Page 51 of Be My Game Changer

She looks completely dumbfounded as she stares up at me, brow scrunched.

“You were protecting me. And at any cost.” I’ve witnessed the fierce side of this quiet woman who sits with her nose in a book. She may have run away from me in the beginning and drives me insane with passion in the present, but she stood up to my father. For me. Willing to lose everything in order to keep him away from me and protect me. Something no one, not even my own mother, has ever been willing to do for me.

“I don’t understand. Why aren’t you mad? Everybody is gonna know.” Her arms contract around my waist gripping me tightly, and I wrap mine around her to hold her against me.

“It’ll be okay.” It has to be.

“I’m sorry—” I shake off Rhett’s apology.

It doesn’t matter what, how, or who—it’s done. And I don’t blame anyone in this room. The only one responsible for what’s to come is the man who’s hidden his true self from the world. And maybe I’m partly to blame, because I’ve hidden it for him too.

40

AVERY

To say family lunch didn’t go well would be a vast understatement. But even more surprising is Carter’s calm, even relaxed, demeanor. How is he not livid about the news that will be shared with the world in the morning? The secrets he’s kept to himself so long are being revealed because I have a big mouth and my idiotic brother is a nosy fool with a damn camera phone.

“I’m so sorry, Carter. Really.”

“Would you have told anyone had he made a move?”

“I was hoping I’d never have to decide, but I can tell you that I wasn’t going to let him hurt you or my family.”

His hand clasps mine, bringing my knuckles to his mouth before resting our hands on the console between us.

“What are you going to do?”

“Exactly what I told Joe. We have no comment right now. We’re gonna let the story play out until I decide if and when I want to address it. Joe still has hopes of squashing it with some other story. Or someone doing something that will catch more attention.”

“Yeah. Let’s hope.”

“Never know.”

He’s still too calm. I hear his words, believe he isn’t angry, but I don’t get it. “I’m sorry. This is still my fault.”

“Well, then I guess you owe me,” he says with a joking tone, and now I worry where this is going. “I demand you play hooky tomorrow. I want you all to myself for the entire day so we can hide away and forget all about everything.”

That does sound good even if taking a day off again so soon, and last minute, doesn’t sit well. The news will break tomorrow morning and the classroom isn’t where I want to be. “Deal. And I need to get Joe another phone to replace his broken one.”

“Nah, the longer he doesn’t have a phone, the better. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

I don’t like it, but I give in, mainly out of exhaustion, both physically and mentally.

Once we’re back at my place, we settle in to watch a movie. Comfortable and cozy, I wish we could shut the world away just a little bit longer.

41

CARTER

“Well, well. Look who’s graced us with his presence after all,” Coach Dundee quips, stepping into the bullpen as I release another pitch before looking to him. “Here a little early aren’t we, Lowe?”

I haven’t been late to a practice since my suspension was lifted, but Dundee hasn’t missed the chance to bust my balls at every opportunity. And it’s refreshing because I know what his intentions are and where his loyalty lies, just as I know where Avery’s are. I know I have two people in my corner who are looking out for my best interests.

“So, what are we going to do tomorrow if Cash shows his stupid ass?”

“I’m good. He won’t get to me again.”

“No comment, right?” Dundee repeats my stance on the topic that the news stations have reported on for a week.

---