Page 115 of The Game We Played

I retreat a few steps. I’m not going up there. The entire team is here. I’m supposed to be the PR manager, not whatever Tanner’s making me out to be.

Dad nudges me forward. “Go.”

I glare at him. “Are you kidding me? You’re supposed to support me, your daughter. The one whose heart was broken by him.”

He places his hands on my shoulders. “Here’s the thing, baby girl. The only person who can repair a broken heart is the person who broke it in the first place. Go on. Give him a chance to try and put you back together again.”

“I’m not Humpty Dumpty. I don’t need a man to put me together. I’m an independent woman.”

Dad sighs. “I know you are, but being half of a partnership isn’t a bad thing.”

Partnership? I snort. Tanner doesn’t know how to be a partner.

Except he listened to me at the beach. He didn’t call the sports magazine when I asked him not to. He never pushed me for sex. And he helped me with my writer’s block.

“I don’t know,” I mutter.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Anne says.

Beth nods. “I’d run up there so fast I’d be flying.”

Anne giggles. “And you’d break your leg.”

I give them my back. I can’t with them on a good day. Today is not a good day.

Mom stands next to Dad. “Give him a chance. If he doesn’t deserve it, we’ll unleash Anne and Beth on him.”

My eyes widen. Unleashing Anne and Beth on someone is pretty much giving the twins the go ahead to ruin someone’s life.

“You would?”

“Yep. I like Tanner, but if he messes this up again, there will be no mercy.”

Mom has never been blood-thirsty before. I think I like it.

“Welcome, everyone!” Tanner begins. “We’re here to celebrate Alaia and her new job. Three cheers for Alaia Jackson, our new PR manager.”

Everyone cheers and I glance around. They’re not looking at Tanner. They’re looking at me. And smiling.

Gage gives me a thumbs-up. Nolan mouthsCongrats, boss!Brock and Corbin merely grin and nod.

Firing pirates drowning in the sea! They’re supporting me for this job even though they know it’ll be awkward for Tanner.

My smile stretches from ear to ear. My family is here supporting me. The Seals' offensive line supports me. I can do this. Not only do this. I am going to rock at my new job. My new career.

I glance over my shoulder at Tanner standing on the stage. And my new life?

“The Seals are the luckiest team to have Alaia on their side. Did you see the article she wrote in theSmuggler’s Gazette? This woman doesn’t hesitate to confront the people who deserve her wrath.”

He clears his throat. “Which includes me.”

Beth and Anne laugh. “This is going to be fun,” they say in unison.

Momprods me. “Go up there.”

I meet her gaze. “You promise to sic the twins on him if he screws up?”

“You have my word.”