Page 35 of Broken Play (The O’Ryan Family #1)

THIRTY-FIVE

GREYSON

"Something smells delicious!" J.D. says, already licking his chops as I head straight for Sutton, ready to brush her hair off her neck and kiss her sweet skin, but at the last minute, I remember we're in hiding.

When I get close enough to smell her musky perfume, I ask, "I hope these peaches are fresh. My dad would die if he ate canned peaches."

"Oh, they're fresh. Birdie and I drove to a farmer's market just outside of town. Peach pie is the one thing I know how to make."

"If you know how to make it, why did you need Birdie's help?" I ask, lifting a brow, because Birdie cannot cook.

Sutton's eyes speak to me as she tilts her head. "Greyson, look who's here!"

I see a pair of Crocs step out from behind Sutton, and I realize she wanted Paulina to meet Birdie. "Paulina, I'm so happy you're here. Do you want to see my trophy room?"

Sutton crosses her arms with a grin stretching from ear to ear. "You're such a show-off." I raise my hand as if to say she caught me.

Birdie laughs and, under her breath, says to J.D., "Let's follow them."

We take the stairs to the man cave, and I point out a few posters from championships, but then I see Armadillo stuff everywhere. Where did all this stuff come from? I glance over my shoulder at J.D., but Sutton smirks just off to the side.

"Someone thinks they're funny?" I pick up the Armadillo TV remote, then the Armadillo pillow on my couch. I know it's Sutton; J.D. is one focused dude, and there's no way he would take time out of his day to do this. He's too concerned with keeping his job.

"Are you kidding me? An Austin Armadillo plant holder? A bobblehead I can see... but a plant holder?" My gaze collides with Sutton's, and if eyes ever truly danced, it would be the way Sutton's are right now. Her smile is one of victory.

Paulina's eyes light up as she picks up a stuffed animal. "I love Archie the Armadillo. He's so cute."

I put my hand on her shoulder. "You can have it if you want. But armadillos are tough, not cute."

Paulina points at my brother and me. "You two are cute, and you're Armadillos."

"Okay, but let's keep that between us."

Paulina hugs her stuffed armadillo. "Thanks! Do you have tennis courts? I'll play you."

"I don't. That's why I brought Noelle to play at the academy, but we can play football outside after dinner. You can be on my team, and we'll beat these three."

Her aggressive nod tells me she's all about it .

Sutton wraps her arm around Paulina, and my heart skips a beat. I'm not imagining it—my heart stutters. One thing I know is that I wasn't prepared to fall this hard and this fast for my boss.

The doorbell rings, so J.D. and I run upstairs to help my dad. His arms are full of takeout bags, and he brushes past us with a little head tilt, so I get the rest. I almost forgot that this dinner is about Parker and getting on the same page with our dad.

The women are in the kitchen, and Sutton is teaching Paulina how to set a table. "Where are the serving dishes?" Sutton asks as she and Birdie open every cabinet.

I must look like a deer in headlights. "I just thought we would eat out of the bags."

"G, your mom would be ashamed," Dad says firmly.

"Dad, I've been on my own for over a decade. I eat out of takeout bags or throw a steak on the grill and put it on a plate. I don't have dinner parties."

J.D. says, "You're having one now, and Paulina has set a beautiful table."

Sutton pops up from behind the cabinets under the island. "Found them." She holds two bowls up in triumph. "And here's a platter for the brisket."

"Honestly, I didn't know Noelle bought those. I need to think twice about giving her my credit card."

My family agrees wholeheartedly as Birdie and J.D. start putting the food into dishes and placing them on the table. When I sit down beside Paulina, I notice there are Armadillo napkin holders as well as Armadillo glasses. "Okay, who is the smarty-pants?"

"J.D. and I think it's time you realize who you play for. I just thought you needed a few reminders." A sly smile slides across Sutton's face, and her eyes glimmer in the sunlight shining through the patio doors.

My pulse kicks up a notch at how relaxed she is in this environment, because even though this is supposed to be a business meeting, it's intimate, with only six of us.

And I love that gentle curve to her lips when she's teasing me but has to quickly look away for fear of being found out.

The light catches her hair, which is down.

At work, she often has it in a tight ponytail, the way she wears it on the court.

I call it her work hairdo. But right now, she's wearing the kind of smile that hides a challenge, making it impossible for me to look away.

Dad must see me staring and clears his throat. "So, what's this about Parker? You know I'm not happy with him. If he wanted to quit, he should have talked to us before. O'Ryans don't quit on their team."

The room quiets except for knives cutting brisket or a fork clanging against the plates. "Dad, did he tell you that his girlfriend cheated on him?"

