Page 48 of Broken Play (The O’Ryan Family #1)

Dad catches my gaze and holds on to it. My tough-guy dad's eyes prick with tears. "You took her to the waterfall?" he asks in disbelief.

"I wanted her and Paulina to see it. I wanted to experience it through their eyes and bring happiness to that place again."

Dad's chair scrapes against the hardwood as he pushes back from the table. "Kids," he says, looking at our younger siblings. "Please go to the other room. "

My voice breaks as I worry my siblings might find out just how fragile I felt. At the same time, part of me wants them to know the truth—to understand that life isn't always as effortless as it seems from the outside. "Dad, no. We're a family, and they should know."

"Does Sutton know?" he asks. There's a sharp edge to his voice, loaded with a lifetime of things I haven't dared to say aloud. I look at Dad, then J.D., and then Sutton.

My mouth feels as dry as a Texas tumbleweed. "No."

J.D. gives me a pitying smile when Dad lets out a slow breath and looks at Sutton. "We like you, Sutton." There's a softness to his words. "But we don't want to see Greyson hurt. Not after..." He trails off, unable to say that I tried to take my own life.

Tears cloud my vision. "We never talk about Mom and how losing her affected each of us.

" Witt pushes back, standing abruptly. "Witt, stay.

It wasn't your fault. And God, I'm so sorry you didn't get to have her as a mom.

She was so happy to be pregnant with you.

When people say pregnancy gives a woman a glow, it's true—Mom beamed.

She had us all talk to you while you were inside her.

She called you her miracle baby. She said you made the family complete. "

This isn't where I saw the conversation going, but the words keep tumbling out.

"Nobody talks about how it felt to lose her.

Not the tears we shed. After she died, I acted normal for a while, wanting to hide my pain, but then grief and depression enveloped me.

After football, I'd go to the waterfall.

Then J.D. left for college... and I felt.

.. alone. I know I shouldn't have. I have all of you. "

Sutton's thumb sweeps across my knuckles, and I swallow hard, doing my best to meet my siblings' eyes.

"I tried to take my life. Only Granny, J.D., and Dad know about it. I cut my wrist with a stick I had whittled." I hold up my tattooed wrist as the feelings flood back.

How scared I was.

How blood soaked my car.

The shirt I tore trying to save myself.

How Granny cradled me in her arms.

How the doctor made a house call.

I hadn't intended to go into this tonight or ever, but it's better to get it out in the open, though I hate the looks of pity I'm getting. Nerves take over. My body trembles and shakes, and I suck in the waterfall of tears wanting to spill over the edge for almost fifteen years.

Tears stream down Sutton's and Noelle's faces. J.D. hangs his head. Parker says, "But... but you're... invincible." His words shatter on his tongue. Witt's jaw clenches, and tears well up in his eyes.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes and swallow hard. "Parker, I wish I were invincible, but I'm not. What happened is all on me, not a result of anything anyone did to me. It's hard to explain... even now."

Dad purses his lips, pacing the floor. "I hate to say this, but what if it doesn't work out between you two? We can't lose you." Dad's not angry, just protective and afraid.

Clearing my throat and wiping away the tears from the corners of my eyes, I hold Sutton's hand to my chest. "That won't happen.

But we do have some challenges ahead of us, which is another reason I asked everyone to come over.

The conversation has taken a turn, and it feels like a thousand-pound steer has been lifted off my chest. If I'm honest, the heaviness in my chest lifted the day we went to the waterfall because for the first time, I could see a future without football. "

Sutton leans over, laying her head on my shoulder, probably in shock at what I've admitted. My siblings may not have every detail, but they know enough.

"I got through the worst time in my life because of Dad and this asshole." I point to J.D., trying to lighten the moment. "Sutton and I need your advice, and since our relationship affects all of you, we'll do what the family thinks is best."

Sutton draws in an unsteady breath. I watch as her eyes move around the table, looking at each of my family members. She slips her hand from mine and briefly covers her nose and mouth as if she's searching for the words to share. Naked pictures are hard to put delicately.

Sutton's voice cracks on her first word.

"I need to be honest with all of you. Greyson isn't just someone I care about—he's the man I want a future with.

But today I got an envelope with...photos.

Pictures of the two of us in different places, some from here or at the stadium—some innocent, but some taken when we thought we were alone.

Someone's trying to use them against us.

" Her gaze drops to her lap, and the silence around the table grows thick and uneasy.

"I understand that this isn't the best I'm-dating-your-son reveal.

This isn't how I wanted to tell you, but I can't rewind time and erase what's happened.

" When Sutton speaks now, her voice is taut but strong.

"I apologize in advance for embarrassing this family.

The photos are not flattering, and I hope you never see them. "

"Hell yeah, they were flattering. You're beautiful," I insist. "Witt, I need your help. We have three weeks to find this motherfucker trying to blackmail us. I hear you're the best hacker in this family. "

Witt leans forward, his voice dry and flat. "What do I need to do?"

Sutton and I tell them as much as we can about how we believe her tennis bracelet came off in the locker room, the same night some of the photos were taken. After we explain everything we can, Sutton asks, "What should we do? Should we go public first, or should we wait it out?"

Noelle, a journalism major and an expert on all things social media, blurts out, "Go public. We can control the narrative that way."

Dad has dealt with many scandals involving his players over the past twenty years, and he agrees with Noelle. His approach has always been to deal with problems head-on, so things don't spin out of control.

The whole family shares its ideas and comes up with what we think is a great plan.

After everyone leaves, Sutton and I load the dishwasher and wipe off the counters before going to bed. "I had some much-needed items delivered for you."

"Like what?"

I open the door to the walk-in closet, revealing her half.

"Just a few work outfits, jeans, sweaters, and shoes to keep here so you don't have to get up so early and go home in the mornings.

Toiletries are in the bathroom and lingerie is in the drawers.

If you don't like them or they don't fit, just make a pile and we'll send them back. "

"For someone who's never had a girlfriend, you're really good at it.

" She hooks her arms around my neck, pressing her lips to mine.

"Thank you." She opens the drawer and pulls out a sexy lace tank and a pair of shorts.

"I usually don't like lace because it's itchy, but this one is buttery soft. " Her eyes twinkle with mischief .

She begins to take off her clothes, but I say, "Let me." I undress her, my hands skimming her naked body, but then I remember someone is spying on us. I haven't even thought about someone hiding cameras in my house. I hand her the lacy shorts and pull the tank over her head.

"Thank you."

We brush our teeth, and she covers her arms, chest, and legs with goat's milk lotion with a hint of citrus, and we scoot under the covers. She's on her side, and I'm lying flat on my back with my arm under my head, making circles on her arm.

She inches closer, her hand on my abs. "Greyson, I'm sorry you felt so alone."

"Me too."

"Promise me, if you ever feel that way again..."

"I won't. I haven't felt that desperate and defeated since high school. Don't get me wrong, I wish she were still here. I wish she were here to share her laugh, her stories, and her love with you. But I know she's happy that I've found someone as special as you."

Beautiful is the only way to describe Sutton Anders. She lifts her chin, her blue eyes gazing and pleading. "If we hadn't met in Denver, do you think we would be here right now?"

I feel my eyes narrow. "Yes. We were meant to be."

"It's hard to believe that out of every woman in the world, you chose me."

"And I'll keep choosing you."