Page 67 of Unforgettable Player

She leans forward and gives me a hug. “Sure you’re okay?”

I nod.

“Take good care of him,” Scout tells Connor.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

15

CONNOR

“You okay?”

Elliot looks at me and I melt. “I feel terrible about hurting Gabe,” he says.

“I know. I still don’t think he’s good enough for you, but I felt kinda bad, too. If I was in his shoes, I’d be devastated.”

“Is that why you let him win air hockey?”

I glance over at him. “You noticed?”

Elliot nods. “You were kind of ruthless in the beginning.”

“I was treating it like a dual to win your …” I stop myself before I say ‘heart,’ “Favor.”

He snorts. “Okay, Mr. Darcy.”

I drive down the dark, coastal road, the radio so low I can’t hear what’s playing. “Think Scout’s okay with those guys by herself?”

Elliot smiles.

“What?”

“Nothing. You’re just being all protective big brother.”

“Well, I am a protective big brother.”

There’s silence after that comment.

I clear my throat, my heart pounding. I know he said he wants to keep this casual, but what if there was another option?

“Hey, what’s the worst that could happen, really? If Scout found out.”

He doesn’t even miss a beat before replying. “She’d be heartbroken.”

“But why?”

Elliot turns in his seat to face me. I keep focusing on the road, but he’s right there in my peripheral. “What?”

“You really don’t remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Kissing Sarah Levin at Scout’s sweet sixteen.”

I frown. Sarah Levin? Ohh. “Yeah, so what?”

“So what? It ruined their whole friendship.”