Page 23 of Game Changer

“They say history repeats itself. Well, I guess that’s up to me. Yeah, I grew up without a dad. I’m gonna be the best one I can be.”

Nope, I am not going to stand here and get all gooey watching this …

I turn and damn near knock poor Lindsey over.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I was just heading your way.”

“The line is crazy long,” she warns from beside me.

“I’ll show you a secret bathroom,” I say as I turn and see the line is, in fact, long, but it’s also … problematic at the moment.

“You’re nothing but a whore, Allegra. Never gonna be nothing but,” Sienna Gaines, wife of Jordan Gaines, the Knights left defensive end and a notorious man whore.

“I’ma whore?” The apparentother womanhuffs. “You met J selling your pussy at clubs, andI’mthe whore?”

“This is not happening here. It’s New Year’s Eve,” I say over them.

“Who the fuck are you, big girl Barbie, thinking you?—”

“Are you kidding me?” Lindsey gasps.

“I’m Sydney fucking Sparks, that’s who I am,” I say as Sienna Gaines lunges at the other woman and I get smackdab between them. “And I said enough!”

“This Podunk football league gives whores and porn stars access to our men!”

“Totally team Allegra right now,” Lindsey’s muffled voice comes from behind me.

I bite back a laugh and yell a little louder, “For you right close to me and the bitches in the back, I’m no porn star. I am part of this Podunk team.” I shove against her as the feral group behind push her against me. “And I said,enough!”

I shove the slightly stunned Sienna Gaines. “Now, you and the rest of thewomen”—I point over her head to the bitches pushing her into me—“step the hell back.”

Ten minutes later, I’m in the kitchen with Mom, the aunts, Tessa, Phoebe, Jade, and Lindsey.

“Do you know who I am?” Jade does her best impression of a rich snob, something we all try to avoid acting like.

Lindsay covers her mouth to hide her laugh.

“You could have played the Boone card,” I accuse on a laugh.

“I’m pretty sure owner card trumps players, baby momma,” she shoots back, and it’s quick, real quick, and it makes me like her even more.

“There you are, Mommy!” Lily says, walking in the kitchen, pulling Riley behind her, and Boone and Hart are behind them. “And Sydney, too?”

“Happy New Year’s Eve, Lily,” I say. “Your dress and your mommy’s are stunning.”

“Yours and your mommy’s, too.” She jumps up a little with excitement then squats down and looks at my shoes. “Do they have red bottoms?”

“Nope.” I show her the bottoms. “Alexandre Birman.”

“Fancy,” Tessa chides.

“Hot off the clearance rack at the end of last season.” I smile.

“My girl loves a good sale,” Mom says proudly.

“And after Uncle Lucas’s cake is served, these boots are going to turn into UGG slippers, and I am going to sit in front of my fireplace and probably pass out before the ball even drops.”

“You could come hang out at Hart’s place, right?” Lindsey asks Beau, and he nods. “The pups are going to watch the ball drop with Lily.”

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