Page 7 of Make the Play

“Okay, well, since Sloane had a turn, Reid, we’ll go with you,” I tell him.

“All right. Let’s see if I can stump you.” He scrolls through his phone while I hand Knox’s back to him.

“Just hold on to it. We’re going to need it again soon, I’m sure.”

“You planning on winning a round, Beckett?” I tease quietly.

“Nah, Corie girl, that’s all you.” He lifts his hand and pushes my hair back out of my eyes, and I melt into his touch. This man, he’s lethal. No wonder women are always throwing themselves at him.

“Oh, this is a good one,” Reid says. He pushes Play, and I immediately know the song.

“Keith Sweat, ‘Twisted,’” I call out.

“My girl’s on fire!” Sloane says.

She knows this one, too, but much like with Knox on the last round, it would have been an unfair advantage if she answered. We go on playing for another hour. We all win some, but Sloane and I the most. We spent hours listening to music growing up. It’s something we both love to do while talking about guys we had crushes on or just hanging out. It’s our thing.

By the time the game is over, Landry is passed out in his chair, and Baker doesn’t look to be far behind him.

“I guess I should wrangle them all inside,” I tell Knox. I move to stand, and his arms tighten around me. I freeze, my heart pounding. He holds on tightly for a few rapid heartbeats before relaxing his hold and allowing me to stand.

“I’ll get the guys. Can you take Sloane, or do you want me to carry her up?”

“I can handle her.” She’s not passed out, just sleepy. I move to where Sloane is sitting on Reid’s lap. Both of their eyes are closed. I shake her shoulder, and her eyes pop open. “Come on, sleepyhead.” I help her stand, wrap my arm around her waist, and lead her inside and upstairs to my room. I assume the guys are staying, so she can sleep with me. It’s not the first time we’ve shared a bed, and it won’t be the last. Besides, it’s a king, something my brother insisted on spoiling me with. There is plenty of room for both of us.

Once I have Sloane settled, I head back down to see if Knox needs help. He’s standing at the kitchen counter with my brother. “You good?” I ask Landry, stepping up next to him. He wraps his arms around me in a hug… well, tries to. He’s wobbly on his feet, and we both laugh.

“Love you, little sis. I’m glad you’re home,” Landry mumbles.

“It’s good to be home,” I tell him, even though this house was never really my home. I lived here one summer before college and made just a few brief visits here and there when I could find the time off from work and my internships. To be honest, it doesn’t really feel like I have a home. I mean, I know that I always have a place here with Landry, but since we lost our mom, I’ve felt displaced. College was always temporary.

“You need to get to bed,” I tell him as I hold most of his weight.

“Man, you’re about to knock her over,” Knox tells Landry. “Get some sleep, Reynolds.”

“You staying?” he asks Knox.

“Didn’t drink a drop.”

“You need to stay. Fuck, where is everyone? Tell me they didn’t drive,” Landry says, starting to panic.

“They’re all here. I confiscated their keys hours ago,” Knox tells him.

“QB1, my man.” Landry holds up his hand for a high-five and tumbles into the island.

“Let’s get you to bed.” Knox takes his weight from me, and they disappear down the hall.

I should go up to bed, but first, I make sure the fire is out in the backyard, and it is, so Knox must have taken care of that. I turn off the patio lights and lock the door. I do the same to the front door, locking up the house, and then head for the stairs.

“You headed to bed?” Knox asks.

“Yeah, it’s been a long day.”

“It has. You got everything locked up?”

I nod. “You’re staying, right?” I ask.

“Yeah, just in case any of them need something. They’re all like dead weight, and I don’t want you to have to handle them.”

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