"Yep, finally, but that's no excuse."

"Oh, it's an excuse. If it were me and I had to skate next to the guy who did that to me, I promise you, I would leave that team. It would be a toxic environment."

"Well, you and J.D. cared more about football than girls."

Birdie jumps in. "Oh, I think they cared about girls, just not one girl. Parker is sensitive."

"Dad, you need to understand that Parker, Noelle, and Witt didn't have the same time growing up as J.D. and I did. We had a mom for most of our younger years. We already had an identity. "

My dad pushes back from the table and wanders around the slate island. "I did the best I could."

"We know you did, and maybe if G and I weren't selfish, we would have stayed home to help raise them." J.D. walks over to him.

Paulina's eyes are wide, and I realize that talking about not having a mom is affecting her. So, I say, "How about some peach pie?"

Sutton asks Paulina to help her slice the pie while J.D. and I talk to Dad.

Sometimes I forget how hard raising five kids without a wife by his side must have been. I didn't make anything better by acting out after Mom passed away. Everything I did was a cry for help, but he chalked it up to my being a teenage boy.

The three of us sit back down at the table and gather ourselves.

Sutton receives a multitude of appreciation. It's the best peach pie I've ever had. Okay, maybe it's because Sutton made it from scratch, but it's still delicious. Birdie takes Paulina down to the man cave to find some rubber bands we can use to play flag football while we talk about Parker.

Sutton leads the conversation. "J.D. and Greyson suggested Parker work with the Armadillos since he can't join your roster this late.

It's a good way for him to see what it takes to play football at a higher level.

Since he got a full hockey scholarship, I know he's dedicated.

After checking with HR and the NCAA, the only way for this to work without affecting his eligibility is through a college internship. "

Our dad taps his fork against his empty plate. "The kid loves hockey, and I hate the fact that a girl fucked up his mind. He never loved football like he did hockey. I always loved that I could finish my game and then hop on a plane to watch him play hockey at ten at night."

"There's one way to find out. Enroll him at LaGrange with you.

He can do the internship with the Armadillos and learn from us in a professional setting.

He can witness J.D. being an asshole to me and Coach Stricker correcting my mistakes.

Being a college or pro athlete isn't for the faint of heart. "

J.D. adds, "The hard part will be if Parker isn't good enough to play for you. Do you even want him to play for you? You never offered either of us a scholarship."

"That's because you both were too good for my team.

You both shone on your own. I just don't know if I can coach my kid.

I did when you all were little, before I became a head coach, but Parker has a much different personality than you two.

" He looks at Sutton. "What will he be able to do for the internship? "

"He could work in the office for half a day and be on the field or in player meetings the rest of the day. He can work with our scout team and condition, but no hitting. He plays wide receiver, right?"

In unison, we answer, "Yep."

"Browning can work with him on routes, and then we can have him catch against a defense that can't touch him.

But we'll still be able to see if he can slip a defender.

Is that the right phrase? I've been studying, but I don't have it all down," Sutton says, and I admire her for being honest. And when she talks football, my pulse races.

I can't help but admire this woman who was thrown into a job and sport that she knew nothing about but is handling it with class and decisiveness. "Yeah, ba... boss. That's a good phrase." Shit. I almost slipped.

Dad says, "If Parker agrees, I'm good with it, but as punishment, he'll have to chip in for his tuition.

He has money in his trust fund. I want him to know that there are consequences to his actions.

He'll pay half of his tuition and you boys won't pay a penny.

He needs to learn and get a part-time job at night after his internship. "

"Damn, Dad."

J.D. puts in his two cents. "That's fair. But what's also fair is that you tell him up front that this doesn't guarantee him a spot on your team."

"If he's as good as we are, he'll get recruited to a higher-profile team. No offense, Dad."

"None taken. Now let's go play some flag football with that cute little girl."

Sutton and I hang back and clear the table. "I'm glad you brought Paulina, but if I had known, I would have asked Frank's kids to come over."

"She's going through a bit of a rough spot, and I was just trying to distract her. Her grandparents are in the hospital."

"Is it bad?"

"I don't have details yet. Hopefully, I'll know more soon."

"Promise me that you'll let me know if there's anything I can do for that little girl."

Sutton's lips flatten as she nods.

"Now tell me why the house is covered in all things green and gold."

She pulls me into the hallway. "Because you're not cheating on me with your ex. I refuse to wear anything or drink out of anything that says Denver. I've put a few Armadillo T-shirts in your drawer."

I slip my hands around her waist, clasping them behind her back. "Are you planning on staying over more?"

"I am, if you want.”

"Oh, babe, I want you in my bed. Every. Damn. Night."