Page 47 of Broken Play (The O’Ryan Family #1)

FORTY-SEVEN

GREYSON

The list isn't long. Eight people other than Sutton have access to the locker room.

Marlon has a key. J.D. has a key, along with Coach Stricker, the defensive coordinator, Coach Padgett, two maintenance supervisors, two operations supervisors, and Sutton.

Nine people, and none of them seem plausible.

Would a custodian or a person on the maintenance crew take photos? It's possible, but I talk to those guys all the time. I sign jerseys, balls, and programs for them nearly every day.

Everyone loves Sutton because she doesn't mind pitching in and moving tables or chairs.

Whatever needs to be done, she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.

I've only been with one other team, and I know for sure she's different from other general managers.

She's the kind who wants to know how everything in her organization runs.

Two weeks ago, she bought a Lightning McQueen cake for one of our defensive ends.

She overheard him say that he always wanted one growing up, but his mom couldn't afford a custom-made cake.

I admit I was jealous when he squeezed her, and she smiled so big.

He said, "Thank you. I never thought to buy one for myself. "

I walk into the film room, and Parker's there waiting. "Hey, shouldn't you be with the wide receivers?"

"No, Dad said I need to learn to think like a quarterback and understand how to read a defense like a quarterback. He's under the impression it will give me an edge over other receivers." He squints. "Are you okay?"

"You mean, am I upset that I'm on anything other than the first-string offense for the first time since I was nine? Yeah, it pisses me off."

I can't tell him that someone has been spying on Sutton and me.

"J.D. said you've pulled a lot of stunts in your time, but he can't recall you ever missing practice. Where were you?"

Blowing out a razored breath, I say, "He's the perfect one, and I can't live up to his standards."

"So, you're saying it's okay to miss practice, even as the leader of the whole team?

Even when your brother's job rests on your arm and efficiency?

" Parker asks like a true leader himself.

He knows the answer, and leaders love to do that—ask questions when the answers are obvious and they already know the answer.

I growl inwardly. "Ha, you sound like a quarterback." I slap his shoulder. "No, what I did was wrong, but... no buts. J.D. is right to bench me. But one thing I've learned in my decade of being a professional football player is that sometimes other things are important too."

"Like Sutton?"

My head whips around. "What did you say?"

"Sutton. I see how you two look at each other when she's been over, and of course, you saved her from tennis dude. "

A stare-off ensues. I calculate whether Parker was even at the game when Sutton and I had sex. Could he have been at the waterfall or at my house? Sure. But he's a good kid who wanted to come home because his girlfriend cheated on him.

"Parker, I..."

"Your secret is safe with me." He winks, and I swear he's my mini-me, just quieter and less confident.

Just then, Coach Stricker flips the lights. "Okay, let's get started. Since O'Ryan is out this week, QB two and three will be expected to answer the questions."

I stand up and apologize. "Sorry, guys. It's the first time I've fucked up in a decade. If you need any help, I'm available." Parker and I take our seats in the back. I explain the plays, what the defense is doing, and how it would affect him as a wide receiver.

On the way out, I ask, "Do you know how I could find out who entered the locker room on a certain night?"

Half-amused, he quirks a brow. "Are you kidding me? Don't the Armadillos have security?"

"We do, but this is top secret." Frustrated that Sutton's naked body could soon be floating around the internet, I rub the overgrown hair on my jaw.

"Ask Witt. He can hack into anything," Parker says, referring to our younger brother.

My chin drops, my mouth hanging open. "He's a hacker? I thought he was just a gamer."

Parker shakes his head. "Can I get a ride? Noelle had to go to class."

"Yeah, text everyone and tell them family dinner at my house. I need to tell our family about Sutton before anyone else does."

Parker gives me a real smile—one of those rare, genuine ones that say we're family and we stick together, no matter how deep the shit gets. The weight in my chest lightens a little. For the first time all day, I can almost imagine things working out. Almost.

"This must be important to call a family meeting at the last minute," Noelle says, kissing me on the cheek. "Can I help?"

I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. "Sure, wrap the bacon around the peppers." Her eyes seem swollen. "Anything wrong?"

She shrugs, and her cardigan sweater falls off one shoulder. "Is Brooks coming?"

"Who knows? He says I'm not his keeper."

Noelle comes off as a spark plug, but she's very sensitive with a heart that could pump enough blood for all of us. "Maybe that relationship has run its course."

