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)
“What are you saying, Knox?”
I swallow hard and debate saying the words because I have not said them to her, but I feel as though he deserves that. He needs to understand what she means to me, and this isn’t some fling that I’m taking lightly.
“I’m saying I’m in love with your sister, Landry.” I exhale heavily, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders now that he knows. I’m sure his fist is going to connect with my jaw at any minute, and I won’t stop him. If that’s what I have to endure for hiding my relationship with his sister, so be it.
He’s quiet for a long time, and I remain silent next to him. He’s processing, and I want him to take all the time he needs, because this isn’t going away. I’m not going away.
“She’s the girl, the one you’ve been talking about for months, but I’ve yet to meet?” He already knows this, but I’m sure he’s trying to process it in his head. So, instead of telling him that he already knows the answer, I give him what he’s looking for.
“Yes.”
“She smiles all the time. When she first moved home, she was sad and in her head a lot, but now, she’s always happy, singing and dancing around the house. I guess you’re the reason?”
“I don’t know. I hope so. I love the hell out of her, man. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do or give up to have her in my life.”
His head rears back as if my words have shocked him. “Dumb it down for me, Beckett.” His stare is menacing.
“It’s exactly what it sounds like. I knew the rules. I knew we had to report our relationship to the team at the start and that we weren’t going to be doing that. I know that means I could lose my spot on the Rampage roster. I know that means I might get traded and lose my contract. I know I might have to move away from my family when that happens. I knew it all, Landry, and I did it anyway. I’d do it all a million times over if that meant she was mine. Because no matter what happens, Corie and I will decide together what the next steps will be.”
“Tell me I’m hearing this right. You’re willing to give up the game you love, the team you love, for my sister.”
“For the love of my life, yes.” There is no hesitation in my reply. My answer is resolute.
“That’s fucking insane, Beckett. Do you hear yourself right now?”
“I know what I said, Reynolds.” My voice is hard. “I meant every damn word. Football won’t keep me warm at night.” He growls at my words, but I ignore him and keep going. “Football won’t create a family with me and be there for all of life’s adventures. None of us play forever, and if I have to choose, I choose her. No contest. Every damn time, I choose her.”
Again, we sit in silence. I know he’s processing my words. I don’t know how long we sit here, but I’m not moving, not until he’s ready. I’m also still expecting that punch, which so far hasn’t come.
“You’re different. Still disciplined, but you seem… happier, too. You smile more, just like she does, and you’re not as tense or uptight. You’ve been taking it easy on riding our asses. I chalked it up to your girl but didn’t know it was my sister.” He pauses. “You know, now that I’m looking back, you seem softer with her. The way you talk to her. The way you look at her. I guess the joke’s on me. I just chalked it up to you seeing her as a little sister.”
“No. The love of my life.”
He gives me a hard stare. “Tell me where this goes.”
Haven’t I been clear enough? If he needs me to keep repeating it, I will. “One day, we’re going to be related,” I tell him. “I want her in my jersey and for her to be wearing our last name. I want to fall asleep every night with her lying next to me and wake up the same way. I want little Cories running around our house. I want… everything, Landry. There isn’t a single part of my future that I don’t see her in.”
“Does she know?”
“Yeah, I mean, I haven’t told her that I’m in love with her. I’ve told her she owns my heart, but I haven’t said the words.”
“Yet, you said them to me.”
I nod. “I know she should have heard them first, but I needed you to understand what she means to me. This isn’t a fling. She’s my forever, Landry. I didn’t want to scare her away. She’s been stressed about someone finding out and the effect on our relationship and the team, and then there are our jobs on the line.”