Page 102 of Make the Play

“Has he told you?”

“He told me that I own his heart. Has he said the wordsI love you? No, but he tells me every day. It’s the way he looks at me, the way he touches me, the way he kisses me. He worries about me, and even though he wanted to come clean, he agreed not to. For me. So, no, he hasn’t said the words, but his actions speak louder than any words of love he could scream at me.”

“He’s the reason you’re smiling all the time.”

I nod. “I’ve never been in a relationship where the guy is all in. There has never been a concern that he’s cheating on me or even looking at other women. When you guys are on the road, he returns to his room and eats while on a video call. He sends me messages the entire time he’s gone about how much he misses me, and yes, I believe him. Knox is real, Landry. He’s open and honest. He took me to see his family.”

“I guess that worked out well for you two, didn’t it?” he asks.

“About that.” I go on to tell him what happened, and all he does is shake his head, his lips tipping up in a smile.

“I thought it was weird. He didn’t seem happy at all that Sloane agreed to go with him, and he wasn’t upset. He tried to look like he was, but it wasn’t crushing disappointment when she called and said she was sick and couldn’t go. I expected more of a fight from him than the half-assed one he gave when the guys suggested you go with him. Does anyone else know?”

“Just Sloane.”

“We played right into your hand,” he scoffs.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I lose my battle with my tears, and one falls unchecked on my cheek. “I know we should have told you, but I didn’t see this happening, Landry. I never could have guessed that I’d be madly in love with him or that he would return that love tenfold. I know what we did was wrong.” I choke back a sob. “I’m sorry for lying to you. You’re my brother, my family, and I love you. You’ve always looked out for me and taken care of me, and I know my deception was wrong, but I couldn’t stop it, Landry. I tried. We both tried to fight it, but it was impossible to ignore. I’m so sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive us. I don’t want this coming between the two of you or the team. I couldn’t help but fall in love with him, and I do love him, Landry. You told me to hold out until I found him, and we found each other.”

“What if I asked you to stop seeing him?”

I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” I say as more tears fall. “I love him. I would do anything for you, Landry. You know that, but please don’t ask me to do that. It’s the only thing I can’t give you.” A sob breaks free of my chest. “Just thinking about losing him tears my heart to shreds,” I say, wiping at my cheeks.

“Come here.” He pulls me close, and I cry into his chest. “I won’t ask you to do that. I just needed to know how deep this went. I needed to know what you were willing to do to keep him, because Knox made some pretty big claims. You’re my sister, and I’ll side with you every time, but he’s also my best friend, and I needed to know you were both on the same page.”

“What did he say?” I ask, lifting my head and wiping at my cheeks once more.

“He’s willing to walk away from all of it. The game, the team, the city, he doesn’t care as long as he still has you.”

I can’t help it. I smile through my tears. “I would never let him or ask him to do that, but I can hear him saying those words in my head.”

“I don’t think you could stop him, Corie. He’s hooked.”

“I feel the same way,” I tell him as the front door opens. Knox enters, carrying a couple of pizza boxes. He immediately sets them down and kneels in front of me.

“Why the tears?” He doesn’t give me time to answer before he turns to glare at my brother. “I told you to come and talk to her, not make her cry.”

“He didn’t.” I place my hand on his cheek, and his gaze is back on me. “It’s just emotional. I promise, it’s all good.”

“I hate your tears,” he mutters, wiping at my cheeks with his thumbs.

“Because you love me,” I say, smiling.

“I love the hell out of you, Corie girl.” He leans forward and kisses me softly.

“Ack!” Landry says, covering his eyes. “New rule. No kissing. In fact, no touching, not while I’m around.”

“Sorry, brother, no can do,” Knox tells him. “One day, you’ll have a woman reach into your chest and steal your heart. Only then will you know what it feels like to love someone more than anything else. You’ll understand that seeing her happy is all you want out of life.”

“I thought you said you wanted to change her last name,” Landry goads him.

“Oh, that’s happening. As soon as we settle all this shit with the team, making her a Beckett is at the top of my priority list.”

“You want to marry me?” I ask. I can feel my face pulling into a smile as my eyes once again well with more tears.

He stands and bends to kiss me. “Be right back.” He rushes down the hall, and I look at my brother.

“You know he has a ring, right?” he asks me.

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