Page 81 of Hart Breaker

“Again, in my defense, I wasn’t about to step over a line with the Knights.”

She looks back again. “Your defenses are weak; stick to offense, Hart.”

This elicits a well-deserved laugh.

She continues, “When my sister, who looks just like me, noticed he may be checking me out, I freaked and, well, she offered to pretend to it was her and not me, and they agreed it was a one-night thing and not to let it affect the team or the friendship we all built.”

Max coughs the word, “Shit,” into his hand.

“Oh, like ours was any less scandalous,” Mila snips at her husband. “Saylor was two when she met …” She nods slightly to Max.

“Who’d I meet, Mommy?”

“Mickey Mouse.” Max snatches her from Boone and twirls her around, distracting her.

“And that was only because he ended up at the same college as us.” She nods to Boone.

Boone cups his hands around his mouth, tilts his head, and yells, “Jersey U, baby!”

“Babies,” Mila corrects. “Boone and Lindsey, my roommate, had Lily and we had Jonathon, who is?—”

“He’s still little, so he takes naps. But I’m big now, so I don’t.” Saylor reenters the conversation.

“I have a younger brother, too,” Riley tells her in the sweetest way.

“Does he take naps?” Saylor asks.

“Actually, he does.”

“That’s what brothers do,” Saylor sighs.

“All right, little Saylor, let’s you and I hit the bathroom before we head out.” Max lifts his chin to Hudson. “We’re giving this one a tour of the grounds; if you wanna show Riley where the World Series champs hang their cleats, hang out.”

“Probably should let Roman give that tour,” Mila says.

“Oh my God, how rude. Congrats on the series. That’s epic. I got so caught up in my?—”

“Confession?” Boone chuckles.

Riley lifts a shoulder. “Yeah, I guess?”

Mila makes the sign of the cross. “Forgiven. Stick with Hudson’s version for the family and the team.”

“Oh, my family knows.” Riley looks back. “Booze bus confessional in Vegas, sorry.”

“Yeah, Jackson knew first. He’s the one I shielded you from in the gym at the hotel.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“Brooksie babe, you just agreed to be a couple.”

“Hudson.” Mila laughs. “Repeat after me.”

I nod.

“Sorry, Brooksie babe, my fault.”

After our goodbyes, I’m feeling on top of the fucking world, ’cause my girl is so damn relaxed here.

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