Page 42

Chapter Twenty-Three

C orie

Dinner was incredible. There was so much home-cooked food. It made me miss my mom. While I cook, it’s not like this. Especially not when it’s just Landry and me. This entire day has been so much fun. Knox’s family is great. Everyone has been so lovely and welcoming.

“All right, fam,” one of the twins calls out.

I’m pretty sure it’s Benjamin. “Time for a little two-hand touch,” he says, rubbing his hands together in glee.

“And in honor of the future Mr. and Mrs., you are the team captains. Chop chop, let’s line ’em up,” he says, clapping his hands together in quick succession.

Emma, Knox’s younger sister, turns to me. “You know how to play?”

“I mean, I know and understand the game of football. It was hard not to, growing up with Landry, but I’ve never played two-hand touch.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll teach you.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to where everyone is gathering around Matt and Everly.

“You’re going down!” Everly taunts her fiancé.

“Take it easy on me, baby. I’m marrying the love of my life tomorrow. I have to look my best,” he tells her. She rises on her toes and kisses him quickly before pushing him away.

“No excuses.” She laughs.

Matt chuckles and waves for her to pick first. “All right, my first pick is Ryder,” she says. He’s tall with broad shoulders, so I can see why she would choose him.

I feel arms wrap around me from behind as Knox nuzzles my neck. “You doing okay?” he asks.

“I am.” I lean into him, my back resting against his chest.

“Beckett,” Matt announces his first pick.

“Corie,” Everly calls out. She snickers out a laugh when Knox grumbles.

“You’re stealing my girl, little sister.”

“She’s mine now, brother,” Everly boasts as I pull out of Knox’s arms and move to stand next to Everly. She offers me a high-five, as does Ryder.

Everly and Matt go back and forth to pick their teams, and the final lineup for our team is Everly, me, Ryder, Ben, Kendrix, Ruby, Jude, and Emma.

We have eight team members, and they have seven because they got Knox, and he equals two, being a professional and all—at least that’s how Everly sold it.

Matt’s team consists of Beckett, Knox, Finley, Bexley, Daisy, and Dermott.

“Huddle up,” Everly says. We all converge in a huddle. “Okay, they get the ball first and will give it to Knox, which makes the most sense. Corie, we need you to distract him,” she tells me.

“How am I supposed to do that?” I ask her.

“I don’t know… flirt with him or something.” She laughs.

“He’s a professional. I don’t think any flirting I do will distract him,” I reply.

“Oh, it’ll distract him,” Ryder tells me. “You’re the first girl he’s ever brought home. If anyone can distract him, it’s you.”

I nod, feeling his words in the rapid beat of my heart in my chest. They’re so clearly acknowledging me as someone special in Knox’s life. “I’ll do my best.”

“Great.” Everly puts her hand out, and we all pile ours on top of hers. “Team Bride on three.” She grins. “One, two, three, Team Bride!” we chant and line up against the enemy.

Just as Everly suspected, they have Knox as their quarterback. Finley hikes the ball, and Knox steps back to toss it. I rush him and wrap my arms around his waist. He stops what he’s doing and smiles down at me.

“Baby, it’s not hand touch. No hugging.”

“Delay of game!” Emma calls out. “Our ball.”

I drop my arms from around his waist and step back with a shrug. “Sorry, QB. Can’t let my team down.” He lunges for me, and I squeal as I take off running. I move behind Ben and Ryder, who have formed a wall with their legs spread wide and arms crossed over their chests.

“Let me at her,” Knox says, and I can hear the amusement in his tone, but a little bit of irritation lies beneath his words, as well.

“We’re protecting our team,” Ryder says. I don’t have to see his face to know he’s smirking. I can hear the cockiness in his tone.

“Are you really going to stand there and keep me from my girl?” Knox asks.

“Yep,” they reply in unison.

“We’re enemies right now, Knox Beckett,” I say, popping my head around Ryder.

“I’m watching you, Corie girl.” Knox points at me and calls out, “On the line!”

“Delay of game. Our ball,” Emma accuses.

“Is that how that works?” I ask my team. “Don’t they get four chances?”

“In a real game, yes, but we altered the rules. It’s just for fun. They get one chance, then the ball goes to us.”

“How do you ever get anywhere?”

“Well, we don’t have the same size field here in the backyard, so it’s not as far to go,” Jude explains.

“Ah, makes sense,” I tell him as we take our places on the line.

This time, our team has the ball. Ruby hikes the ball to Jude, who falls back to toss, and we all split up and take off running.

