetic pull that wasn’t there a moment ago. It’s trying to tug me in closer, to whisper something I can’t hear, as if I’m a little too far away—only that makes no sense. I’m right here.

“Do you have secrets, Brady?” I ask suddenly.

Brady tenses beneath me, and it takes him a moment to respond.

“A couple,” he rasps, brown eyes bolted to mine as he almost unwillingly admits, “maybe one more now than I had before…”

He says it so softly, I almost miss it. I’m about to ask him before what, but he doesn’t give me the chance.

“Why do you ask?”

“Will you tell me one?”

I watch as an array of emotions wash over him—fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and the most confusing…guilt.

Suddenly, I don’t just want to know why all those worries rose at my question.

Ineedto know. “Tell me.”

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