Page 89 of Make the Play

“Knox,” she croaks.

I play along. “Sloane? What’s wrong?”

“I’m sick. Strep throat.” She coughs, and I wince. She’s very convincing. “S-Sorry,” she says in her frog voice. “Can’t go,” she says, her words broken.

My shoulders fall, and I hope the look on my face says I’m disappointed that the plan she and the guys created didn’t work. “That’s okay. You get better. Take care of yourself,” I tell her.

“Yeah,” she mumbles, and the call ends.

“Well, there’s that,” I say, placing my phone face down on the table.

“Shit,” Baker mumbles. “That sucks.”

“Are you sure your girl can’t get out of whatever it is she’s doing?” Reid asks.

“Is she even real?” Landry asks. “You’re hiding her from us.”

“She’s real,” I assure him.

“And she’s not going to go off in a jealous rage?” Baker asks.

I shrug. “She knows she can trust me. She’s the only one I want. It is what it is. I hope that when I show up alone, I can convince my sister not to invite Sara, even at the last minute.”

“It’s not worth the risk, man,” Foster tells me. “Call Corie, see if she can help you.”

“Yes!” Reid agrees. “Baby Reynolds can save the day.”

“I can’t ask her on such short notice.” I shake my head as if the mere idea of asking her is off the table and out of bounds.

“Dude, that Sara girl is going to take all kinds of pictures and post them on social media,” Baker tells me.

“She’s grown up now,” I defend, even though I don’t want to. “I’m sure she’s matured.” It’s doubtful, and my sister knows damn well I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Sara. She’s forcing my hand. My guess is that she picked up on my feelings for Corie at dinner or that Mom let it slip. Either way, I’m sure Everly has no idea the hoops I’m having to jump through to bring Corie with me.

Sloane, once again, is coming in clutch. I really do need to buy her a nice gift or something.

“I don’t know. She was once desperate enough to sneak into your house and climb into your bed naked. I wouldn’t bet on it,” Foster says.

“Reynolds, call your sister. Work your brotherly magic and see if she can help our boy,” Baker says.

Landry studies me for several seconds, but it feels like hours. I don’t know what he’s looking for, but he must find it because he pulls out his phone and taps the screen. It rings twice before she answers.

“Hello?”

“Watcha up to, little sis?” he asks.

“I just pulled into the driveway. I was supposed to hang out with Sloane, but she’s sick. I went out and grabbed some supplies for her and dropped them off. I’m walking inside.” She laughs, and I love the sound of it. Fuck.

“We’re down in the basement. Come say hello,” Landry tells her before hanging up. “I’ll ask her when she gets down here.” He turns to me. “You ready to beg, QB?”

For Corie? Every fucking day of the week.

“Nah, I don’t want her to do anything she feels uncomfortable with.” I hope I’m pulling off theI don’t care either waypersona when the reality is that I care a whole hell of a lot.

“Well, that attitude isn’t going to help,” Foster tells me. “Let us handle this, QB. We’ve got your back.”

I pretend to count my chips instead of staring at the bottom of the steps, waiting for Corie to appear. I don’t see or hear her when she enters the room, but I can feel she’s close.

“There she is,” Baker says.

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