Page 98 of Unforgettable Player

“One—disgusting. I wouldn’t touch Brad if he was the last man on earth, and two—you and Brad are not as close as me and Eli.”

“That’s true,” Connor admits. “I get that you’re upset. I’m sorry.”

“Stop being all reasonable. I want to punch your face right now.”

“You can if you want.”

“Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

“What’s going on in here?” Naomi opens the door and steps inside.

“Oh great,” Scout says, slinking back onto the bed. “Everyone come on in.”

“Maybe I should go?” I say.

Connor and Scout both speak at the same time. “No!”

They look at each other. Scout’s face softens. “You can’t have him,” she says in a small voice.

“What the hell is going on here?” Naomi asks.

Connor and Scout both look to me. Is it my decision? Why?

“I love Connor,” I blurt.

Naomi gasps. It takes a second for her to digest what I said. But the second she does, a big smile spreads over her face. Her eyes widen as if she’s only now realizing something and she turns to Connor.

“Is this? Are you?”

“Yes, Mom,” Scout says. “They’re in love, they made out on the couch or whatever—go be over the moon about it.”

Naomi’s smile drops and she crosses the room and kneels in front of Scout. Scout was probably expecting her mom to automatically be happy and side with Connor. Instead, Naomi puts her hands on her daughter’s face until she looks at her.

“I’m sorry, honey. This can’t be easy for you. But you’ll never lose Eli. He’s a part of the family one way or another. You two have something so special, nothing could ever break it.”

To mine and Connor’s surprise, Scout bursts into tears and lets Naomi put her arms around her.

I don’t know what to do. I’ve hurt her so much. I’ve never seen Scout this upset.

Connor comes closer and puts his hand on my back. “Go on.” He gestures to where Scout and Naomi are hugging.

I go over and put my arms around them and Naomi pulls me in before pulling away and leaving me and Scout alone.

“This is gonna suck,” Scout says.

“I’m sorry.”

“He’d better be fucking worth it. You do know he had athlete’s foot, like, two years ago and a fungal infection⁠—”

“Scout!” Connor says.

I laugh. “I know, he’s a gross boy. But I still love him.”

“Urgh.” She pulls away from the hug, wiping her blotchy face.

“And I love you,” I add.

“I love you, too. But I’m gonna call you a puck bunny for the rest of your life. You do know that, right?”