Page 30 of The Interception (Southern Sports Sweethearts #2)

Sarah Beth and Lula are already in Leo’s car and he’s headed out of the lot, blasting some ridiculous kid’s music.

Unfortunately, it’s going to be stuck in my head for a week.

Fortunately, it means my sister can’t grill me about whatever is on her mind.

And make no mistake, there is definitely something on her mind if her constant glances my way as they pass me mean anything.

For once, I’d actually like some company on a quiet drive home, but nope. This time I’m forced to sit alone with my thoughts, and they all point toward one thing. I was an idiot, and I think I’ve gotten myself in too deep with a woman who lives in a whole other state.

“So, I’ll see you next weekend?” Sarah Beth squeezes Layne so tightly, Layne grunts.

That doesn’t compare to my niece, who has decided clinging to Layne’s leg will keep her in Charleston.

My partner gently pats Lula’s head and smiles while disengaging with my sister.

She hoists my niece onto her hip and hugs her with zero cares that she’s going to get glittery slime all over her dress.

My heart swells, and I realize something all at once.

Layne is the first real friend my sister has made in a long, long time.

Even when my brother-in-law was alive, Sarah Beth didn’t easily make friends with the wives of his friends.

She’s always been hugely introverted, which is great in a lot of ways, but it also means that when she makes a friend—especially one like Layne who seems to just get her—losing them hits harder.

My sister has lost enough. I’ve lost enough.

I don’t want to lose Layne either, but I can’t exactly ask the woman to move to Charleston because my family and I have gotten used to having her around.

That’s crazy. I tell myself those kisses didn’t mean anything, they weren’t real, that they were all figments of my imagination, and the bond we built over a competition is strong friendship.

She’s a great friend. Probably one of the best I’ve ever had, and she managed to prove that in a couple of weeks.

Layne hugs my niece and sets her back on the ground. “Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t miss my brother’s last game for anything. I’m already looking forward to seeing you there. Leo, I’ll have him snag one for you too.”

“That would be great. I had a good time getting to know your family.” Leo is still…around. I keep thinking he’s here to support me, but he’s spending his time with my toddler niece instead. Not that it bothers me. Lula is one to pull you in, but it’s just…odd.

“Maybe you can bring your sister-in-law down some weekend later this fall. We can have a girls’ weekend away from all these athletes,” Sarah Beth jokes.

Layne’s laugh, so sweet and calming, soothes me once again. Man, what am I going to do when things get hard again and she’s not here to remind me to pray about it, let it happen, be patient for the upturn? When she’s not here to bring me through the moments when I need to cry?

She turns her focus to me with those big brown eyes that have pretty much done me in since day one, only now, there’s an ache in my chest instead of complete elation.

“You gonna come eat my restaurant once it’s open?” she teases, almost expectantly. As if…waiting for something? Probably waiting for me to say no thanks, too far to drive.

“Of course. I told you I would. What kind of jerk would I be if I didn’t eat at my partner’s place?” I grin and shove my hands in my pockets before I do something stupid like handcuff her to the porch railing so she can’t leave our lives.

“You’d have to travel all the way to Savannah and spend more time with my overbearing but well-meaning brother,” she warns, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head the way she does when she’s taunting me, sizing me up.

“Savannah’s not that far. I think I can handle the drive.

Andrew’s not so bad.” I manage to pull one hand from my pocket and reach for her in a pitiful half-hug that leaves me wanting.

She feels so nice in my arms, but I stifle the urge to wrap her in both of them because, again, I’m not so sure I can let her go if I get a good grip on her.

Layne clears her throat and pulls away. As disappointment floods her expression, my heart aches a little more.

She’s as sad to leave as we are to watch her go, but that’s life, right?

She came for a competition, we won, and now her dreams of opening her own restaurant in Savannah are about to come true.

“Well, I guess I better get going so I can get some sleep before an early morning.” She offers Sarah Beth another weak smile, her gaze drifts back to mine one last time, then she turns and jogs down the stairs.

She never makes eye contact again. Once she’s in her brother’s truck, she buckles up and starts it, looks over her shoulder and into the mirrors, and backs out of the drive.

