Page 10 of The Way We Score

“They say it’s the best medicine.” He stands, wiping hishands together. “I’m okay with making house calls, but you should come around more. Don’t be a stranger. It’s your hometown, too.”

Squinting one eye, I look up at him. “Okay.”

I don’t know why I’m still nervous, but it feels good to say yes. It feels good to remember who I used to be. Maybe it’s who I still am?

“I’ve got to get on back.” He walks backwards along the path to the front of the house. “Maybe I’ll see you at the restaurant one night.”

My gaze lingers on his face, his smile, his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The confident way he moves like an athlete.

I nod. Maybe.

2

Garrett

Liv is still so damn beautiful.

Watching her standing in that chicken coop, in that red dress with her pretty strawberry blonde hair falling around her shoulders, squeezing herself as hard as she could behind those silly rows… For a minute I forgot how to form complete sentences.

I had to get my bearings by talking to her mom. Ms. Plum has a familiar way about her. She takes everything way too seriously, so it’s easy to tease her.

It was difficult to see her struggling with that walker, seeming older and more fragile, but Dylan said she’s getting better. It’s just taking longer because of her age.

Breaking a leg is never great. I’ve done it more than once myself, so I’ve got a lot of empathy for that old lady. Still, her eyes sparkled, and she’s determined. She was all ready to put me in my place, wheeling around that yard like one of those fussy little chickens she keeps.

It’s the same defiance Liv always had. Steel magnolias,nothing getting them down. Only something’s got Liv down, and it’s not just hiding from me.

She reminds me of a receiver who’s missed one too many passes. Her eyes are discouraged, like she needs a pep talk, a reminder of what she can do if she puts her mind to it. I’ve seen what she can do. I can remind her.

“Remember when I told you I wanted to date Dylan?” Logan brings me back to the present.

We’re walking from the house down to his radio station along the wide concrete path along the bay. His question almost makes me laugh. It was so long ago that summer month when he fell in love with my little sister.

“How could I forget?” My brow lowers, and I can’t resist giving him shit. “A player like you telling me you wanted to date the best girl in Newhope?”

Not counting Liv, of course.

“I was never a player.”

“Still, you were talking about my baby sister.”

“And I had no idea what you were going to do.” He laughs, rubbing his hand over his scruffy chin. “You could’ve seriously kicked my ass if you’d wanted to.”

“Still could.” A smile curls the side of my mouth, and I look down at my friend.

Logan and I’ve known each other a long time, which is part of the reason I had to give him the speech two years ago. The truth is everyone loves Dylan. I’d have had to take a number and get in line to kick his ass if he ever hurt her.

“Good thing you’ve never given me a reason.”

“What’s the reason with Liv?” He cuts blue eyes up at me, and I clear my throat.

Tightness is in my chest, and it’s a page of my history I don’t want to revisit. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yeah, you do.” He shoves my shoulder.

It doesn’t move me.

When we played together for the Pirates, Logan and I werelike a well-oiled machine. He was the wide receiver, and I was the offensive lineman knocking down every player who tried to block the pass or take him down.

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