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“Then we don’t,” he counters. “We tell Landry first, then we go to the Rampage, and the chips fall where they may.”

“We can’t, Knox. We’ve talked about this. I won’t come between the team during the season. The team is thriving this year, and I can’t be the reason that changes.”

“It won’t.”

“Just a little longer. A few months, and if you still feel this way, if you’re still okay with telling them, then we will.”

“I won’t change my mind, Corie.”

“Okay. So, you focus on football. Kick ass on the field like you always do. Bring us home the league championship, and then we’ll tell them.”

He drops his hand on mine and laces our fingers together, bringing our joined hands to kiss the back of mine. “Fine, we’ll do this your way, but they’re going to be even more pissed when they find out we’ve been hiding this from them.”

“We can tell them we took our time getting to know one another. That we wanted to make sure we were both all in.”

“I’m all in, baby. I couldn’t be more in if I tried.”

His words warm my soul. “Me, too. Just a little longer.”

“A little longer,” he agrees, turning into the hospital’s parking lot.

“No way!” Asa yells when Knox and I follow his parents into his room. “That’s Knox Beckett!”

Knox chuckles and makes his way to the side of the bed, offering Asa his fist to bump, which he does enthusiastically. “Nice to meet you, Asa. I hear you’re a huge Rampage fan.”

Asa bobs his little head up and down. “The biggest. Right, Dad?” he asks, never taking his eyes off Knox.

His dad laughs. “That’s right, buddy.”

“When Corie told me that, I knew I had to meet you,” Knox tells him.

Asa’s mouth falls open. “You wanted to meet me?”

“Of course, I did. You’re the Rampage’s biggest fan.”

“I’m your fan, too,” Asa tells him quickly.

“Really? I guess that’s good because I brought you some stuff.” He takes the tote bag from my hands and offers it to Asa.

“All of this is for me?”

“It sure is, buddy. You know what else?” Knox asks him.

“What?” he asks, vibrating with excitement.

“I thought I could sign a few of those things for you, too.” He pulls a black and a gold Sharpie out of his back pocket, and Asa cheers.

“This is the best day of my life.” His mom chokes on a sob, and his dad rushes to comfort her.

“Asa, why don’t you see what’s in there?” I ask, nodding toward the tote bag.

“You’re pretty,” he says. He looks at Knox. “Is she your girlfriend?” He wrinkles his little nose as if he’s not quite sure he likes the idea of a girlfriend.

“She’s a good friend of mine and works for the Rampage,” Knox answers. His voice is calm, but the look he flashes at me tells me he hates this as much as I do, but we have to stay the course.

Asa digs into his bag and pulls out a jersey, a stuffed Rowdy the Rhino mascot, a football, some pictures, stickers, and a ton of other stuff. I brought one of everything I could get my hands on from our social media materials room.

We spend the next three hours with Asa and his parents.

Knox is so good with him. He’s patient with all of his questions and signs everything Asa hands him, even his tablet and his water jug that’s provided by the hospital.

I spend those three hours smiling and fighting back tears.

Life is so unfair. This little man, just seven years old, three weeks from turning eight, as he keeps reminding us, is battling cancer.

It breaks my heart, but it also warms it to see that smile on his face.

Once we’ve said our goodbyes and are in the truck, Knox exhales and turns to face me. “These trips are always hard, but I love that a few hours of my time made that little boy so happy.”

“Thank you for doing this.”

“I’ll never say no to something like this. Don’t ever hesitate to ask. My only request is that it not be blasted over the media channels.”

“I’m sure the parents and staff will take pictures.”

“That’s fine, but I don’t want the Rampage to capitalize on it. Use the annual nursing home visit and the million other events for that. Not this. Not him,” Knox says, unable to hide the emotion in his voice.

“Deal. You’re a good man, Knox Beckett.”

“Your man, Corie Reynolds,” he says, leaning over the console to kiss me. “Now, let’s go grab some dinner. I’m starving.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea? Us being seen together?”

“It was a work event, but we'll hit a drive-thru if it makes you uncomfortable. But, baby, my stomach is pissed. I need to feed it.” He gives me a cheeky grin, and I nod.

“Drive-thru it is.”

We hit the first one we see, drive to a nearby park, and eat before Knox takes me back to my car. With his dark windows, he kisses me goodbye, which tells me he really doesn’t want to say goodbye.

I never want to say goodbye to him.

It’s been over a week since Knox and I visited the children’s hospital.

The Rampage had back-to-back away games, so we’ve not had much time together.

This week, they played the Georgia Badgers.

It was a Thursday night game that I watched curled up in my bed.

Knox tried to get me to go to his place, but I felt weird being there without him.

Since the team was off this weekend, my brother decided everyone would come to his place on Sunday to watch the other teams play on TV. “Sizing up the competition”, he called it. That’s today. The kitchen island is littered with snacks that Sloane and I made and things the guys brought.

Sloane and I claimed the loveseat while Landry, Knox, and Reid are piled on the couch.

Baker and Foster are each kicked back in a recliner.

It’s been a good day, and I’m so thankful for my best friend to be here as a buffer.

She kept the guys occupied with a story from one of her preschool kids while Knox pulled me down the hall and kissed me like he hadn’t seen me in months.

“Fuck,” Knox mutters under his breath.

We all turn to look at him. “What’s up, Beckett?” Foster asks.

