Page 95 of Make the Play

“Are you really going to stand there and keep me from my girl?” Knox asks.

“Yep,” they reply in unison.

“We’re enemies right now, Knox Beckett,” I say, popping my head around Ryder.

“I’m watching you, Corie girl.” Knox points at me and calls out, “On the line!”

“Delay of game. Our ball,” Emma accuses.

“Is that how that works?” I ask my team. “Don’t they get four chances?”

“In a real game, yes, but we altered the rules. It’s just for fun. They get one chance, then the ball goes to us.”

“How do you ever get anywhere?”

“Well, we don’t have the same size field here in the backyard, so it’s not as far to go,” Jude explains.

“Ah, makes sense,” I tell him as we take our places on the line.

This time, our team has the ball. Ruby hikes the ball to Jude, who falls back to toss, and we all split up and take off running. I’m at an advantage since I’m new to this game, and they let me slip past easily. At least, I thought that’s what was happening until I feel his hands on my hips, and I’m lifted in the air. I laugh as Knox pulls me into his body and swings me around.

“Illegal move!” someone calls out, but Knox doesn’t seem to hear them. Then again, maybe he just doesn’t care as he nips at my ear.

“Payback’s a bitch, baby,” he rasps.

“Release my player!” Everly says, appearing in front of us. Her hands are on her hips as she glares at her brother.

“Fine. You can borrow her.” Knox kisses my cheek and places my feet back on the ground.

Everly takes me by the arm and pulls me back across enemy lines. That’s how the rest of the game goes. Everly claims that we won, but honestly, I’m not sure. It was so much fun, doing whatever and messing with Knox. It was as if we were the only two out on that field.

Regardless of whether or not she’s right, we’re cheering and acting a fool because our team won. I look around and find Knox standing with his hands on his slender hips, his Rampage hat on backward, his black Rampage T-shirt stuck to his skin, and his gray sweats looking way too sexy and irresistible. He motions for me to come to him, so that’s what I do.

I take off running and leap into his arms. He catches me easily. I lock my legs around his waist and my arms around his shoulders as if he were made to hold me. The world around us stills for a few heartbeats, and then he’s kissing me as if no one is watching. I melt into him as his grip on my thighs tightens. We get lost in the kiss as if nothing else in this world matters but us.

Cat calls ring out, and the outside world comes back into focus. “That’s embarrassing,” I say, burying my face in his neck.

“There is nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m kissing my girl. You’ll see soon enough that every couple here does the same thing.”

“It’s getting late. You have a big day tomorrow, Ev,” Kendall calls out.

“I’m an adult, and she’s telling me when I have to go to bed.” Everly laughs. Her smile lights up the night sky as darkness sets in.

“I mean… you need your beauty sleep,” Emma teases her older sister.

“Like they’ll be sleeping,” Dermott mumbles, and everyone laughs.

The next twenty minutes are spent saying goodbye and cleaning up before Knox leads me to his room. We took a long nap, so I’m not really tired. He’s not either. Instead, we talk. He tells me more about his family and parts of their love stories, and I can’t help but hope that one day, ours will be added to that list.

I tell him about my parents growing up. We didn’t have a huge extended family, but I remember my parents always loving on each other, much like his. I know my mom lost a piece of herself the day Dad passed.

By the time sleep finally claims us, I feel even closer to the man who is holding me as if I might disappear. I almost told him that I loved him earlier, but I chickened out. Instead, I whisper the words in my head as I close my eyes and let sleep claim me.

“How was it?” Sloane asks. It’s Sunday afternoon, and Knox dropped me off not even an hour ago, and I already miss him.

“Good,” I tell her.

“You think I’m well enough from my sickness that I can come over, and you can tell me all about it?” She laughs.

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