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I gave him a look. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was thinking.”

“Even worse.”

His mouth twitched.

I had shorts on and was just shrugging into a shirt when the doorbell rang.

I heard my dad answer it a beat later.

Shit. It was confirmed. He was awake.

It would’ve been a disaster if we’d gone with my plan.

Declan went out first, and I waited a beat before following.

Dad was at the front door with Coach Ben. He looked back and forth between Declan and me, and it felt like he must know everything at a glance.

Declan’s hair was still wrecked.

So was mine.

His look had me blushing and looking away.

Well, hell, I wasn’t helping with my reactions, was I?

Dad’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Then he looked at Declan.

Declan, who could stare down an entire offensive line without blinking, suddenly became very interested in the floor.

That was satisfying.

But still, at least Dad didn’t say anything.

Coach Ben was looking somber in a way I’d never seen him. He nodded to me, nodded to Declan.

The small spark of amusement Dad had been trying very hard not to show disappeared.

“You’re going to want to get Riot over here, Buck,” Ben told my dad, looking like he was about to announce his own funeral. “We need to talk.”

Sunshine joined us.

She came from the kitchen carrying coffee, took one look at Ben’s face and set the mug down untouched.

“What happened?” she asked.

Ben rubbed one hand across the back of his neck. “I’d rather say it once.”

Dad already had his phone out.

He didn’t ask questions over it. He just told Riot, “Come over. Bring Marion.”