Page 16 of Make the Play

“Pretty much.” He chuckles. “My guess is his momma would kick his ass if she caught him letting you pick up after him.”

“It was just a nice gesture.”

Landry shrugs. “That’s who he is.” He gives me a thoughtful look. “You know… Mom, she would…” He starts, but his voice trails off.

“Yeah,” I agree, swallowing back the sadness of missing her. It’s been over four years, and it still feels like yesterday. But he’s right. Our mom would have scolded him, too. My brother might joke around a lot, but he’s a good man. The best I’ve ever known.

“Ready?” Knox says, coming back from the kitchen.

“Let’s do it.” Landry pushes back from the table and stands.

Sloane and I are quiet as we watch them leave the dining room and head for the theater room.

“You want to go watch game film, don’t you?” Sloane giggles.

“Yep,” I say, not even bothering to deny it.

“If it helps, I’m pretty sure he feels it, too.”

“Feels what?” I play dumb.

“Whatever this intense chemistry or foreplay or whatever it is the two of you have going on.”

“Nothing is going on.”

“Uh-huh. Sure,” she sings, linking her arm through mine, and we head back to the pool.

The only thing going on is my libido not understanding that Knox Beckett isn’t ours and never will be.

ChapterFive

Knox

“Their defense is good, and they added some decent talent with the draft,” I tell Landry as we watch game tape from last season of the Cincinnati Wolves. They’re our first game of the regular season this year.

“They are, and they did, but we’re better.” Landry smirks.

“Don’t go getting too cocky,” I warn him. He’s not wrong, but I don’t want to jinx us. We won the league finals last year, and we’re all hopeful that we will do it again this year, but nothing is guaranteed.

“We’re the Rampage,” he says, throwing his fisted hand in the air as if ready to riot. I appreciate his confidence.

“Very good, Landry,” a female voice says behind us.

We both turn to look and find Corie and Sloane standing in the doorway. “Can you spell Nashville?” Corie teases her brother, and I don’t try to hide my smirk.

“R – E – Y – N – O – L – D – S,” Landry spells out his last name and taps his hand on his chest over his heart. “All heart, baby sister,” he quips.

“You’re too much,” Corie says, shaking her head. She’s smiling, which lights up her entire face, and damn, I’m once again reminded how gorgeous she is.

“Landry, I’m so proud of you. You’ve been working on your sight words,” Sloane says mockingly. She gives a slow, quiet clap of her hands as if celebrating his accomplishment.

“Get out of here.” Landry tosses a pillow at her, and we all laugh. “I’m not one of your students.”

“Are you sure about that? I’m pretty sure the maturity level is on point with my preschoolers,” she goads.

Landry points his index finger at her. “I’m watching you, Ms. Peterson,” he says, attempting to glare at her but smiling instead.

“We’re going out to pick up some snacks,” Corie tells us, changing the subject. “Do you want anything? You’ve been at this for hours.”

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