"What do you know about relationships?" she jokes, bumping my shoulder with a little less fervor than usual.

J.D. walks into the kitchen, followed by Dad, Parker, and Witt. Sutton didn't seem keen on the idea of telling my family, so I hope she shows up.

"Texas Twinkies... must be a special occasion." Dad picks one up before they've even been heated.

"Just wanted to do something nice for my family."

Dad nods, but I think he's suspicious.

I had a family-owned restaurant, The Dry Spoon, cater our meal—except for the Texas Twinkies. My mom used to pick up their food for us after games. When the doorbell rings, two delivery men arrive with the food, and Sutton appears behind them, hesitating. I grab the bags and tip the delivery guys.

With my hands full, I stretch my neck to kiss her cheek. "Everything will be fine."

"Pfft. Easy for you to say. It's not your vagina that could be plastered on the internet. I bet they don't say two words about you, but I'll be the slut of the league."

"They'll wonder why you're with my ugly mug. Ready to face the firing squad?"

"Do I have a choice? J.D. will be livid."

Something tells me he's not.

She follows me inside, and Noelle attacks her. "I'm so glad you're here. Birdie has a concert in New Orleans, and I hate being the only woman. Sometimes I want to talk about something other than football."

"Happy to be invited. Your brother benched your other brother, so... there may be lots of fireworks," she says to Noelle and risks a glance at me. "What's that smell?"

"Do you like Twinkies?" I ask and can't help but smile, knowing she's probably never had one.

"I don't know."

"You've never had a real Twinkie? God, before every practice in high school, I had a Twinkie and a Mountain Dew."

She laughs half-heartedly. "Nutritionists at the academy would never, ever let me eat processed food. We were lucky to get ice cream occasionally."

"That's taking sports too seriously," Noelle says, twisting her mouth to the side. "Well, these are healthy. Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese, garlic, and beef brisket, wrapped in bacon, and drizzled with barbecue sauce over the top. "

I show Sutton the baking sheet, and she licks her lips as she says, "Yum."

"Dad, J.D., can you set the table?"

Sutton chimes in, "I'll do it." She goes directly to the cabinet that holds the plates, and everyone notices that she knows her way around. The chatter stops.

"Dad, will you grab the twelve-pack of soda from the basement? I have tea and water in the fridge too."

My family settles at the table after filling our plates from the taco bar at The Dry Spoon and the homemade Twinkies. Sutton takes a bite of the Texas Twinkie and moans like she's never had anything so tasty. I promise she has, because she's moaned like that for me.

"Delicious."

She may have even uttered the same word.

"Thanks. Our mom loved them. She always made them as a treat when we had friends over."

A deep laugh rumbles out of J.D. "Yeah, do you remember Stevie Oakes? He asked if he could come over every week. He either had the hots for Mom or he really loved these Twinkies."

"I do," I say, taking a deep breath. "Well, I wanted everyone to be here so I could tell you that..."

"I benched him for not coming to practice." J.D.'s voice is stern.

"Well, yeah, there's that, but you did what you had to do. I have much bigger news."

Parker's omnipotent smile urges me on. I look at Sutton and interlace our hands. Every pair of eyes watches as each finger laces together. It's almost like slow motion.

"What? You're together?" Noelle covers her heart with her hands .

"We are. I met Sutton in Denver. We had no idea who the other person was.

If you can believe it, Sutton knew nothing about football.

" That garners a few chuckles from my family.

I don't look at J.D.... I'm scared of his reaction.

He's told me repeatedly to stay away. "She's the only person I want to have my last kiss with. My last name."

"This is so romantic," Noelle practically sings.

Dad puts his fork down, finishes chewing his food, and puts in his two cents. "Sutton is your boss."

"I pursued her. And when everyone always worried about me not having a girlfriend in high school, Mom would say, 'You'll know when the right one comes along, and until that happens, don't waste your emotions on girls. We're hard to please.'"

J.D. shakes his head like he remembers the words Mom spoke to both of us, although J.D. did date a few girls. To show Dad how important Sutton is to me, I say, "I took Sutton to see Granny and the waterfall."

The air is suffocating—it's so quiet, like everyone is bracing for impact. Noelle is biting her lip. My younger siblings don't understand what that place means because I've never taken any of them there. It only belongs to me and Granny.