Page 88 of Broken Play
Clearing my throat and wiping away the tears from the corners of my eyes, I hold Sutton's hand to my chest. "That won't happen. But we do have some challenges ahead of us, which is another reason I asked everyone to come over. The conversation has taken a turn, and it feels like a thousand-pound steer has been lifted off my chest. If I'm honest, the heaviness in my chest lifted the day we went to the waterfall because for the first time, I could see a future without football."
Sutton leans over, laying her head on my shoulder, probably in shock at what I've admitted. My siblings may not have every detail, but they know enough.
"I got through the worst time in my life because of Dad and this asshole." I point to J.D., trying to lighten the moment. "Sutton and I need your advice, and since our relationship affects all of you, we'll do what the family thinks is best."
Sutton draws in an unsteady breath. I watch as her eyes move around the table, looking at each of my family members. She slips her hand from mine and briefly covers her nose and mouth as if she's searching for the words to share. Naked pictures are hard to put delicately.
Sutton's voice cracks on her first word. "I need to be honest with all of you. Greyson isn't just someone I care about—he's the man I want a future with. But today I got an envelope with...photos. Pictures of the two of us in different places, some from here or at the stadium—some innocent, but some taken when we thought we were alone. Someone's trying to use them against us." Her gaze drops to her lap, and the silence around the table grows thick and uneasy. "I understand that this isn't the bestI'm-dating-your-sonreveal. This isn't how I wanted to tell you, but I can't rewind time and erase what's happened." When Sutton speaks now, her voice is taut but strong. "I apologize in advance for embarrassing this family. The photos are not flattering, and I hope you never see them."
"Hell yeah, they were flattering. You're beautiful," I insist. "Witt, I need your help. We have three weeks to find this motherfucker trying to blackmail us. I hear you're the best hacker in this family."
Witt leans forward, his voice dry and flat. "What do I need to do?"
Sutton and I tell them as much as we can about how we believe her tennis bracelet came off in the locker room, the same night some of the photos were taken. After we explain everything we can, Sutton asks, "What should we do? Should we go public first, or should we wait it out?"
Noelle, a journalism major and an expert on all things social media, blurts out, "Go public. We can control the narrative that way."
Dad has dealt with many scandals involving his players over the past twenty years, and he agrees with Noelle. His approach has always been todeal with problems head-on,so things don't spin out of control.
The whole family shares its ideas and comes up with what we think is a great plan.
After everyone leaves, Sutton and I load the dishwasher and wipe off the counters before going to bed. "I had some much-needed items delivered for you."
"Like what?"
I open the door to the walk-in closet, revealing her half. "Just a few work outfits, jeans, sweaters, and shoes to keep here so you don't have to get up so early and go home in the mornings. Toiletries are in the bathroom and lingerie is in the drawers. If you don't like them or they don't fit, just make a pile and we'll send them back."
"For someone who's never had a girlfriend, you're really good at it." She hooks her arms around my neck, pressing her lips to mine. "Thank you." She opens the drawer and pulls out a sexy lace tank and a pair of shorts. "I usually don't like lace because it's itchy, but this one is buttery soft." Her eyes twinkle with mischief.
She begins to take off her clothes, but I say, "Let me." I undress her, my hands skimming her naked body, but then I remember someone is spying on us. I haven't even thought about someone hiding cameras in my house. I hand her the lacy shorts and pull the tank over her head.
"Thank you."
We brush our teeth, and she covers her arms, chest, and legs with goat's milk lotion with a hint of citrus, and we scoot under the covers. She's on her side, and I'm lying flat on my back with my arm under my head, making circles on her arm.
She inches closer, her hand on my abs. "Greyson, I'm sorry you felt so alone."
"Me too."
"Promise me, if you ever feel that way again..."
"I won't. I haven't felt that desperate and defeated since high school. Don't get me wrong, I wish she were still here. I wish she were here to share her laugh, her stories, and her love with you. But I know she's happy that I've found someone as special as you."
Beautiful is the only way to describe Sutton Anders. She lifts her chin, her blue eyes gazing and pleading. "If we hadn't met in Denver, do you think we would be here right now?"
I feel my eyes narrow. "Yes. We were meant to be."
"It's hard to believe that out of every woman in the world, you chose me."
"And I'll keep choosing you."
FORTY-EIGHT
SUTTON
It's one thing to feel hunted; it's another to challenge the darkness, demanding your pursuer reveal themselves. But that's exactly what Greyson and I plan to do with the help of his youngest sibling.
Witt, shy and introverted, comes to the stadium with Greyson to work with me. Our cover? Witt's shadowing me for a school project. He sits beside me at my desk with my laptop open. We've been here for two hours, and employees are beginning to file in with caramel macchiatos and bagels in hand.
