Page 97 of Make the Play

“Always, big brother,” I assure him with a smile.

“You look happy, Corie.”

“I am.”

“When you came home from school, I was worried. You seemed sad a lot, but now, that sadness is gone. You’re always smiling and laughing. I like it.”

You can thank your best friend for that.

“I’m happy to be home and to be using my degree. Everything has sort of fallen into place for me.”

Part of that is that I’m in love with your best friend.

“I won’t be gone long,” I tell him as I stand from the couch.

“Be safe.”

“Always,” I reply and head out the door.

“You should tell him,” Sloane says.

We spent the last hour eating our tacos as I told her about my weekend away with Knox. “No. I can’t. What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

“Corie, come on now, you’re not that naive. He’s all but told you he loves you, too. There is nothing wrong with you saying it first.”

“I know. It’s not that. I guess there is still so much at risk that I’m scared I’m going to wake up one day, and it’s all going to be gone. We could both lose our jobs, and then there’s my brother. He asked how Knox treated me this weekend and commented that I seemed happy. What if he’s on to us?”

Sloane reaches over and places her hand on mine. “I think you’re paranoid. Landry was just making sure you were well taken care of while in his friend’s care. As far as it all going away, I wish you could see your relationship from the outside looking in.”

“What do you mean?”

“Corie, even in a group of people, when you’re supposed to be just his best friend’s little sister, he watches you. His eyes follow you and seek you out no matter where you are in the room, and when he talks to you, he’s different. His voice is all soft, and he gets this dopey smile on his face.”

“Oh, no.” I cover my face with my hands. “I thought I was just imagining that. When I had to tell the team about the nursing home visit and Knox’s visit to the children’s hospital, it seemed like he was talking to me differently. His tone was softer, but I thought… told myself it was all in my head. Fuck, Landry is most definitely on to us. That means the rest of the team and the Rampage might be on to us, too. Sloane, what do I do?” My mind is racing as panic starts to set in. I can’t let this come between the team and Knox. He loves this team, and Nashville is close to his family. He’s within driving distance to see them. I can’t be the reason he has to leave the Rampage.

“You don’t do anything. Unless you’re ready to come clean, you keep seeing your man on the down low and let it all play out.”

“Stupid,” I mutter under my breath. “I knew better. Honestly, I didn’t see us still being together. I thought he’d lose interest. I didn’t think there was a reason to tell them. I thought this would be over just as fast as it started, but here we are, months into this, and he’s still there. Still only has eyes for me.”

“Because he loves you.”

“He likes me.”

“Girl, you’re lying to yourself. You know that, right?”

I know she’s right. I know that he loves me. I can feel it with every look, every touch, and every word he speaks to me. I feel his love even when he’s not with me. I’m scared as hell that when we finally admit it to each other, this is all going to blow up, and I’m going to lose him. Honestly, that’s a big part of why I want to wait until the end of the season. Yes, I think our news could come between the team, and I don’t want that. I also know that it could be the end of one or both of our careers. But the biggest reason is that I don’t want there to be a reason for him to walk away.

“He’s not going to walk away from you,” Sloane says, reading my mind. “He’s in this with you, Corie. Anyone who’s paying close enough attention can see that.”

“I love him so much, Sloane.”

She smiles. “I know you do. He knows it, too, and if my theory is correct, he’s afraid that saying those words will push you away. He wanted to scream that the two of you are together from the rooftops months ago. He’s letting you set the pace. He introduced you to his family.”

“You’re right.” I know she is. Knox has asked to come clean and let whatever happens happen, but I’ve asked him time and time again not to.

“I don’t know if we can pull this off until the end of the season.”

“Then don’t. Talk to Landry, then go to the powers that be and confess. Trust him to have your back like you’ll always have his.”

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