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True to his word, three plays later, our defense intercepts the ball, and Ethan comes barreling out of the tent, while Grey saunters to the sidelines.

No one knows what to make of him, so they give him wide berth as he stands there, rolling up the sleeves of his crisp white dress shirt.

“Does he know it’s Saturday?”

“He always dresses that way unless he’s working out,” Braxton says.

The teams line up, and on the very first play, Ethan throws a forty-yard touchdown.

The jumbotron camera zooms in on Grey, but he’s staring into the crowd, directly at Savvy, then he salutes her and walks off the field.

“Okay.” I’m a little disoriented from that display.

“So, Thanksgiving will be fun, huh?” Braxton practically bounces in his seat as though he’s never been happier and shoves a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

And that…

My thought is cut off when I spot Harry standing where the field meets the railing that leads to the spectator seating. His face is a mottled red, but that’s nothing to the hatred I find in his expression.

Braxton’s arm around me squeezes tighter, but I don’t dare to look away from my ex. I’ve seen Harry this shade of angrybefore—when his body is one tense muscle that rattles violently to contain it.

“Ignore him,” Braxton says with a kiss to the side of my head. Savvy squeezes my right hand in hers. I hadn’t even felt her grip it.

I wish I could ignore him. I wish I could remove him from my life. But the reality is, I know deep in my bones that Harry will never let me go.

The first time I walked away from him, he ruined my life.

What will happen now that he’s witness to me moving on?

29

BRAXTON

“Hey, Pops, guess what?”Sage asks, walking into the room with a large duffle bag slung over his shoulder. Today he’s wearing his eyeliner again, and secretly I’m relieved. I don’t want him changing himself to fit in.

If the people in his world can’t accept him, then we’re living in the wrong environment. He said the ‘guys on the team’ don’t care, and so far, that seems to be the truth.

Kids are truly more tolerant in some ways than they were when I was young, but choosing a path that’s different than the majority will never come without friction.

“What the hell’s all over you?” he asks, pointing to me, Grey, and Cian.

We’ve just come down from the attic and are covered in dust and cobwebs. This place is a modern-day money pit from hell.

“What’s that?” Pops responds to Sage’s first question before any of us can answer his second. Pops is reclining in his chair again, as happy as I’ve ever seen him—I think he enjoys having a full house.

Sage spares a quick glance my way with mischief in his gaze while inching closer to the front door. “Uncle Brax’s been sleeping in Madi’s room every night this week.”

I take a step in his direction. I truly want to throttle my nephew, but he escapes out the front door, howling with laughter.

“That so?” Pops says, pressing the button to sit his recliner up.

“I guess we’ll talk budget after practice,” Grey says, backing up to follow Sage out the front door.

“I’m staying right here for this one,” Cian chuckles.

“Did you think about Coach B.’s offer?” I ask Grey, attempting to divert Pops’ attention.

“Grey.” Pops leans forward in his chair. Maybe it actually worked. “You’ll take the coaching job, least for the rest of the season. It’ll be good for you, and you can keep an eye on our kid there—ya know, make sure no Harry Turds give him any trouble.”