Sarah Beth stands beside me with Lula in her arms while Leo stares at me like I’ve got marbles for brains.

Poor Lula is sniffling and wiping her tears, but they keep coming.

My heart cracks. I hate this, but what am I supposed to do?

Layne has dreams of her own, and I can’t uproot my family and move to Savannah for what might be.

I have to be stable, sturdy, a place my sister can land and not worry for a while.

Not to mention, I have a contract to play football that pays the bills.

We’ve known each other two weeks. Maybe if it had been longer, it wouldn’t seem like such a rash, crazy thing to ask.

Besides, Layne is about to become an aunt.

I could never take her away from her family right now.

I watch as Layne turns the truck around in the cul-de-sac and toward the exit before I can’t bring myself to watch anymore.

It’s not like I’ll never see her again. She and Sarah Beth have bonded, and Layne doesn’t seem the type to let a good friendship disappear.

But the closeness between us might fade.

After all, we were shoved together for a competition we both needed to win.

We spent countless hours together planning, practicing, and bonding. We’ll be a hundred miles apart now.

Inside, Leo shuts the door while Sarah Beth wipes her own tears and picks up a magazine from the coffee table.

I’m about to go make a pot of coffee to soothe my nerves when I am swiftly and violently assaulted by my sister.

She’s rolled the magazine into a weapon, and the full rage of a woman who just watched her new best friend drive away is thrust upon me in relentless swats.

“What are you doing?” I shout as I try and fail to yank the magazine from Sarah Beth. Leo is frozen solid with wide eyes, watching me take a brutal beating. Some defender he is.

She pauses her attack long enough to growl at me. “That’s what I want to know! Why are you letting this amazing chance at love drive away without even telling her that she’s perfect for you?”

“Sarah Beth, she’s not—”

“Listen, I love you. You’re a great brother and a smart man, but I think I’ve given you too much credit on this one.” She shakes her head.

“What?” I’m slightly afraid she’s going to start with that magazine again if I don’t decipher what she wants me to do and fast.

“I kept thinking you would man up and see she is absolute perfection and do something about it, but I see now that I…was…wrong!” She punctuates each word with another swat. I’m not sure what magazine she’s using, but I’m cancelling the subscription. The thing is massive.

“Yeah! Get him, Mommy! He’s letting Aunt Layne leave!”

Aunt Layne.

Sarah Beth’s swats are relentless, but I don’t bother trying to stop her.

Every moment spent with Layne flashes in my mind.

Even from the beginning, she had my attention.

She’s beautiful, but it only took me fifteen minutes to realize that is the least of her amazing qualities.

Kind, loving, gentle, mostly patient, confident…

and when she’s not, she’s not afraid to let others see her waver.

She’s not afraid to let me see her waver, and when I’m broken, she’s there.

My sister’s swats have ceased and now she stares back at me with wide, expectant eyes.

I huff a sarcastic laugh, one full of annoyance with myself. “Oh my gosh. I think I fell in love with her.”

“Uh, yeah, I know,” she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “What are you going to do about it?”

I rush to the window and look down the street. I don’t even see the truck, not even a set of taillights. I might be able to chase her down in mine, but she’s probably halfway to the interstate by now.

“What can I do? She’s probably on the main road by now.”

“Odds are good that she’s not even left the neighborhood yet, Ender.” Sarah Beth’s tone has softened significantly. “I can almost guarantee she got out of sight, pulled over, and she’s having a good cry right about now.”

“What? A cry? Why would she be crying?”

She swats me again. “Because she loves you and you let her leave!”

“Ow!” I rub my arm. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Oh my gosh,” Leo mumbles and pinches his nose in frustration.

“You’re a running back! Just…just run!” She practically throws the magazine and her sanity into the air. Her strawberry-blonde hair is wild and her eyes are frantic. She needs Layne as much as I do. She’s in panic mode that her little brother is about to lose the love of his life…like she did.

I bolt for the door and throw it open. I’m halfway down the porch stairs when I hear her shout, “She’s probably parked in the clubhouse lot!”