Page 78 of Make the Play

I don’t realize I’m crying until I hear Kendall ask if I’m okay. I wipe at my tears. “I am. I’m so proud of him, and our parents would be, too.” The words are barely out of my mouth before she pulls me into another hug.

“They are,” she says, her voice cracking. “They’re proud of both of you.”

“Thank you,” I say, stepping out of her embrace.

“Now, what do we do?” Sloane asks. She’s vibrating with excitement from the win. It was definitely a nail-biter.

“We usually hang out here. Knox comes to see us when he can get showered and escape the media,” Ridge explains.

“Do you mind if we wait with you? Landry will likely assume that we will and will probably be with him.”I also want to see your son.

“Absolutely,” Ridge tells us. “You all are welcome to join us after. We usually go to dinner after the home games.”

“Oh, we don’t want to intrude.”

Kendall waves her hand in the air. “The more the merrier. Landry and several of the other guys have joined us many times. A few always join us if they don’t have families in town or a home to get to.”

“Thank you for the invite. I’ll talk to Landry and see what he wants to do.”

“It’s settled, then.” Ridge laughs. “We know Landry likes to eat.”

We all laugh because he’s right. My brother has a love addiction to food. He’s not picky. I’ve never heard him say he doesn’t like something. Maybe when he retires from the league, he can be a food critic who travels worldwide.

Matt, Tyler, and Ridge recap the game while the six ladies sit and talk about everything from Everly’s wedding to where everyone wants to go to dinner to everyone’s careers. The conversations are easy, and I can see a lot of Knox in his family. I’m glad I came.

Finally, an hour later, the door to the suite opens, and Knox and Landry stroll in with Reid, Baker, and Foster on their heels. They all seem to know each other and say their hellos.

“Well, how was suite life?” Landry asks, pulling me into a hug.

“Good game, and it was a fun time. Thank you for organizing.” I hate giving him the credit, but I’ll make it up to Knox later.

“Thank Knox, it was his idea. I just ran with it.” Landry shrugs.

“What did I do?” Knox asks, joining us after saying hello to his family.

“The girls being here was your idea.”

“Better than being out in the rain.” He points over his shoulder to the field. “Are you all ready to head to dinner?”

“Is that a real question?” Landry asks.

“We better head out before Landry starves to death,” Tyler teases.

“Hey, I earned it. Did you not see what I did on the field today?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Reid grumbles. “Let’s go.”

The room clears out, and I watch as Sloane starts a conversation with Landry about the last play. Knox and I are the last two to step out of the suite. With his hand on my hip, he leans in and whispers. “You look beautiful, Corie girl.”

I smile at him over my shoulder. “Thanks, Sloane worked her magic.”

“It has nothing to do with your hair or makeup or that you’re wearing the wrong name and number on your back. It’s just you.”

“Reynolds is my name, you know,” I tease him, brushing off the compliment.

“It won’t be forever,” he says, squeezing my waist before stepping away just in time for his dad to turn and ensure we’re following them. “We’re coming, old man,” Knox teases.

His dad grins and shakes his head as he tosses his arm over Kendall’s shoulders. We follow them out of the stadium.

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