Page 55 of The Way We Score

Give me one good reason not to call Allie.

Jack

I’m her son’s coach.

So?

Jack

So I’ve been a high school coach a long time. I’m not taking advantage of a sweet single mom who gets emotional because her son has a mentor in his life who cares. Happens every year.

Allie is a lot more than that, and you know it.

Jack

Next year, he’ll graduate, and they’ll go where he signs. Or she’ll go back to New Orleans. There’s no reason for her to stay in Newhope.

So give her one.

Jack

I’ve been down that road. Not planning to do it again.

Allie is nothing like your ex. She’s Dylan’s bestie, Kimmie loves her. Hell, we all love her.

Jack

You’re dodging the subject. Call Liv.

Just calling it like I see it.

Jack

Have a good game, little brother.

He’s ending the conversation, and I can’t help a groan. The thought of taking it slow with Liv after our night together feels impossible, but I know if I have even a hope of a chance, he’s right. Especially after the way she practically sprinted from my bedroom.

It’s possible I’m not a rebound, but based on her behavior, our reunion night was more than she intended it to be.

Studying my phone as the car pulls up to the stadium, I think about the game ahead. I think about the plans Jack and I’ve discussed and how much I want them to happen.

Still, even if I return to Newhope, Liv has her life in Birmingham. She has her friends and her law practice. Hell, she wants to be a partner.

Even if I think the lawyers in her firm are a bunch of douchebags for picking some other guy over her, I’m sure she’s on their shortlist.

If that’s her dream, the last thing I’ll do is ask her to give it up for me. If I’ve truly changed, I’m not repeating history.

I’ll show her I can put her first this time.

“Way to hustle,Rick, you’re really improving.” I hold out my hand for our wide receiver as we jog off the field.

Ricky Berke transferred from our rival team when Logan retired two years ago, which means we’re the new dynamite duo. At least, that’s what he wants us to be.

I’ve been working hard to stop calling himThe Dick, especially since Hendrix pointed out it’s probably not great for team-building. It’s just what Logan and I always called him.

“Thanks, Big G, you made it happen.” He slaps my hand and we do a fist bump combination ending with a point. “You help a lot more than I realized out there.”

It sounds like a dig, but he means it as a compliment. I hold back from saying Logan wouldn’t have dropped the ball. It’s true, but it won’t bring us any closer.

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