Page 149 of Play the Game

It's a balmy spring evening with a nice breeze, but the suit I’m wearing is still suffocating. I know the feeling will disappear the moment Scottie walks out of the French doors, though, because that’s how it is when I lay eyes on her.

She’s all I see and think about.

“What do you think?” Taytum slides up beside me and gestures to the decorations.

I reach my arm around my sister. “Scottie will love it.”

“I take full responsibility.” She smiles.

Her best friend, Claire, pops up from her husband’s chest. “Hey! I helped.”

Theo pulls her back toward him with a grin on his face.

I’m surrounded by friends and family, teammates, and probably the most important person–William.

He leans against a tree with his hands in his pockets, seemingly looking anxious while staring at the French doors.

I get it.

I feel anxious when Scottie isn’t near too.

It didn’t take long to get him out of prison, considering the evidence putting him there was completely skewed. Unfortunately, according to the new attorney that selflessly stepped forward after catching wind of the media, William was an easy target, and the investigators on his case ran with it even though there were holes in the story leading to his conviction.

What they thought was an easy confession turned out to be a nightmare shortly after an appeal was made.

Scottie fought like hell to get William the help he needed shortly after he was released. With the help of the fans who were fully invested in our lives after the drama, William had a social worker lined up, and he’s on his way to being a successful member of society despite his diagnosis.

He even has his own place with a few other people who are also under the care of the social worker.

“Where is Ford?” I ask my sister. He’s been the most welcoming to William.

Because, well, that’s just Ford.

Taytum looks like she’s up to something.

I glance at our dad, who is talking to Coach Jacobs. My mom is off playing with Ellie while

Rhodes stands awkwardly beside his nanny, who he’s pretending not to be obsessed with.

Most of the team is obsessed with her, actually, making jokes every other practice about how they want to ask her out, only for Rhodes to threaten to throw them through a locker a moment later.

The French doors open, and we all turn to look. My heart beats out of my chest, and a hush of silence moves through the backyard.

“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, seeing that itisn’tmy wife.

Taytum can’t keep it together. A laugh begins to slip from her lips, and before I know it, most of the backyard has erupted in laughter.

“Biscotti, anyone?” Ford wafts his arms out in front of him, showing off the absolute ridiculous costume he’s wearing.

“Where the hell did he even manage to find a biscotti costume?”

Taytum turns to me and smiles.

“Was this your idea?” I ask. “Real funny.”

She shakes her head and smiles. “Our little Scottie Biscotti has jokes.”

Of course.I shake my head. I know exactly why Scottie set this up.

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