Page 132 of False Play
“So, what do we do now about our situation?” I asked.
Anthony sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “We stay ahead of your father. I will meet with Marcus and talk to him. We won’t let anything happen. This team stands by its people.”
Coach nodded. “And you’re one of us, Kennedy. You both are. Always have been. We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
KENNEDY
YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS ROMANTIC.
Team dinner was becomingone of my favorite activities.
We still didn’t have a set schedule, especially since the guys were still deep into the playoffs, so we kept putting everything together at the last minute every time they had a home game, but still, every damn time, I loved it.
Tonight, we were at Donovan’s house. After we had some lasagna—sponsored by Aurora, who was an amazing cook—I was sitting on the patio with the girls while the guys were inside. Some were watching a game tape, others were playing video games.
It was weird, in the best kind of way. Because a few months ago, I never would’ve imagined this. At the start of the season, I’d felt so untethered—like someone had knocked the wind out of me and I was still trying to figure out how to breathe again. I’d lost people I thought were my friends, people I trusted, and suddenly I was left standing alone.
But then Henry happened. And this team, too. Slowly—so slowly I didn’t even realize it was happening—these peoplegave me something I’d been aching for and never thought possible. A family. The kind of friendships I’d see in movies or read about in books. The kind that felt like home. A place where I finally belonged.
“I cannot believe he told you,” Aurora said through fits of giggles after I finished telling them all about the fake dating fiasco.
“My brother is a literal idiot,” Olivia groaned. “Scratch that. The real idiot is Wes. He loves to do dumb shit like this.”
“I think it’s romantic,” Valentina piped wistfully. “I’m still mad you didn’t tell me, though.”
“You thinkeverythingis romantic,” I deadpanned, setting my eyes on Val. “And we both know if I told you, you were probably going to run off to Hayes and help him scheme something.”
Valentina grinned. “Damn, woman, you know me too well.”
“Did he also tell you I said they were all idiots and that it wasn’t going to work?” Aurora asked.
I laughed. “He did—well, I read the texts. I asked him so many questions, he ended up resigning by handing me the phone and telling me to have fun.” I shook my head, still in disbelief. “It was a whole ridiculous scheme.”
“It may have been ridiculous, but look at where it got you. It worked the same way the jersey thing did,” Val commented before taking a sip of her wine.
My cheeks felt hot to the touch when I rested them against the palms of my hands at the reminder.
“Hi, ladies,” Henry said as he stepped out with Hayes, the door clicking shut behind them. His eyes immediately found mine, and a warm smile tugged at his lips. He dropped into the seat beside me, pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “Why do you look soflustered?”
“Oh, you know,” Valentina said with zero shame, “just reminding her about the night she wore your jersey. The amazing sex and all.”
A smirk curled in his mouth. “Thatwasa pretty epic night.”
“Um, hello?” Olivia waved in the air. “In case you’ve forgotten, your sister is here and very much within earshot of this horrifying conversation.”
“Oh, come on, Livvie,” Hayes said, sliding into the seat beside her. “Don’t act like you’ve never gotten freaky.”
“You’re disgusting.” Olivia gagged. “Zero manners.”
“And you have zero sense of fun,” Hayes shot back, grinning.
Olivia rolled her eyes. “You know, if you talked less, you’d be more tolerable.”
Hayes leaned back, casually draping an arm on the back of her chair. “And if you smiled more, you’d be almost charming.”
“Is this how it usually is between them?” I whispered the question to Henry as those two continued to bicker in the background. It was like watching an intense tennis match.
