Page 96 of Broken Play
A warm smile slides across my face. "You don't like me outsmarting you."
"Wait, that's it," he says. "A decoy like in Broken Play.Let's hire an actor who looks like Sutton. That way, if the blackmailer releases the video, people will think it's the actor and not Sutton. Or we could pay a cleat chaser. They'd love fifteen minutes of fame."
I shake my head no. "It's late. I need to get some sleep. You can go."
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll sleep in the room across the hall. We'll drive to the game together tomorrow."
I don't put up a fight. There's no reason to make him worry. He'd call Dad, and soon there would be an intervention at my house.
Dad.He worried this would happen, but I won't let it strangle me. J.D.'s right; all we need to do is find out who's doing this. Then Sutton won't have to worry.
I take a sleeping pill to get a wink of sleep. Sutton's smile keeps flashing in front of me. It's almost like I can feel her soft skin beside me and smell the citrus scent of her shampoo. I use sports psychology, envisioning us happy together, and I fall asleep.
The next morning, I call Witt and tell him I need something now. He doesn't ask about Sutton, and he doesn't need to know right now. My next call is to Noelle, and I ask her not to post anything today. She's nosy, so I tell her what happened, minus the sex.
Parker meets us at the stadium for weightlifting. Witt pings my phone, telling me that he's got something. I run outside where it's private.
"What do you have?"
"The laptop used was located at the Florida Tennis Academy. Isn't that where Sutton lived?"
"It's Bodhi."
Witt says, "I don't think so. He's playing in a tournament in Atlanta. I also found out that he's running a camp this weekend at ACE Tennis."
My mind works overtime to figure this out. The next call is to my agent, and I ask him to find me the best attorney in Texas or the country. I'll find a way to take away everything Bodhi has.
Practice starts, and Sutton stares out her office window at the field, not really at me. She doesn't move for several minutes. My heart feels like it's been stitched by a janitor instead of by a doctor, and each stitch pops as I breathe her in.
I pickup my helmet and pump it in the air. I'm the best fucking quarterback in the league, and it's time I showed it. Lead by example. It's time I put my family first. They've done everything in their power for me. They held me up. Kept my secrets. Played private detective. Social media coordinator. Now I'll win this game for J.D., Dad, Parker, Noelle, Witt, and even Sutton.
"Dillos on three. One. Two. Three. Dillos!"
I live for Thursday night games. You get a long weekend off, and I plan to spend it with Sutton, whether she knows it or not.
There's no stopping me today. J.D. will be the head coach again next year if I have anything to do with it. And the way to make sure the family stays in Austin together is to win. I've never run from pressure, and I'm not starting now. I'm looking it in the eye and devouring it.
I have three passing touchdowns, but in the fourth quarter, one of the linemen throws one hell of a block, so instead of handing it off to the running back, I'm left open. Barreling forward, my legs chew up the turf; I jump over a pile of linemen to score, and then... I'm out. It's like I'm in a dream. Sutton and I are holding hands on the beach with Paulina splashing her feet in the water. It feels good, and I swear I'm smiling.
I hear people calling my name over and over, but it sounds like it's coming from far away. "Ten, Ten. Wake up. Open your eyes, Ten."
I try to peel my eyes open, but it doesn't work. J.D.'s and Coach Stricker's voices shout my name.
Finally, my lids open to a hazy sky with heads hovering over me. But it's one beautiful woman who steals my breath: Sutton. "Oh God, Ten. Are you okay? Can you move?"
Can I move?
My head hurts, but I nod.
"Ten, I can't kiss you if you don't tell me you're okay."
That wakes me up. "You're going to kiss me? On the field? In front of everyone?"
"I am."
"Well, you better be ready because I'm going to love the hell out of you."
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
