Page 61 of Make the Play

Me: Deal.

Knox: I’m holding you to that.

Me: I hope you do. I need to get back to work.

Knox: Text me when you get home.

Me: Yes, dear.

Knox: Good girl.

Placing my phone face down on my desk, I force myself to stop thinking about Knox and get back to work.

“Just like high school,” Sloane says. She’s sitting next to me on Landry’s couch. We ordered pizza and wings, and we’re waiting for kickoff.

“Yeah, but that was Saturdays, and my mom was with us,” I say, smiling at the memory. We couldn’t make it to all of Landry’s away games, so we would order pizza and wings, and the three of us would take up residence on the couch and cheer him on from the living room.

“Sorry.”

“No. It’s fine. It’s good to remember her. To remember the good times. I miss her every damn day, but talking about her, about those moments, almost makes it feel as if she’s here with us.”

Sloane places her hand on my arm. “She’s here with us.” Her eyes are misty with tears, and I have to look away and clear my throat to keep my tears at bay. “That’s not the only reason tonight looks different. We’re watching from your brother’s mansion, he’s in the professional football league, and tonight, we’re not just watching Landry.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“We’re watching all of our friends and my coworkers on the Rampage,” I answer.

Sloane tosses her head back in laughter. “It’s me, Corie. You can admit that your eyes are going to be glued to your man. How’s that going anyway?”

“He’s… mine for now,” I answer. I don’t know what else to say.

“The two of you have been spending a lot of time together.”

She would know. She’s been our cover for most of those occurrences. “We have been.”

“So, how is it?” She wiggles in her seat as if she can’t wait for me to spill the tea.

“He kisses me like I’m the air he needs to breathe.”

“And?”

“He’s good with his hands, and his mouth is good for more than kissing.” Warmth hits my cheeks as I make the confession.

“And what else is he good at?” She gives me a look, warning me not to hold out on her.

“I’ll tell you when I find out.”

“What? Hold up.” She sits up straighter. “You haven’t slept with him?” Her mouth hangs open in shock.

“I’ve slept next to him.” She knows that I’ve spent the night at his place.

“Corie.” Her tone has a warning to it.

“Not yet.”

“What are you waiting for?” She tilts her head to the side to study me, as if I’m suddenly a puzzle she can’t solve.

“I don’t know. I guess we both know that when we take that step, things will change. It already feels like more… like he’s mine and will always be mine, but that’s not true.” I’ve tried to tell myself that I can do this. That I can keep my heart out of it, but that is the biggest lie I’ve ever told. My heart can’t resist him. He’s kind and patient and so damn sexy it hurts to look at him sometimes.

“Why can’t it be true?”

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