Page 130 of The Elusive Billionaire

“Why is he putting himself through this humiliation?” I mutter. “It’s so hard to watch.”

“I thought you knew Grey better than that, Sav.” Braxton’s tone catches me off guard, but when I look at him, a giant lump forms in my throat. “He’d do anything and everything for those he loves. He’s doing this for you.”

His words blow me over, literally. My ass hits the dirt so fast I can’t catch myself, and my foot shoots upward, kicking him in the chin.

Braxton howls, and chaos ensues.

Madi rolls over my legs to check on Braxton. Elle tugs on my shoulders to pull me into a sitting position, which only results in me whacking my head on a metal support beam. Clover jumpsat the sound of my head meeting metal, and her limbs tangle with mine until Clover, Elle, and I are flailing like the arms of an octopus, but no one is in control of our extremities.

“What the hell are you doing?” Grey’s voice rattles around in my brain.

It must hit the others too because we all freeze.

Laughter drowns out any thoughts I might be trying to formulate.

“Have we got to give you kids a name now?” Coach B. asks from somewhere behind me. “Y’all obviously didn’t learn your lesson the last time I caught y’all under here.”

“How about the Bleacher Creatures,” someone suggests, and I groan.

Grey is going to be so pissed.

“Pigskin Peepers.” Oh, God. The whole team is getting in on this.

“The Sideline Sleuths.”

“Get out from under there. Now.” It doesn’t seem to matter if Grey is angry or turned on, his rumbly Drill Bit voice just does it for me because I respond to his command without thought or question.

“Goal-Line Gossips.”

“That’s enough.” Coach B. doesn’t raise his voice, but everyone hears him. “If y’all keep getting into the stadium undetected, who’s to say our competition can’t do the same thing?”

“Well, Coach.” I groan as I crawl out to a place where I can stand. It’s so freaking filthy down here. “I dated a guy in college who taught me how to sneak in here. He worked with the grounds crew. I don’t think just anyone could get past the gate unless they knew where the faulty chain link is, so I think you’re safe from the competition.”

“Five full ladders, then hit the locker room,” Grey shouts, using his coaching voice. Even that is sexy as hell.

A chorus of groans hits my ears, but I slowly spin to face Grey’s tumultuous gaze.

“What are you all doing here?” He’s barely holding on to his control.

“Ah, Uncle Grey. We’re just worried about you. You remember how that goes?” Sage is taunting his uncle, and he knows it.

Grey’s jaw clenches so hard I can practically hear the squeak of his teeth grinding together.

“I was under there to make sure you were safe.” Grey’s mouth barely moves, but we hear every word.

“And they were under there to show support, since you seem incapable of asking for help from those who actually know what the hell they’re doing.” Sage wraps his uncle in a hug, then lines up to run ladders with the rest of his team.

Coach B. chuckles, then walks away, leaving Grey on one side of the white line, with me, Brax, Madi, Clover and Elle on the other, but Grey is only staring at me.

The longer he stares, the more intense my desire to laugh. I don’t even know why. It’s not kind to laugh in someone’s face, but this entire situation is out of control.

Madi sniffs next to me, and it’s the crack that splits me wide open. I laugh. Hard. Tears stream down the sides of my cheeks as I gasp for air through the full-belly giggle-fit.

Grey stands and watches it all for long moments while Madi reaches into my back pocket to remove Braxton’s phone—I’d forgotten I still had it.

“This is funny to you?” he finally says.

“It’s funny to us all,” Braxton howls.