Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Not just me,” Everly teases him. He steps back and grabs her around the waist, pulls her back to his front, and wraps his arms around her.
“I’m Emma, the youngest sister.” She smiles and also pulls me into a hug.
“Welcome. I’m Kendall, Knox’s mom.” She also hugs us and steps back.
“I’m the dad. Ridge,” his dad says, pulling us both into a hug.
“I’m Reagan, this one’s sister. This is my husband, Tyler. We’re glad you could join us.” She hugs us, and then her husband steps forward and does the same.
I glance over at Sloane, and she’s all smiles and gives me a slight what do you do?
shrug.
“We’re used to this suite being packed, so it’s nice to have some extra bodies with us today,” Kendall says.
“Thank you for letting us watch with you. I told my brother and Knox we would have been fine in the stands.” I mention Landry first, hoping my words don’t scream your son wanted me here.
“They insisted,” Sloane chimes in.
“Well, we’re glad they did.” Reagan smiles. “There’s tons of food, and we have wait staff assigned to each suite if you want to order something off the menu. They’ll bring it to you.”
“Babe, she’s Landry’s sister. I’m sure she knows the drill,” his uncle Tyler says.
“No, actually. This is a first for me,” I confess.
“What? Really?” Everly asks in shock.
“Yeah, I’ve been away at college for the last four years, and this is too much space. It’s just Landry and me, so it would be a bit much for Sloane and me to sit up here. We’re usually in the stands, but with the weather, Knox and Landry decided this is where we needed to be.” I’m rambling, and I’m scared as hell that I’m going to give too much away, so I clamp my mouth shut.
“You know big brothers,” Sloane teases. “He’s technically my brother from another mother since Corie and I have been best friends since kindergarten. He thinks he knows best and usually won’t take no for an answer.”
“Well, we’re glad they both insisted. Come, take a seat. The game’s about to start.” Knox’s mom, Kendall, grabs my hand while his aunt Reagan takes Sloane’s and leads us to seats.
“This is incredible,” Sloane says. You can hear the excitement in her voice.
“I’ve been in here when the stadium was empty, but this… with the crowd and the players on the field, it’s a completely different experience.”
“I thought you’d never been in a suite?” Everly asks.
Great, now his family thinks I’m full of lies. Technically, I am, but not about this. “Not to watch a game. I started working for the Rampage this season. I’ve been inside, but never to watch,” I explain.
“Got ya. That makes sense. Well, I’m glad you get the full experience.” Everly smiles.
We make small talk, and Knox was right. His family is incredible. They literally welcomed us with open arms, and it feels like I’ve known them forever.
The game is tied, and the Rampage have the ball. We’re all on our feet watching, holding our breath, waiting to see what’s going to happen. The ball is snapped, Knox falls back, and within seconds, he’s launching the ball down the field, and it falls right into Landry’s open hands. My brother takes off running, and we’re all screaming and yelling, cheering him on. Landry lands in the endzone for a touchdown with ten seconds on the clock.
I watch with tears in my eyes as my big brother and Knox bump chests, and then all the Rampage players on the field do some kind of victory dance. Once they’ve finished, Landry taps at his chest with his fist and points toward the suite.
I don’t realize I’m crying until I hear Kendall ask if I’m okay. I wipe at my tears. “I am. I’m so proud of him, and our parents would be, too.” The words are barely out of my mouth before she pulls me into another hug.
“They are,” she says, her voice cracking. “They’re proud of both of you.”
“Thank you,” I say, stepping out of her embrace.
“Now, what do we do?” Sloane asks. She’s vibrating with excitement from the win. It was definitely a nail-biter.
“We usually hang out here. Knox comes to see us when he can get showered and escape the media,” Ridge explains.
“Do you mind if we wait with you? Landry will likely assume that we will and will probably be with him.” I also want to see your son.
“Absolutely,” Ridge tells us. “You all are welcome to join us after. We usually go to dinner after the home games.”
“Oh, we don’t want to intrude.”
Kendall waves her hand in the air. “The more the merrier. Landry and several of the other guys have joined us many times. A few always join us if they don’t have families in town or a home to get to.”