Page 5 of Broken Play
"He's had a different experience than we have." He stills, andmy eyes fill with tears. J.D. rubs his palms together and continues. "Greyson, let's pray you come back in one piece. You can't go ice skating. The whole reason we traded for you is because our QB is out for the season, or at least most of it." His brows furrow.
"You paid money for me because I'm one of the top three QBs in the league," I snap. The Armadillos need me.
He gives me a tight smile as he takes off his hat, running his hands through his hair before putting it back on. "Be careful. Is Witt going?"
"Nope, said he would see us for supper on Sunday."
He stands and leads me out of his office for a tour of the Austin facilities. "Voluntary off-season camp starts in two weeks," he says, pretending to cough, meaning my ass better show up.
I nod, letting the past few months wash over me—the last game, Denver cutting me loose, all of it. In two weeks, vacation ends, and I'll officially be donning the green and gold of the Austin Armadillos. Until then, I'll spend that time with my family, maybe pick up an old hobby—skeet shooting on the farm or even try ax throwing. I'll find a ranch to buy and call home.
After getting the tour, I drive to our family home, which is a short ride from Austin in a small, rural suburb. When I pull into the gravel driveway, Noelle runs out of the house. I'm barely out of the car before she jumps into my arms. We've always been close and, since she's the only girl, we dote on her.
"Hey, miss me much?"
She jumps off. "This is fantastic that you landed here with J.D. and the Armadillos. I'll get to see you all the time. I'll be at every game."
Yeah, it's fan-fucking-tastic.
"All right, where's this boyfriend of yours? And Parker?" I ask.
She drags me into the house. "They're playing ping-pong. Stop them so we can go ice skating. Our lessons start in an hour."
"Lessons?" I quirk a brow.
Noelle clasps her hands together in front of her chest. "For my birthday, Brooks said we could do anything I wanted."
"I'm sure he didn't mean ice skating," I chuckle inwardly. He plays college football where she cheers, so I'm damn sure he has other plans, which I push to the far corner of my mind as I think of nonsexual things.
Ice cream. The Sopranos. Denver. Hillenbrand's. Sutton. Damn.
Everything goes back to Sutton and the kiss that has ruined me.
"It's what I want, and he loves me, so..."
They've been dating for close to six months. "Loves you? You're a junior in college?" I shake my head, thinking love isn't an option when she's so young. Did he use anI love you?
To get into her pants?
She flashes me her bright smile. "Can you please meet him before you decide to hate him?"
I could, but right now I'm hating life and barely getting by.
When we reach the basement, Parker looks as if he's grown a foot. He needs some muscle on his bones, especially since he's on a scholarship at the University of Michigan. Those guys will eat him alive.
Mental note: Train Parker inmy off time.
I change the subject. "It makes no sense that we're paying for lessons when Parker could teach us."
"You and I both know none of us will listen to him," Noelle says, cocking her hip out and tilting her head, convinced she's right.
"Brooks! Parker! Greyson's here."
Her boyfriend hits the ball and his short sleeves inch up on his arms, showing his bulging biceps. When he stands, his shirt stretches across his midsection, revealing washboard abs. My mind races as I look at the future NFL prospect. From experience, I know girls are tripping over themselves to get his attention, yet he picked my sister.
Parker says, "Oh, hey," like he sees me every day.
I expect Witt the twit to stop playing and introduce himself, but instead he slams the ping-pong ball, bouncing it to the far edge of the table. Parker's reaction is late, leaving Brooks to raise his hands in victory. "Yes!"
