Page 73 of Make the Play

“How is she?” he asks.

“Good. You know, living her best life as a preschool teacher when a virus is going around.”

Landry winces. “She’s one hell of a woman for doing that job. I don’t think I could handle it.”

“You’ve taken care of me when I was sick before.”

“Yeah, but you made it to the bathroom in time.”

I laugh because he’s right. “I think when it’s your own kids, it’s different. Or, you know, your little sister.” I lean my shoulder into his.

“You’re probably right.”

“You’re going to be an excellent father, Landry.”

“You getting soft on me, little sister?” His tone is teasing.

“Nah, just making an observation.”

“Well, one day, I hope to prove you right.”

“Wow, the great Landry Reynolds talking about settling down. Is there a woman in your life I don’t know about?” I ask the question, even though it’s hypocritical because I’m hiding my relationship with his best friend.

“Nah, but Knox is seeing someone. He won’t tell us who it is, but he’s been different.”

I swallow hard and focus on keeping my voice even. “How so?”

“He’s just more chill, I guess. I don’t know how to explain it. He’s always riding our ass about eating right and getting enough rest. Don’t get me wrong, he still does that, but it’s almost as if there is something in his life that’s more important than football. Honestly, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it. Knox Beckett is football. Since the day we met in college, his freshman year and my junior year, he’s lived and breathed the game. Now, it feels like he still loves it, and he’s focused on his career, but whoever she is, he’s focused on her, too.”

There’s a flutter in my chest at his words. I open my mouth to tell him but clamp it shut. My pulse is pounding in my ears. Partly because Landry is on to us—well, Knox—and partly because of how he sees him. Landry described my Knox. Not the man on TV or the field. The man who treats me like a queen. The one that made me fall in love with him. Tears prick my eyes because of the way Landry talks; he sees that Knox is into his mystery woman. Maybe, just maybe, when he finds out about us, once we come clean, he’ll understand, and this won’t be the huge blowup I’m anticipating.

“Speaking of Knox.” Landry turns to face me, and my heart falls to my stomach. “He mentioned as we were leaving that he has some room in his suite this weekend. I asked him if you and Sloane could hang out with his family for the game instead of sitting in the rain. He said you were both more than welcome. His family is cool as hell. You and Sloane will fit right in.”

My panic settles as warmth takes its place. “That was nice of him.”

“Yeah, I tried to find out if his new girl was going to be there, but he was tight-lipped. He won’t say much about her, just that she exists.”

“He’s entitled to his privacy.”

“He is, but he’s my best friend, you know? I’m happy for him.”

“I’m sure you’ll meet her when he’s ready.”

“Yeah, I mean, our world is pretty crazy. We can’t go out to a restaurant or even go through a damn automatic car wash without getting our pictures taken. I can see the appeal of keeping her all to himself.”

“Maybe it’s still new, and he’s not sure they’re going to go the distance,” I offer, feeling like a fraud as I do.

“Nah, I think he wants her all to himself and to keep her from the spotlight that is our life. I’ve known Knox for a long damn time, and he’s never claimed to have a girlfriend before. Something about this one is different for him.”

“Good for him,” I murmur as I try to hide my smile.

“I’m heading to bed.” He stands and moves toward the stairs. He pauses and turns back to me. “Can I tell Knox you and Sloane will be there in the morning at practice?”

“Sure. Please thank him for us. I’m sure Sloane will be pumped.”

“Hell yeah, it’s suite life with the Rampage.” He grins. “I’ve thought of buying one, but we don’t really have a lot of people to fill it like Knox does.”

“One day, big brother, one day, we’re both going to expand our little family.”

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