Page 28 of Say It Isn't Snow

Clickbait, Mom. It’s clickbait.

Layla

Wait. Shit. Wrong chat.

Caleb

Don’t bother unsending it. I’ve already seen.

Layla

Sorry. I was texting it to Eli to ask what it meant.

I massage the bridge of my nose with a sigh. This is on me for not telling my family more details about the situation. All I explained to my parents and sister was that I’d been fired from my team and would be home for a while until Trevon strategizes my next steps as a free agent.

Elijah

It’s bullshit, that’s what it means. Ignore those fuckers.

Caleb

I was until someone gave me the holiday gift of shoving it in my face.

Layla

I’m sorryyy!

Caleb

Don’t worry about it. They’re all wrong anyway.

Elijah

Damn right they are. You’ve been offline, but fans across the whole league are pissed.

My stomach clenches. Does he mean they’re mad at me? He’s still typing. I thumb the edge of the phone as the three dots dance forever.

“Here, taste this. I can’t decide if I want to make these for my winter menu or not.” Holly appears at my shoulder from behind the couch with the desserts she’s been baking all morning.

The uneasy tension in my stomach loosens and I can breathe again.

I grasp her wrist to bring the stuffed flaky pastry covered with nuts and a drizzle of caramel to my mouth for a bite. As it melts on my tongue with bursts of cinnamon and pecan, my gaze locks with hers. I groan appreciatively at the buttery rich flavor.

“Well? What are your thoughts?”

“Fuck, that’s good.” I keep hold of her wrist and go for another bite.

She licks her lips and looks away. “If you let go of my hand, I’ll bring you a plate.”

“Or you could feed the rest to me?” I waggle my brows and pat my lap. “This seat’s not taken.”

She scoffs. “Yeah? I could shove it down your throat in one go.”

“Give it to me, baby.” I open wide, shoulders shaking with suppressed amusement.

She crams most of the piece in my mouth and walks off while I bend over to catch the rest, admiring the sway of her amazing curvy ass.

My brother’s answer finally pops up in the family chat after I’ve downed it and picked the crumbs off my old college sweatshirt.