Page 26 of Not By the Playbook

Narrowed eyes and pinched features make my insides shrivel like a shrimp.Welcome back, Morticia Addams.Guilt assails me for destroying our momentary truce.

Jenna takes her time before responding, “The process will take as long as it takes.”

That makes me shelve my regret and plod on, Becs’s tense face, topmost in my mind.

“What the hell does that mean?” I set the envelopes down and lean back against the counter. One leg crosses over the other, hands brace on the granite behind me.

“It means it’s a company decision.”

I grit my teeth to stop myself from growling. “Do you have a sense of how much longer? One week? Two?”

Jenna sends an exasperated sigh my way. “Logan. This isn’t something that’s decided on a moment’s notice. It takes deliberate planning and careful consideration.”

“I thought Becs was one of the final picks.”

“She is.”

“Well, hurry up and complete your considering already. Stop dragging your feet. It’s not fair to Rebecca.” A muscle in my right cheek flexes.

“Logan—”

A thump behind me shuts her up. Jenna looks over my shoulder and stiffens.

I slowly pivot, dread filling my gut. Rebecca stands in the entryway, silhouetted against the floor to ceiling windows, her laptop bag at her feet. Both her hands are fisted at her sides even though her face is composed.

Fuck. My heart begins to pound. How much did she hear? She didn’t want me pressuring Jenna.Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I force the scowl from my face.

“Hey, baby.” I give Jenna my back, shielding Rebecca from her view, and walk over to enfold Becs in my arms. I drop a kiss on her lips and breathe her in, her scent filling my lungs, expanding my ribs. She’s stiff in my grasp. I know she’s only letting me touch her because my sister is here. “I got us reservations at Le Bernardin.”

A paltry peace offering. I only pluck the name out of the air because the restaurant is notoriously difficult to get into unless you’ve booked months in advance. I don’t have reservations, but it won’t be a problem. “I thought you’d be home earlier. Wanna get dressed so we can go?”

“Uh…okay.” She glances over my shoulder.

I try to keep from tensing, I don’t know what I’ll do if she decides to invite Jenna along.

Thankfully, she doesn’t. “Give me a few minutes.” Her voice is subdued. It rips through my chest.

Jenna and I both watch as Becs crosses to my room. Then my sister turns to stare at me. I glare back. Our Mexican standoff only ends when Rebecca returns.

“Later,” I say.

“Later,” Jenna repeats.

Chapter Sixteen

Thursday

BECS

Tonight is Logan’s game,the first one I’ll see.

And the last.

I’m a suffocating sardine in the packed stadium. Or maybe it’s the thought of meeting Logan’s parents again that has my chest squeezing tight. Carrie and I wait in line at the merch stand. The queue snakes to the bathroom and back, but I’m perfectly content with our spot at the very end.

“No word yet?” Carrie asks.

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