Page 72 of The Love Playbook

“And this here is Tuck. He’s ten and still sweet,” I say, hugging the little rugrat back.

“What are you doing here? We were riding our bikes and saw your car out front. Are you coming to visit?” Tuck asks, blue eyes bright.

My gaze flickers to Lettie. “Our house is only two blocks from here,” I offer by way of explanation.

“What do youthinkhe was doing?” Tyler scoffs and motions to Charlotte’s sedan. “Fixing a car, dummy.”

“I’m not a dummy!” Tuck spears him with a glare, but Tyler just snorts. “Well, if you’re done, can you come back to the house to hang out?” he says, talking a mile a minute. “We watched your game yesterday. Saw the touchdown you scored. They showed you pointing into the stands, and all the announcers were talking about it. They said something about how they thought you were dedicating your touchdown to a girl, but Ty didn’t think so. I was so sure, though. That seemed like something you would do,” Tucker says, talking animatedly.

“Yeah, I told him no way ’cause that’s lame and you have more game than that,” Ty says.

My mouth flattens into a grimace, and one glance at Charlotte’s shaking shoulders tells me she’s suppressing a laugh.

“Hey,” I nudge Tyler’s shoulder in an effort to change the subject, not wanting to put Lettie on the spot, “I hear Coach switched things up and you started this week as the QB for JV. Congrats.”

“Yeah.” Tyler’s green-blue eyes shine with pride. “It was pretty cool. I wish you could come catch some balls for me. I keep trying to practice with Tucker, Quinton, and Bailey, but they’re useless. Can’t catch a ball to save their lives.”

“Nuh-uh. That’s not true.” Tuck’s hands fist at his sides while Tyler mouths behind the cover of his hand,It’s true.

I pinch my lips together to keep from laughing. “What about Joey?” I ask, referring to the second oldest, who’s sixteen.

“Ha! Nice try. Ever since he got his license he’s never home.” Tyler rolls his eyes. “At least you never forgot about us when you got older.” He huffs. “Hell, I probably see you more than Joe.”

“So, will you come home or not?” Tucker asks, a subtle whine to his voice. “Just to play with us for a bit? Please, Chris?”

Tuck’s puppy dog eyes stare back at me, and I stifle a groan. If it weren’t for Charlotte, I’d stay in a heartbeat. The truth is, I miss these little guys.

I glance at Tyler, and he shrugs. “I mean it’d be pretty cool, I guess.”

I exhale, hating to disappoint them, but I’m not the only person to consider here. “You know I would, guys, but I have to go back with?”

“No,” Lettie interrupts with a wave of her hands. “Please, you don’t have to go back to school on account of me.”

I shake my head, staring at the concrete by my feet. “I don’t want you driving back by yourself.”

“So, we’ll both go.”

My head jerks up, unsure if I heard her right. “Charlotte, you don’t have to . . .”

“I know I don’t have to.” A soft smile touches the corners of her mouth. “I want to.”

My brows rise, a well of hope spreading inside my chest. “You want to go home with me and meet my five brothers?” She shrugs, like she’s too shy to admit it, which is unlike her. “They’re wild. I mean, when they’re all together, they’re like a pack of wolves.”

“We are not?” Tyler starts, but I palm my hand over his face to mute him.

“Give me a second, shrimps,” I say, casting a warning look before I take Charlotte’s hand and gently pull her out of earshot. “I can see them next weekend. You don’t have to do this.”

“You have an away game next weekend. You’ll be on the road until sometime on Sunday.”

I stare at her, impressed. “You memorizing the schedule, Baker?”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “My best friend is dating your best friend, remember? All I do is listen to her lament about it when he’s gone.”

I grin, unconvinced that’s the reason when she huffs out a breath and adds, “It’s sweet they want to hang out with you somuch.” She glances back at them, a longing in her eyes I’ve never seen before. “I never had that. It was always just me, and I think it’s pretty special that they want their big brother around, so if you have the opportunity to spend some time with them, then you should take it.”

I place my hands on my hips, staring at her in awe.

If I hadn’t been half in love with her before, I am now, and I wish more than anything I had seized the opportunity to kiss her when I had the chance.