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“I’m okay,” I reply, keeping my eyes on the fire.

I glance over at my brother, and he looks like he’s about to pass out, which is probably why he’s not warning Knox away from me.

Landry stepped up for me when our mom passed away.

He’s been my provider and my protector. I can’t imagine he’d be happy if he knew about my crush on his best friend.

“Are we doing this?” Sloane asks. There’s a slur to her voice, and as I take in the other guys, I realize everyone here is at the higher end of the intoxicated scale. Everyone but Knox and me.

“You start us off,” Reid tells her.

“Wait, how are we doing this? Keeping score? Shouting answers?” Foster asks, tipping his beer to his lips.

“Shouting answers and not keeping score,” Sloane answers. “I don’t think any of us are in any shape to comprehend all that.” She laughs. “Okay. I’ll go first,” Sloane says. She wiggles around to get her phone out of her back pocket.

“Keep still, woman,” Landry curses as she settles back in. “Your ass is bony.”

“Dude, did you just say you want to bone her ass?” Baker asks.

“Fuck off. She’s my sister,” Landry grumbles.

I watch Sloane for her reaction, and she doesn’t give one. Landry’s words don’t seem to faze her at all.

“No, that one”—Baker points across the fire at me—“is your sister.”

“Beckett!” Landry calls out. “You better not be putting the moves on my little sister.”

“Wouldn’t think of it,” Knox says, sliding his hand a little further up my thigh. “Not unless she asks me to,” he whispers, just for me.

I shiver again at his words, which causes him to wrap his arms around me, holding me tightly. “You need me to go get you a blanket or a hoodie?” he asks.

“I’m all set,” I assure him. This time, I turn to look at him, and I see what appears to be concern in his eyes.

The fire dances within them, and I wish more than anything that tonight could be our normal.

That I was his, and he was mine. Fantasy is not turning into reality, but I’ll get to have the memories of this night.

I’ll always be able to remember what it felt like to sit in his lap with his arms wrapped around me.

I was with Conner for six months, and he never made me feel anything remotely close to what I’m feeling for Knox in this moment.

I’ll take what I can get.

“Here we go,” Sloane says, as she holds up her phone so we can hear the song. Normally, we use one phone hooked up to the Bluetooth speaker and pass it around, but tonight, it looks like we’re mixing things up a bit.

As soon as the first note hits, I know the song and blurt out the answer, “‘Every Breath You Take.’”

“And the artist?” Sloane asks.

“The Police.” The answer rolls off my tongue.

“Damn, we knew we couldn’t win against baby Reynolds,” Reid whines. “I forgot how good she is at this.” He pouts.

“Come on now, Reid,” I tease. “You’re not going to let little ole me take you down, are you?” The last time we played this game together, it was the summer before I went off to college, but I won then, too.

“You’re the best damn tight end in the league,” Baker tells him. “You’re a fucking Rampage. We got this.” He holds his fist out to Reid, and they bump knuckles.

“Your turn, Corie,” Sloane tells me.

I try to sit up to get my phone, and one appears in front of me. Knox types in his code, not worried that I can see what it is, and hands me the phone. “Use mine.”

I tap the music app and scroll until I find what I’m looking for. I hit Play, and immediately, Foster is standing and yelling his answer. Well, singing it is more like it. “‘I Wanna Sex You Up,’” he sings as he thrusts his hips, making us all laugh.

“And the artist?” I ask him.

“Fuck,” he mutters.

“You’re on the clock,” I tell him.

“Can I phone a friend or something?” he asks.

Landry’s body shakes as he laughs. “Dude, we’re your friends, and we’re right here.”

“Fine, I’m tagging in a friend.” He looks at Knox and points his index finger at him. “Beckett, help your boy out.”

“Sorry, bro, can’t do it. I can see the screen.” He gives me a gentle squeeze, almost as if he’s trying to tell me he’s got my back.

“Ugh, Sloane?”

“Color Me Badd, baby!” she cheers, wiggling on Landry’s lap.

“Bony ass,” he reminds her.

“I got it.” Reid bends and lifts her into his arms and takes his seat, with Sloane on his lap. “Teammates,” he tells her, holding up his hand for a high-five.

“Okay, well, since Sloane had a turn, Reid, we’ll go with you,” I tell him.

