Page 35 of Make the Play

“Doesn’t feel like a safe bet.”

“Because you like him.”

I hesitate. “Maybe.”

“I believe the word you are looking for is yes,” she teases.

“He’s coming over tonight for dinner. All of them are. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to just ignore that he held me in his arms and that I felt him between my thighs? How do I pretend like, even though briefly, my lips pressed to his didn’t set mine on fire? I’m not an actress, Sloane.”

“Easy, you just do. You be you and see how he acts. Take it one day at a time.”

“Will you come over? I can’t be there by myself. You’ll be my buffer.”

“When?”

“Now? I’m sitting in the parking lot of the grocery store. I needed a minute before going home to face my brother.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Corie.”

“Then why does it feel like I did?”

“Because this is big. It’s bigger than anything else you’ve ever had in a relationship.”

“We’re not in a relationship,” I remind her.

“Not officially,” she coos.

“Sloane,” I say with a groan.

“Fine. I’ll stop. I’m leaving my place now, and I’ll meet you there. Just go with the flow and see what happens.”

“That could land us both in some really hot waters,” I tell her.

“Yeah, but you’d be in those waters together, and as long as you exit simultaneously, it will all work out.”

“I wish I had your confidence.”

“I hate that he took that from you. That he made you lose your trust in yourself. You didn’t choose Conner, Corie. He chose you, and you rode the wave. This is different. You’re choosing Knox, whether you’re willing to admit it or not.”

She’s right, I know she is, but that doesn’t change the fact that this—whatever this is between Knox and me—is all kinds of twisted and forbidden in so many ways. “I’ll see you soon,” I tell her.

“I’ve got you,” she assures me before the line goes silent. I take a deep breath, pull back on the road, and head home. I don’t know what this night will bring or how I’m going to pretend that this connection we have isn’t driving me insane, but somehow, I’ll figure it out.

I have to.

When I make it home, Landry is already on the back deck, heating the grill. I go upstairs to my room to change and then busy myself in the kitchen, making some mixed vegetables with Mrs. Dash seasoning and some macaroni and cheese to go with dinner. I try to find something to make for dessert to keep myself occupied, and come up empty. Thankfully, Sloane is here with me, so we can use the excuse that we’re talking instead of joining the others outside on the patio.

“Maybe he’s not going to show,” Sloane says, keeping her voice low. “You got QB1 for the Rampage running scared,” she teases, knocking her shoulder into mine where we stand side by side at the kitchen island.

“That’s not a good thing. He’s probably avoiding me at all costs after I threw myself at him,” I tell her.

“Nah, Corie girl, never,” a deep voice answers. My head whips around to find Knox standing in the doorway with boxes in his hands.

“Didn’t think you were going to make the call, Mr. Beckett,” Sloane teases him, saving me by ignoring the fact that Knox overheard me.

“I had a stop to make.” He nods to the boxes in his hands. “We can’t celebrate our girl here without a sweet treat.”

Sloane’s smile is so huge, I think they can see it in space. “Interesting.Ourgirl was just saying she wished she could make something for dessert.”

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