“My mom and my sister,” he grumbles. “They’re saying I need to bring a plus one to the wedding, and if not, they’re going to invite Sara, the neighbor who grew up beside us. They claim it’s so I don’t have to sit alone.” He rolls his eyes at their reasoning.

“Are you not taking your girlfriend?” Landry asks.

“No. She’s not able to be there. Something was scheduled before we got together.” Knox doesn’t miss a beat, but I see the tightening of his jaw.

“Wait. Isn’t Sara the one who snuck into your bedroom, and you found her butt-ass naked?” Baker asks.

“Oh, shit!” Reid covers his mouth. “I remember that story.”

“What did you do?” I ask, because my boyfriend just announced there was a naked girl in his bed. Sure, it was high school, but call me curious.

Knox holds my gaze as he says. “I kicked her ass out. I never told my parents but threatened to tell hers and mine. She was upset that her boyfriend from a rival team had broken her heart, and she wanted to use me as revenge. I never touched her.” His eyes bore into mine, and it feels like he’s defending himself, too, but he doesn’t need to be.

I know it was a long time ago, but I was curious.

“Sounds like you need a date, Beckett,” Sloane tells him.

“You sure your girl can’t go?” Baker asks.

“She’s busy,” Knox grumbles.

“It’s a small, intimate wedding—just close friends and family. Sara shouldn’t even be considered. Her family moved across town. They’re not even my parents’ neighbors anymore,” he grumbles. “I shouldn’t feel obligated to bring a date.”

“When’s the wedding?” Sloane asks.

“Next weekend. Our bye week. Everly and Matt planned it around my schedule so I could be there, and they didn’t want to wait until the season was over.”

“What about one of you?” Foster points to Sloane and me. “Can you help our boy out?” he asks us. “Surely your girl would understand, right? It’s either take one of the ladies here, or get mauled by naked Sara.”

I freeze, not sure what to do or say. I would give anything to go with him, to be with him, but I know that I can’t.

“Sure,” Sloane says, “as long as I can make arrangements for my classroom. When are you leaving?”

I whip my head around to stare at her, and I’m certain it’s a glare. She shrugs as if she didn’t just agree to go to a wedding with my man.

I’m—I don’t know what I am. Sloane would never betray me—I know that—so I need to just stay calm. I’m sure she thinks she’s helping me so that Knox doesn’t end up with naked Sara. I chance a look at Knox and find his stare already on me.

“You don’t have to do that,” he tells Sloane, but he’s still looking at me. His hands are fisted in his lap. It’s evident that he’s just as uncomfortable as I am.

“Will your girl be mad?” Landry asks.

Knox’s eyes meet mine. “No, she won’t be mad.” I trust him. I trust Sloane, but I can also admit I’m jealous as hell that she’s going to be there with him and I’m not.

“Do you need to call her and ask for permission?” Reid asks.

“No,” Knox replies sternly, his hands clenching in his lap.

“I don’t mind. What are friends for?” Sloane smiles. “If your girl wants to talk, tell her to call me. I’m not trying to steal her man. Girl code and all that.”

“You’re heading out Friday, right?” Landry asks Knox.

“Yeah. Friday, home on Sunday. The wedding is on Saturday.”

He’s still looking at me. I swallow hard past the lump in my throat.

“Great.” Sloane grabs her phone from the table and starts typing. Her phone beeps, and she laughs. “Looks like we’re both in luck. I found a sub. We’re all set.”

“That fast?” I ask, my voice thick.

“Yep.” Sloane grins. “She’s a sub always looking for more hours, and I have lots of vacation time. It’s a go.” She grins, not picking up on my inner turmoil.

“There you go.” Baker grins. “Problem solved. Now, let’s get back to the game.”

“I’m going to go clean up a little,” I mutter as I stand and head toward the kitchen.

“I’ll help,” Sloane says.

Once in the kitchen, she pulls me outside on the back patio. It’s cold out here. It’s the first week of October in Tennessee, and neither one of us has a coat on.

Once outside, she immediately says, “Make sure you have everything handled at the office so you can take off Friday.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going to be sick,” she says, coughing into her hand. “That means the guys are going to look at you to bail him out at the last minute.” She’s grinning as if it’s the best plan she’s ever heard of.

My mouth falls open in shock. I smile and wrap my arms around her in a hug. “That… might actually work,” I say as I let her words sink in.

“Trust me, it will work. Just go along with it and tell your man so he can stop looking like someone kicked his puppy.” She laughs and goes back inside.

I stand still, letting the plan take root in my mind as I hear the door open again. “It could work,” I tell Sloane.

“What could work?” a male voice asks.

I whip my head around to see Knox standing there.

“Corie, I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I’ll cancel on her.”

“It’s okay. Sloane has a plan.” I quickly relay what she told me, and the tension falls from his shoulders.

“Really? You’re coming with me?” There’s so much hope in his voice, it almost brings tears to my eyes.

“Yeah, if that’s okay. If this all goes as planned. In the worst-case scenario, you tell your family she got sick and go alone. That won’t give them enough time to invite naked Sara.”

Knox tosses his head back in laughter. “You’re the only naked woman I want or need, Corie girl.” He kisses me. “Go inside where it’s warm. I’m going to use the excuse that I was calling my sister.” He kisses me again, his smile wide.

“You need to tame that.” I point to his face.

“It’s going to be hard, but I’ll manage by the time I go back in.”

Another kiss, and I leave him to call his sister. Now, all we have to do is hope that Sloane is right, and the guys, including my brother, suggest I take her place.