“All right. Let’s see if I can stump you.” He scrolls through his phone while I hand Knox’s back to him.

“Just hold on to it. We’re going to need it again soon, I’m sure.”

“You planning on winning a round, Beckett?” I tease quietly.

“Nah, Corie girl, that’s all you.” He lifts his hand and pushes my hair back out of my eyes, and I melt into his touch. This man, he’s lethal. No wonder women are always throwing themselves at him.

“Oh, this is a good one,” Reid says. He pushes Play, and I immediately know the song.

“Keith Sweat, ‘Twisted,’” I call out.

“My girl’s on fire!” Sloane says.

She knows this one, too, but much like with Knox on the last round, it would have been an unfair advantage if she answered.

We go on playing for another hour. We all win some, but Sloane and I the most. We spent hours listening to music growing up.

It’s something we both love to do while talking about guys we had crushes on or just hanging out. It’s our thing.

By the time the game is over, Landry is passed out in his chair, and Baker doesn’t look to be far behind him.

“I guess I should wrangle them all inside,” I tell Knox. I move to stand, and his arms tighten around me. I freeze, my heart pounding. He holds on tightly for a few rapid heartbeats before relaxing his hold and allowing me to stand.

“I’ll get the guys. Can you take Sloane, or do you want me to carry her up?”

“I can handle her.” She’s not passed out, just sleepy.

I move to where Sloane is sitting on Reid’s lap.

Both of their eyes are closed. I shake her shoulder, and her eyes pop open.

“Come on, sleepyhead.” I help her stand, wrap my arm around her waist, and lead her inside and upstairs to my room.

I assume the guys are staying, so she can sleep with me.

It’s not the first time we’ve shared a bed, and it won’t be the last. Besides, it’s a king, something my brother insisted on spoiling me with. There is plenty of room for both of us.

Once I have Sloane settled, I head back down to see if Knox needs help. He’s standing at the kitchen counter with my brother. “You good?” I ask Landry, stepping up next to him. He wraps his arms around me in a hug… well, tries to. He’s wobbly on his feet, and we both laugh.

“Love you, little sis. I’m glad you’re home,” Landry mumbles.

“It’s good to be home,” I tell him, even though this house was never really my home.

I lived here one summer before college and made just a few brief visits here and there when I could find the time off from work and my internships.

To be honest, it doesn’t really feel like I have a home.

I mean, I know that I always have a place here with Landry, but since we lost our mom, I’ve felt displaced. College was always temporary.

“You need to get to bed,” I tell him as I hold most of his weight.

“Man, you’re about to knock her over,” Knox tells Landry. “Get some sleep, Reynolds.”

“You staying?” he asks Knox.

“Didn’t drink a drop.”

“You need to stay. Fuck, where is everyone? Tell me they didn’t drive,” Landry says, starting to panic.

“They’re all here. I confiscated their keys hours ago,” Knox tells him.

“QB1, my man.” Landry holds up his hand for a high-five and tumbles into the island.

“Let’s get you to bed.” Knox takes his weight from me, and they disappear down the hall.

I should go up to bed, but first, I make sure the fire is out in the backyard, and it is, so Knox must have taken care of that. I turn off the patio lights and lock the door. I do the same to the front door, locking up the house, and then head for the stairs.

“You headed to bed?” Knox asks.

“Yeah, it’s been a long day.”

“It has. You got everything locked up?”

I nod. “You’re staying, right?” I ask.

“Yeah, just in case any of them need something. They’re all like dead weight, and I don’t want you to have to handle them.”

“They’re lucky to have you.”

He doesn’t comment and instead holds his arms out at his sides. “Bring it in, Corie girl.”

I hesitate for a fraction of a second before walking into his embrace. His muscular arms fold around me in a hug while he rests his chin on my head. It’s me who pulls back. “Good night.” My nipples harden, and I know I need to get to my room, away from this intoxicating man.

“Night.”

He follows me up the stairs, and we both pause at my bedroom door.

I wave like a weirdo and disappear into my room.

Standing still, I listen for the door of one of the other spare rooms down the hall to close before stripping out of my clothes, changing into pajamas, and sliding into bed.

As soon as I close my eyes, I dream about Knox Beckett, and in my dreams, he’s mine.