Page 5

Chapter Three

K nox

The house is quiet, and the sun has been up for over an hour. I’ve been lying here, staring at the ceiling, waiting for everyone else to get up. From the moment I opened my eyes, my thoughts went to her.

To Corie.

Corie Reynolds and her long dark hair and those big green eyes kept me awake last night.

I kept picturing her smile and her toned, lean body in the bikini she was wearing.

She’s gorgeous and off-limits. I have to keep reminding myself that she’s Landry’s little sister, and my best friend wouldn’t hesitate to kick my ass if he knew the thoughts I’ve had about her.

Even though it took me what feels like hours to fall asleep, now, I’m wide awake.

My body is used to getting up and starting early, and I guess old habits are hard to break.

When my stomach growls, I know it’s time to haul my ass out of bed and find some food. The guys will likely sleep a little longer, but Corie will surely be up soon. Hell, she might already be awake. If she is, she’s been as quiet as a mouse. Maybe she’s hiding out in her room like I am.

After tossing off the covers, I pad to the bathroom and handle business. “Yes,” I say aloud when I find a spare toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in the cabinet and brush my teeth before sliding back into my clothes from last night.

Padding my way down the stairs, I’m careful not to make any noise. I listen for any life within the house, but it’s eerily quiet, especially since knowing my four best friends and the beautiful Corie are behind closed doors.

Shuffling through the fridge, I find a gallon of orange juice.

Double-checking the date, I see I have three days until it expires and silently celebrate as I grab a glass out of the cabinet and pour until it’s almost overflowing.

I down it all at once and then pour another half glass before placing the lid back on the jug, sliding it back onto the shelf in the fridge, and closing the door.

When I turn around, I don’t even try to hide my smile when a sleepy Corie walks into the room.

She moves toward the coffee machine, not even noticing I’m here.

I watch as she chooses a pod from the drawer, grabs a cup from the cabinet, and leans over, resting her elbows on the counter and her hands under her chin as her coffee begins to brew.

She’s wearing a tiny pair of sleep shorts and a tank top that shows off her curves, and I have two thoughts at once. One, I must have done something right in a past life to be able to see her like this, and two, she needs to change before my teammates wake up and get to witness the same view.

“Morning,” I say, my voice gruff with desire.

She jumps, letting out a little screech, while placing her hand over her heart.

I know I should feel bad for scaring her, but she’s cute as hell right now.

Her hair is in a mess of a knot on the top of her head, her eyes are only half open, a bright red line mars her cheek from her pillow, and her clothes are rumpled.

“Why are you so damn chipper?” she asks with a low, sleepy, yet sexy grumble to her tone.

“He’s always like this,” Landry says, dragging his butt into the kitchen and falling onto a stool at the counter. He rests his arms on the island and drops his head. “Coffee. Beckett, I need coffee.”

“Oh, sure, let me get right on that,” I say sarcastically. However, I grab Corie’s coffee and hand it to her before making Prince Landry's cup as requested.

“That’s better,” Corie says, taking a seat next to her brother and sipping on her steaming cup of joe.

I watch her as she takes slow sips, and her eyes slowly widen with each sip. I guess she gets the need for caffeine from her brother.

“Wait.” Corie places her mug on the counter, pointing her gaze at me. She studies me for a few long heartbeats. “Do you not drink coffee?” Her mouth hangs open in shock, while her eyes are now wide awake and full of disbelief.

“Nope. Never could handle the aftertaste,” I tell her.

“How do you wake up in the mornings?” she asks.

“He’s not human,” Landry mumbles.

His coffee sputters, letting us know it’s done. After grabbing it from the machine, I place it in front of him. He takes a big gulp and sighs, almost as if he can feel the caffeine start to work through his system.

“I just wake up and start the day.” I hold up my half glass of orange juice. “This is more than enough for me.”

“You’re an animal,” she says, a slight smile curving her lips.

“Oh, yeah, Beckett lives on the wild side.” Landry snorts.

“Someone has to keep your ass in line.” I shrug.

“Hmm, I see it now,” Corie muses.

“See what?” I ask, unable to keep the words from tumbling from my mouth.

“Why you’re the captain.”

I wink at her. “QB1, baby.”

“Ugh,” Landry groans.

Corie pokes his side with her index finger, making him squirm as he releases a sleep-laced chuckle. “You’re no better.”

“That’s why we’re best friends.” Landry shrugs.

