Page 26 of The Player I Can’t Pick

My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I try to fix it. “He knows I grew up around horses,” I continue. “And since we’re keeping this a secret, this seemed like a good place to go. We’re, uh, just friends.”

There’s complete silence. Then almost everyone on the porch laughs.

I look at Guy, but he’s staring at me like I’ve wounded him. “Just friends?” he asks.

My forehead creases. “That’s what we agreed on.”

“No, we agreed to keep this between us. We never agreed we were just friends.”

Heat climbs up my neck as his entire family watches us.

Skyler nods. “Definitely not just friends.”

I turn toward her. “We are. I mean, this is our first date. We just met each other.”

She shrugs. “I know my brother.”

Guy crosses his arms over his chest. “Thank you.”

Skyler ignores him and looks at me. “He has never brought anyone here. He doesn’t talk about the women he dates, and he definitely doesn’t look at them the way he’s looking at you.”

I glance at Guy. He doesn’t look away or act embarrassed. Instead, he reaches for my hand again. “Ignore her,” he says.

Skyler laughs. “Because I’m right.”

Zach leans toward her. “Maybe don’t scare the woman away the first time she meets everyone.”

Skyler looks offended. “I’m helping.”

“Doesn’t feel like it,” Guy mutters.

His mom comes forward next and pulls me into a hug. “I’m Caroline. It’s nice to meet you, Nicole.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

Guy’s dad gives me a hug after her, and then Guy begins introducing me to everyone else. There are so many names that I’m not sure I’ll remember them all.

Miller is standing beside Lindsey. Logan has his arm around Bree. Penn is next to Aria, and Ozzy remains near the door, looking proud of the chaos he created. A young boy comes running out of the house. “Uncle Guy!”

Guy lets go of my hand and bends down just as the boy launches himself at him. He catches him easily and lifts him into the air. “There’s my favorite nephew.”

The boy laughs. “I’m your only nephew.”

“For now.”

Guy sets him down and messes up his hair. “This is Eli,” he tells me. “Miller and Lindsey’s son.”

Eli looks up at me. “Are you Uncle Guy’s girlfriend?”

My eyes widen, but Guy doesn’t hesitate. “I’m working on it.”

Eli nods as if that answer makes perfect sense and stares up at me. “Are you good at baseball?”

“I can hit.”

His face lights up. “Really?”

“Don’t challenge her,” Guy warns. “I’ve heard her dad taught her everything.”