I’m at an advantage since I’m new to this game, and they let me slip past easily.

At least, I thought that’s what was happening until I feel his hands on my hips, and I’m lifted in the air.

I laugh as Knox pulls me into his body and swings me around.

“Illegal move!” someone calls out, but Knox doesn’t seem to hear them. Then again, maybe he just doesn’t care as he nips at my ear.

“Payback’s a bitch, baby,” he rasps.

“Release my player!” Everly says, appearing in front of us. Her hands are on her hips as she glares at her brother.

“Fine. You can borrow her.” Knox kisses my cheek and places my feet back on the ground.

Everly takes me by the arm and pulls me back across enemy lines. That’s how the rest of the game goes. Everly claims that we won, but honestly, I’m not sure. It was so much fun, doing whatever and messing with Knox. It was as if we were the only two out on that field.

Regardless of whether or not she’s right, we’re cheering and acting a fool because our team won.

I look around and find Knox standing with his hands on his slender hips, his Rampage hat on backward, his black Rampage T-shirt stuck to his skin, and his gray sweats looking way too sexy and irresistible.

He motions for me to come to him, so that’s what I do.

I take off running and leap into his arms. He catches me easily.

I lock my legs around his waist and my arms around his shoulders as if he were made to hold me.

The world around us stills for a few heartbeats, and then he’s kissing me as if no one is watching.

I melt into him as his grip on my thighs tightens.

We get lost in the kiss as if nothing else in this world matters but us.

Cat calls ring out, and the outside world comes back into focus. “That’s embarrassing,” I say, burying my face in his neck.

“There is nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m kissing my girl. You’ll see soon enough that every couple here does the same thing.”

“It’s getting late. You have a big day tomorrow, Ev,” Kendall calls out.

“I’m an adult, and she’s telling me when I have to go to bed.” Everly laughs. Her smile lights up the night sky as darkness sets in.

“I mean… you need your beauty sleep,” Emma teases her older sister.

“Like they’ll be sleeping,” Dermott mumbles, and everyone laughs.

The next twenty minutes are spent saying goodbye and cleaning up before Knox leads me to his room.

We took a long nap, so I’m not really tired.

He’s not either. Instead, we talk. He tells me more about his family and parts of their love stories, and I can’t help but hope that one day, ours will be added to that list.

I tell him about my parents growing up. We didn’t have a huge extended family, but I remember my parents always loving on each other, much like his. I know my mom lost a piece of herself the day Dad passed.

By the time sleep finally claims us, I feel even closer to the man who is holding me as if I might disappear. I almost told him that I loved him earlier, but I chickened out. Instead, I whisper the words in my head as I close my eyes and let sleep claim me.

“How was it?” Sloane asks. It’s Sunday afternoon, and Knox dropped me off not even an hour ago, and I already miss him.

“Good,” I tell her.

“You think I’m well enough from my sickness that I can come over, and you can tell me all about it?” She laughs.

“No, but you’re no longer contagious because you’ve been fever-free for twenty-four hours, so I can bring you dinner, and we can chat. Oh, and you’ve sanitized your entire apartment.” Her laugh flows through the line.

“Deal. I want tacos.”

“Got it, bestie. I’m on my way.”

Grabbing my purse and shoving my phone inside, I head downstairs.

Landry was out when I got home, but he’s now sitting on the couch, watching one of the sports networks.

He looks like he might have gone for a run, and he’s chugging a Gatorade like it’s his job.

“Hey,” he says, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “How was it?”

“It was good. No signs of Naked Sara.”

He laughs. “Mission accomplished.”

“His family is great. They were all nice and made me feel welcome.”

“And Knox?” he asks. “Was he nice to you?” There’s something in his tone that’s different when he asks.

I nod slowly. “Did you expect him not to be?” I ask him. My hands are clammy. Is he on to us?

“Not at all, just doing my brotherly duty and making sure.”

“It wasn’t so bad. I’m glad I could help him out. Everly and Emma are going to call me the next time they’re in town, and we’re going to grab lunch or something.”

“They’re usually here for all the home games. They all are,” Landry tells me.

“Yeah, that’s what they said. Everly and Matt leave for their honeymoon today.”

“Where are they headed?”

“Colorado. I guess they’ve both always wanted to go. They have a cabin, and Matt says he plans to stay locked inside, looking at the mountain view—clothing optional during their entire stay.”

Landry laughs. “I bet Knox loved that.”