Page 144 of The Play Maker

“You say that every time,” I murmur with a chuckle.

“And I’m never wrong.” She pulls back, smiling, then her eyes shift to Maisie. “And you must be Maisie,” Mom says, already stepping in for a hug.

Maisie blinks. “Yeah—uh, yes. I’m Maisie. It’s really nice to meet you.”

Mom wraps her arms around her, giving her a squeeze before pulling back. “I’ve heard all about you. I’m Erin. And this—” she gestures to Scarlett, who’s standing next to mom with the glittery sign still in her hands— “this is Scarlett.”

“Hi, Scarlett.” Maisie smiles. “Love the sign.”

My sister arches a brow. “Austin told us you weren’t his girlfriend,” she says, eyeing me up. “Is that still true?”

I groan. “Scarlett.”

She shrugs. “Just saying. You said it very clearly. Multiple times.”

I slide my arm around Maisie’s waist, glancing down at the best thing that’s ever happened to me. “Well, clearly I was an idiot.”

“I knew it,” she says, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

“You knew nothing,” I say, pulling her into a side hug. She yells at me for being sweaty and gross, which only makes me hug her tighter.

Mom’s watching the two of us, then her eyes shift back to Maisie.

“My son can be a lot,” she says. “But he’s got a good heart. I’m glad he found someone who sees it.”

Maisie shifts her weight. Tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad he saw me,” she says quietly, glancing up at me.

I squeeze her hand.

My chest is still buzzing from the game, from the adrenaline and the noise and the win. But nothing hits harder than this moment right here.

“Have you played anything new?” my sister asks.

I shrug, running a hand through my damp hair. “Yeah. A few things.” I glance at Maisie without meaning to. “Got inspired.”

Maisie lets out a soft laugh. “He plays constantly,” she tells my sister. “He even woke me up in the middle of the night the other day to play me a song.”

Scarlett’s head jerks toward her. “Wait. You’veheardhim play?”

Maisie pauses, glancing at me like she’s not sure if she’s allowed to say more. “Um. Yeah… a few times.”

Scarlett turns to me, her eyes widened. “You never play for anyone. Like, ever.”

Maisie stares at me for confirmation, her lips parted in shock.

I scratch the back of my neck. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Scarlett shakes her head slowly, then looks back at Maisie with a grin. “He’s lying. It’s a huge deal.”

My mom nods in agreement. “He wouldn’t even play for his grandma’s birthday.”

Christ. They donotknow how to play cool, do they?

Scarlett looks back at me, her lips twitching in a cocky smirk. “You must really love her.”

Okay, someone please muzzle her.

Maisie’s eyes flick to mine. Her lips part, like she’s about to say something, but luckily for both of us, she doesn’t.