Fair Catch

by Kandi Steiner

He ducked his head until I looked him in the eyes. “I would never, ever intentionally hurt your brother, Riley. And I would never intentionally hurt you.”

“I don’t want casual,” he continued. “I don’t want to pretend that I’m not yours in every way there is to belong to someone, that I don’t yearn for you to be mine in the same way. I don’t want to hide. I don’t want to keep having my heart fucking demolished at the thought of this all ending at any minute.”

Panic zipped through me at the same time Zeke’s hand shifted on his armrest — just an inch, enough for me to know that he was mentally trying to calm me. He couldn’t grab my hand in real life, but he wanted me to know that he was right there, that it would be okay. Breathe, I could hear him say in my head.

“Don’t,” he said, cutting me off. “Don’t lie to me. I can take that from her, but not from you.”

“No. I think it’s you who doesn’t understand. My sister has been in love with you since we were kids, you idiot,” he said, and his smile was an amused one when I snapped my head and pinned him with my confusion. “How the hell did it take you this long to realize that?”

Then, she fisted her hands in my hoodie and held on like I was her lifeline.

“You hold mine. You own mine. For now, forever, regardless of what happens next. And even if you hate me for the rest of your life, I need you to know that I love you.”

“You can forgive. Forgive, and understand that we’re human. We’re not perfect. And one day when you make a mistake, you’ll want someone to afford you the same grace.”

“For helping you pull your head out of your ass?” he asked. “Anytime, Sis. Anytime.”

I didn’t realize the shock I was in, how my breath had lodged in my throat, how my hands trembled where they hovered over my mouth. None of it registered until Leo gently touched my shoulder, making me jolt violently. “He’s probably just unconscious,” he said, and that was supposed to soothe me. That was the best-case scenario. Because the only other reason he wouldn’t be moving… I sucked in a cold breath, tears flooding my eyes, and Clay was there in the next instant, rubbing my back, too. “It’s okay,” he promised. “He’s okay.”

“Somebody who betters you,” I started. “Somebody who inspires and encourages you in love and in life, who pushes you toward dreams and goals you’d otherwise ignore, who selflessly sacrifices their time to help you become a more courageous, well rounded and happy human being. That’s sacred,” I said, swallowing before I finished. “You hold on to a love like that.”

Zeke put his on backward before reaching for me, and he tucked my hair behind my ears, popping a hat on my head next.

I’d lost Riley when we funneled inside, and I searched the crowd, laughing when a couple of our defensive linemen lifted her up and put her inside the trophy cup. That made the team roar louder, and a group of guys picked up the trophy with her in it and paraded her around as she laughed so hard her face turned beet red.

“And we, team, are a family. I want you to look around right now, at every guy and girl in this room, and remember that. Fight to protect that. Always.”

“If anyone messes with Novo, they’ll have all of us to answer to, Coach, I promise you that!” Leo hollered out, and all the guys roared their agreement, which only made Riley laugh and hide her blushing face again.

I smiled, curling into his side. “I love when you get possessive.” “Then you must have loved watching me squirm when you were mine but not mine.” I bit my lips together. “Honestly? I kind of did.”

“Who cares? They’re sad, stupid people hiding behind their keyboards,” he said easily. “Let one of them try to say something to your face. They’ll have me to answer to.”