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)
Knox holds my gaze as he says. “I kicked her ass out. I never told my parents but threatened to tell hers and mine. She was upset that her boyfriend from a rival team had broken her heart, and she wanted to use me as revenge. I never touched her.” His eyes bore into mine, and it feels like he’s defending himself, too, but he doesn’t need to be. I know it was a long time ago, but I was curious.
“Sounds like you need a date, Beckett,” Sloane tells him.
“You sure your girl can’t go?” Baker asks.
“She’s busy,” Knox grumbles.
“It’s a small, intimate wedding—just close friends and family. Sara shouldn’t even be considered. Her family moved across town. They’re not even my parents’ neighbors anymore,” he grumbles. “I shouldn’t feel obligated to bring a date.”
“When’s the wedding?” Sloane asks.
“Next weekend. Our bye week. Everly and Matt planned it around my schedule so I could be there, and they didn’t want to wait until the season was over.”
“What about one of you?” Foster points to Sloane and me. “Can you help our boy out?” he asks us. “Surely your girl would understand, right? It’s either take one of the ladies here, or get mauled by naked Sara.”
I freeze, not sure what to do or say. I would give anything to go with him, to be with him, but I know that I can’t.
“Sure,” Sloane says, “as long as I can make arrangements for my classroom. When are you leaving?”
I whip my head around to stare at her, and I’m certain it’s a glare. She shrugs as if she didn’t just agree to go to a wedding with my man.
I’m—I don’t know what I am. Sloane would never betray me—I know that—so I need to just stay calm. I’m sure she thinks she’s helping me so that Knox doesn’t end up with naked Sara. I chance a look at Knox and find his stare already on me.
“You don’t have to do that,” he tells Sloane, but he’s still looking at me. His hands are fisted in his lap. It’s evident that he’s just as uncomfortable as I am.
“Will your girl be mad?” Landry asks.
Knox’s eyes meet mine. “No, she won’t be mad.” I trust him. I trust Sloane, but I can also admit I’m jealous as hell that she’s going to be there with him and I’m not.
“Do you need to call her and ask for permission?” Reid asks.
“No,” Knox replies sternly, his hands clenching in his lap.
“I don’t mind. What are friends for?” Sloane smiles. “If your girl wants to talk, tell her to call me. I’m not trying to steal her man. Girl code and all that.”
“You’re heading out Friday, right?” Landry asks Knox.
“Yeah. Friday, home on Sunday. The wedding is on Saturday.”
He’s still looking at me. I swallow hard past the lump in my throat.
“Great.” Sloane grabs her phone from the table and starts typing. Her phone beeps, and she laughs. “Looks like we’re both in luck. I found a sub. We’re all set.”
“That fast?” I ask, my voice thick.
“Yep.” Sloane grins. “She’s a sub always looking for more hours, and I have lots of vacation time. It’s a go.” She grins, not picking up on my inner turmoil.
“There you go.” Baker grins. “Problem solved. Now, let’s get back to the game.”
“I’m going to go clean up a little,” I mutter as I stand and head toward the kitchen.
“I’ll help,” Sloane says.
Once in the kitchen, she pulls me outside on the back patio. It’s cold out here. It’s the first week of October in Tennessee, and neither one of us has a coat on.
Once outside, she immediately says, “Make sure you have everything handled at the office so you can take off Friday.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m going to be sick,” she says, coughing into her hand. “That means the guys are going to look at you to bail him out at the last minute.” She’s grinning as if it’s the best plan she’s ever heard of.
My mouth falls open in shock. I smile and wrap my arms around her in a hug. “That… might actually work,” I say as I let her words sink in.
“Trust me, it will work. Just go along with it and tell your man so he can stop looking like someone kicked his puppy.” She laughs and goes back inside.
I stand still, letting the plan take root in my mind as I hear the door open again. “It could work,” I tell Sloane.
“What could work?” a male voice asks.
I whip my head around to see Knox standing there.
“Corie, I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I’ll cancel on her.”
“It’s okay. Sloane has a plan.” I quickly relay what she told me, and the tension falls from his shoulders.
“Really? You’re coming with me?” There’s so much hope in his voice, it almost brings tears to my eyes.