Page 156 of Play Fake
Sitting there, leaning back in those awful chairs like they own the place, are Carter and Jaxon.
For a second, I think I’m seeing things.
Jaxon looks up first, his grin breaking wide when he spots me. “Harrison!”
Carter turns, too, that easy smirk sliding onto his face. “Well, look who finally showed up.”
I blink. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
Jaxon stands, pulling me into one of those quick, back-slapping hugs that guys like us do.
“Heard about Logan’s surgery. We were both off this week, so we hopped a flight. No way we weren’t showing up.”
Carter claps me on the shoulder, his grip firm. “Kid’s family. We’re not missing this.”
I shake my head, still half-surprised. “You guys are insane.”
“Yeah,” Carter says easily. “And Logan’s ours. You think we’d stay away?”
Something warm settles in my chest despite the sterile surroundings. These guys graduated last year, moved on to the league, but right now they’re just…here. Same as me.
We grab a few seats near the corner, catching up while we wait for the surgeon to finish. It’s easy, falling back into conversation with them. They ask about the season, I ask about theirs. Carter’s thriving, Jaxon’s as consistent as ever, both of them swapping road trip stories and game-day chaos like they never left.
Then Carter leans back, stretches his legs out, and eyes me with a grin. “So, Harrison. You ready for the draft? Pro Day? All that fun stuff?”
I let out a short laugh. “Define ‘ready.’”
Jaxon raises a brow. “You thinking about it seriously?”
“Yeah,” I say after a moment. “I’ve been talking to Coach. If things go well, I’ll declare. I think I’ve got a couple good years in me, maybe more if I don’t get wrecked in the process. Then figure it out from there.”
Carter whistles low. “Man, it’s wild. Feels like yesterday you were the quiet one at parties, watching everyone else get into trouble, including that time you called the cops for a noise complaint at your own house.”
I smirk. “Yeah, and now I’m the onedealingwith everyone’s trouble.”
Jaxon chuckles. “You’ll kill it. Teams love linebackers who can lead. And from what I’ve heard, you’re already doing that.”
Their confidence in me hits harder than I expect. These two have lived what I’m just starting to consider, and hearing them say it like it’s a fact, not a maybe, brings me a sense of peace about my choice.
Before I can respond, a nurse pokes her head into the waiting room. “Are you boys here for Logan Brooks?”
We all stand at once, Jaxon taking the lead. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You can come back now,” she says with a small smile.
My pulse kicks up as I follow Carter and Jaxon down the hallway. I don’t know what shape Logan’s in, but I do know this: he’s not facing it alone.
The room is already pretty full when we step inside. Logan’s propped up slightly, his leg encased in a bulky brace and elevated on pillows. Coach is sitting in the corner, hands folded over his knee, eyes flicking up the second we walk in.
“Good to see you, Jaxon,” Coach says, his voice a mix of surprise and warmth when he spots Jaxon and Carter behind me. “And that other one with you. Didn’t expect this crew.”
Jaxon grins. “Couldn’t stay away.”
Carter smirks and shakes his girlfriend’s dad’s hand. “Someone’s gotta keep Matthews in line.”
Logan groggily turns his head toward us, his eyelids heavy from the meds. “I must be hallucinating,” he mutters, his voice scratchy.
Carter crosses his arms and smirks. “Nah, man. This is real. You just look like hell.”