My stomach growls, making Corie giggle. The soft musical sound fills the room around us.

I want to pat myself on the back for being able to elicit that sound from her, even if it’s because I’m starving.

“I need food,” I grumble, returning to the refrigerator.

I survey the options and quickly conclude that we have no options.

A half dozen eggs and a pound of bacon won’t feed Landry, let alone Reid, Baker, Foster, Sloane, Corie, and me.

“Looks like I’m making a food run,” I say, closing the fridge and facing them.

Landry winces. “Yeah, I was supposed to put in a delivery order and forgot, with the party and all that.”

“I’ll run out and grab breakfast for everyone,” I tell him. It’s either that or leave, and I’m not ready to do that. Not yet.

“Corie, you have to go with him,” Landry says. There’s a hint of pleading in his tone.

Something inside my chest lightens at the thought of having her in my truck beside me. I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s got me feeling some kind of way. A way in which I’ve never felt before, but I’m pushing all that down to analyze later.

“What? Why do I have to go with him? I’m not even showered,” she complains.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she looks beautiful, but I keep my jaw locked tight. I need to keep those thoughts to myself, no matter how true they are.

“Because he’s going to come back with healthy shit.

Like oatmeal without sugar and plain yogurt with berries.

I need food, Corie. Real food. Please, for the love of all empty bellies inside this house, can you please, with all the sugar on top, go with him and make sure he doesn’t buy all healthy shit?

I’ll even buy, but he must be supervised. ”

I chuckle, as does Corie. “Fine, but you owe me.”

“Bless you, dear sister, bless you.” Landry bows his head dramatically, making his sister giggle.

“Give me a few to put on different clothes, at least?” Corie says, looking down at her pajamas. She gasps, jumps off the stool, and races out of the room.

“I mean it, Beckett. None of that healthy shit. Training camp is still a month away.”

“Which is why you should be getting back on a healthy regimen.” The guys don’t lose their minds and go way off script with our training and diet in the offseason, but I still like to give them shit.

I, on the other hand, try to maintain. Sure, I cheat, but for the most part, I stay focused as if we are in season year-round. It works for me.

“It’s your money and your body,” I tell him.

“Exactly, so greasy and some pastries.”

“Everything on the unapproved list. Got it.”

Landry laughs. He knows I’m right, but he will eat it all anyway. They all will. I'll remind them of this moment when they’re puking and hating life during training camp.

Corie comes bounding down the stairs. She’s wearing a Nashville Rampage ball cap, a T-shirt, and cutoff jean shorts.

“Took you long enough,” Landry grumbles.

“What was that? You said you wanted a wholegrain muffin and egg whites? Sure thing, big brother,” she fires right back, not missing a beat.

“You look beautiful today, baby sister,” Landry quips.

“Yeah, yeah.” She rolls her big green eyes. “We’d better go before this one dies of starvation.” She points to her brother.

“You got your card?” Landry asks her. Corie holds up a credit card. “Finally, you’re going to use the damn thing,” he grumbles.

“We’ll be back,” I tell Landry. He rests his head back on his arms and closes his eyes.

“Come on,” I tell Corie, placing my hand on the small of her back and leading her out to my truck.

I’m taking every opportunity to touch her.

It’s fire. I’m flirting with fire, but I can’t seem to stop myself.

It’s harmless. She’s not someone I can pursue, but fuck me, I can enjoy looking at her.

I pull open my truck door, then wait for her to climb inside and buckle up before closing her door. Once I’ve slid behind the wheel, I turn to look at her as I buckle my own belt. “Where to?”

“I say we hit the bakery by the stadium. Landry loves that place.”

“Sounds good,” I tell her as I back out of the driveway and head toward the stadium.

“He’s glad to have you home,” I tell her.

“It’s good to be back in town. I missed Sloane, but I don’t plan to stay for long.”

“You’re leaving?” I ask, glancing over at her before turning my eyes back to the road. My chest feels heavy at her admission. Landry is going to be crushed. That’s what this feeling is.

“Not leaving, but moving out. It’s not Landry’s job to support me.”

“Come on, Corie, you know how important you are to him. Besides, he can afford it,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

“I know he can, but it’s not his responsibility,” she replies softly.

I reach over the console, grab her hand, and give it a soft squeeze. “Landry loves you. It’s an honor for him to be able to provide for you. Let him help you. Stick around for a while until you’ve settled into your career.”