Page 74 of Make the Play

He nods. “And if not, we have each other.” He waves before turning and walking down the hall to his room. His is the master, which is on the first floor.

My phone rings, but I don’t answer it. Instead, I send a text.

Me: I’m heading up to my room. I’ll call you in a few.

Knox: Okay.

Rushing through my bedtime routine, I close my door and turn on the fan to drown out my voice before calling him back.

“There she is,” he says. I can hear the smile in his voice.

“I hear you lost some cash.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, but it’s all in good fun. We never raise the stakes too high. I’ll be able to pay the bills still,” he teases.

“Landry said you offered your suite to Sloane and me.”

“I thought that might help sell it. I know you were worried.”

“He also said that you’re smitten with your new secret girlfriend.”

“That’s because I am.”

“It was hard to have that conversation and not tell him.”

“I’m ready when you are, Corie. Just promise me that we’ll do it together. I don’t want him taking his anger out on you.”

“But, it’s me who wants to continue to keep this a secret.”

“I agreed to it. We’re in this together, Corie girl. I’m beside you always. No matter whose idea it was, we are both in agreement, so we tell him together. When you’re ready.”

“Sometimes I can’t believe you’re real,” I tell him.

“How so?”

“You seem to always know what to say.”

“I’m just me, Corie. There’s no script.”

He’s right. I know he is, but I’ve been fed lines in the past, and even though I know Knox isn’t Conner, and he would never do to me what Conner did, that fear lightly lingers in the back of my mind.

“So, the game?”

“Landry thinks it’s a good idea. I told him we’d be there.”

“Fuck yes,” he says, his excitement evident.

“Why are you pushing for this so hard?”

“Because they might not know that you’re mine, but I know. Everyone I care about will be watching and celebrating our win together.”

“Listen to you, Mr. Quarterback. Getting a little cocky, aren’t we?”

“My girl is going to be watching. That’s a first for me, and there is no other outcome than to take home the win to celebrate the occasion.”

“Fair enough.” I laugh.

“Two things could make this even better.”

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