Page 9 of Dirty Player

“Or you are out,” Coach said.

Fuck.

Over and over and over, I heard those words for the next few days. He’d given me a chance when another coach may not have. I could’ve lost my dream because of Kaylee Rose.

When I told my brothers, they were furious.

At me.

And at her.

I swore to myself I’d never let another woman come between me and football.

Six months on and life looks different for all of us.

I just got fucking drafted!

But also Knox and Atlas, sworn to be bachelors their entire lives, have fallen in love. Knox is married, and Atlas engaged.

I’m the ol’ single man in the family.

Well, except Dad, who is obviously a widower.

Oh, and I’m about to become an uncle again. Jamie, Bella’s daughter, was my first niece, and Payton is about one thousand weeks pregnant.

Her words, not mine.

Dad clears his throat and holds up his glass to make a toast. Everyone is grinning like a bunch of idiots as we quieten down.

“To my youngest child. I’m proud as hell of all my kids and my grandkids, and today is no different,” Dad says. “I wish your mom was alive today to see this. She used to dress you up in little Hawkes t-shirts and tell me one day you’ll play for them.”

What?

“She never said that to me.” I bite the inside of my lip.

“Because she didn’t want to pressure you. Neither of us did. Until you told us this was your dream.”

My siblings glance at me and I see the emotion in their eyes, mirroring mine.

We all miss Mom.

“This is an incredible achievement, Levi. You’ve worked hard and honored the gift you’ve been given. I don’t know where you got it from. I’m not sporty and neither was Mom.”

“He’s adopted,” Atlas teases.

It’s a stupid joke that’s about fifteen years old. We all ignore him while he chuckles to himself.

“I’m a pro player, bitches!” I punch my arm into the air as my two best friends, Kyler and Drew, launch themselves at me.

“I guess you’re going to have a million groupies now.” Bella groans.

I smirk.

Because I’m trying to get my reputation back as thePlayer,but I’m failing. I’ve hardly dated and just focused on the game.

And the girl I once loved walking around campus.

“He only has eyes for one girl,” Kyler says, nudging my arm.

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