Page 55 of The Player I Can’t Pick

He walks away, and I can feel Skyler looking at me. I don’t look at her. Dad finally comes through the tunnel, and I ride with him to the restaurant. “I’m sorry about this,” I tell him as we pull out of the stadium. “They invited themselves to pancake night.”

Dad laughs. “It’s fine, honey. Guy’s family is nice.” He glances at me. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

I look out the passenger window. That might be part of the problem. I am happy, and I’m not sure how long that is going to last. I’m quiet the rest of the way.

By the time we get to the restaurant, the staff has pushed several tables together for us. The Brodys start arriving a few minutes later, and soon we’re all sitting around eating breakfast for dinner. Together, the Brodys are loud. Everyone talks over each other. Logan and Miller argue about something that happened when they were kids. Bree and Lindsey keep laughing at them. Penn tells Skyler she’s spoiling Grace already, which starts a whole argument about whether it’s possible to spoil a baby. Aria is glowing under her husband’s arm. I have Dad on one side of me and Guy on the other.

Guys hand goes to my thigh, and he just holds it the whole time we’re sitting here.

I give him a look, and his smile gets wider.

Dad is talking to Ozzy about something baseball related when Guy elbows me in the side. “You okay?” he asks, his forehead creased with concern.

I nod, but he doesn’t look convinced.

Skyler catches my eye from farther down the table and gives me a small smile. I spend the rest of dinner focused on my plate and the half-eaten pancakes.

CHAPTER 21

GUY

Something is going on with Nicole. She laughs at the right times and talks when someone asks her a question, but she’s not herself. Every time I touch her, she tenses, like she’s reminding me without words that she doesn’t want anyone knowing about us. I look around at my family. I was surprised when Skyler said everyone was going for pancakes. I should have known it wasn’t Nicole’s idea.

Almost two hours later, Skyler pushes back from the table. “All right, we need to go get Grace.”

Bree yawns. “Yeah, I’m exhausted.”

Everyone starts getting up, and within seconds, they’re all arguing over the check.

Miller stands and holds up his hand. “Forget it. I already took care of it.”

That starts another round of complaints, but I barely pay attention. I’m hugging everyone goodbye and fist-bumping my brothers when I notice Skyler lean toward Nicole and whisper something in her ear. Nicole’s expression changes, and my stomach tightens.

What the hell is Skyler saying to her?

Grant stays behind as the others start filing out. He shakes my hand. “Guy, you’ve got a great family.”

“Thanks. So do you.”

He smiles and looks between Nicole and me. “So am I taking you home, or is⁠—”

“I’ll take her.”

Nicole tenses again. “Are you sure? Dad can take me. He lives that way and will drive right past my apartment.”

I suck in a breath. My instincts were right. Something is definitely wrong. “I’ll take you. We need to talk anyway.”

She doesn’t argue. Nicole hugs her dad, and we follow him outside. After a quick goodbye, I open the passenger door of my truck for her.

The second I get behind the wheel, I turn toward her. “You know we fly out to San Antonio tomorrow, right?”

She nods, staring through the windshield. I put my hand on her arm. “Come with me.”

Her eyes widen, and I can’t tell if she’s happy with the request or not, so I continue. “I mean, I’m flying with the team, but I can get you there and put you up at the same hotel. I’d love to have you in the stands.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t. I need to start getting my classroom ready and⁠—”

“You’ve got a few weeks before school starts. I can help you when I get back.”