Page 9 of Make the Play

“Oh, yeah, Beckett lives on the wild side.” Landry snorts.

“Someone has to keep your ass in line.” I shrug.

“Hmm, I see it now,” Corie muses.

“See what?” I ask, unable to keep the words from tumbling from my mouth.

“Why you’re the captain.”

I wink at her. “QB1, baby.”

“Ugh,” Landry groans.

Corie pokes his side with her index finger, making him squirm as he releases a sleep-laced chuckle. “You’re no better.”

“That’s why we’re best friends.” Landry shrugs.

My stomach growls, making Corie giggle. The soft musical sound fills the room around us. I want to pat myself on the back for being able to elicit that sound from her, even if it’s because I’m starving. “I need food,” I grumble, returning to the refrigerator. I survey the options and quickly conclude that we have no options. A half dozen eggs and a pound of bacon won’t feed Landry, let alone Reid, Baker, Foster, Sloane, Corie, and me. “Looks like I’m making a food run,” I say, closing the fridge and facing them.

Landry winces. “Yeah, I was supposed to put in a delivery order and forgot, with the party and all that.”

“I’ll run out and grab breakfast for everyone,” I tell him. It’s either that or leave, and I’m not ready to do that. Not yet.

“Corie, you have to go with him,” Landry says. There’s a hint of pleading in his tone.

Something inside my chest lightens at the thought of having her in my truck beside me. I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s got me feeling some kind of way. A way in which I’ve never felt before, but I’m pushing all that down to analyze later.

“What? Why do I have to go with him? I’m not even showered,” she complains.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she looks beautiful, but I keep my jaw locked tight. I need to keep those thoughts to myself, no matter how true they are.

“Because he’s going to come back with healthy shit. Like oatmeal without sugar and plain yogurt with berries. I need food, Corie. Real food. Please, for the love of all empty bellies inside this house, can you please, with all the sugar on top, go with him and make sure he doesn’t buy all healthy shit? I’ll even buy, but he must be supervised.”

I chuckle, as does Corie. “Fine, but you owe me.”

“Bless you, dear sister, bless you.” Landry bows his head dramatically, making his sister giggle.

“Give me a few to put on different clothes, at least?” Corie says, looking down at her pajamas. She gasps, jumps off the stool, and races out of the room.

“I mean it, Beckett. None of that healthy shit. Training camp is still a month away.”

“Which is why you should be getting back on a healthy regimen.” The guys don’t lose their minds and go way off script with our training and diet in the offseason, but I still like to give them shit. I, on the other hand, try to maintain. Sure, I cheat, but for the most part, I stay focused as if we are in season year-round. It works for me.

“It’s your money and your body,” I tell him.

“Exactly, so greasy and some pastries.”

“Everything on the unapproved list. Got it.”

Landry laughs. He knows I’m right, but he will eat it all anyway. They all will. I'll remind them of this moment when they’re puking and hating life during training camp.

Corie comes bounding down the stairs. She’s wearing a Nashville Rampage ball cap, a T-shirt, and cutoff jean shorts.

“Took you long enough,” Landry grumbles.

“What was that? You said you wanted a wholegrain muffin and egg whites? Sure thing, big brother,” she fires right back, not missing a beat.

“You look beautiful today, baby sister,” Landry quips.

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