Page 54 of The Player I Can’t Pick

“But I thought…”

She stops.

I stare at her. “You thought what?”

Skyler leans toward me. “But he said you’re the one.”

Everything inside me stops. “What?”

She immediately realizes she has said something she probably wasn’t supposed to. “Nicole⁠—”

“He said I’m the one?”

She hesitates, then nods.

My chest tightens. “But we’re just hanging out.”

Even as I say the words, they sound ridiculous. People who are just hanging out don’t spend nights together, or meet each other’s families, or delete dating apps, and they definitely don’t wear hair ties around their wrists.

Skyler’s expression softens. “Okay, well, if you don’t feel the same way about my brother, you should probably tell him.”

I stare at her. She shakes her head slightly. “Because you’re going to hurt him.”

I point to myself. “I’m going to hurt him? He’s Guy Brody. He can have anyone.”

She doesn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, but he wants you.”

I look away, and Skyler touches my arm. “I’m not trying to pressure you, Nicole. I’m really not. But I know my brother. I’ve never seen him like this before.”

My throat feels tight.

She pulls her hand from my arm. “If you don’t want what he wants, tell him.”

I nod, but I don’t know what else to say. For the rest of the game, I’m practically speechless. Guy hits a double in the eighth inning, and normally I would be on my feet screaming with everyone else. I clap and smile, but Skyler’s words keep running through my head. He said you’re the one.

The Bears win, and I shuffle with the rest of Guy’s family toward the tunnel. When Guy comes through, he immediately looks for me. His smile spreads the second our eyes meet. I should be happy, but instead, I feel like I can’t breathe.

He comes over, still sweaty from the game, and reaches for my hand before stopping himself when he remembers where we are. “Hey, sweetness.”

“Hey.”

His forehead creases. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Great game.”

He studies my face like he doesn’t believe me.

Before he can ask anything else, one of the coaches calls his name. “I’ll see you at the restaurant?”

His family must have already told him that we’re all eating together. I nod. “Yeah.”

He leans closer. “And then after?”

My stomach flips. “We’ll see.”

His eyes narrow, but he doesn’t have time to question me because someone calls him again. He points at me. “Don’t disappear.”

I force a smile. “Go.”