“Excited about tomorrow?”
“Yeah, the Cougars are a good team but we’re better.” He picks up a towel to wipe off his hands and looks at me with chagrin. “I worried about you and Masters at first. I thought he might get distracted and not as sharp on the field, but he’s elevated his play.”
I didn’t doubt that for a minute. Once Knox steps on the field, you can tell the only thing on his mind is eating the quarterback for lunch. There’s nothing but steely determination in his eyes. “He’s hungry for it.”
“No kidding. He watched every post-game interview, every minute of the championship celebration last year because it made him angry.” Matty winks at me. “We like an angry Masters. Besides he wants to win it this year.”
“I know. He’s declaring.” Ace knew it so I figured most of the team did as well.
“He’d be a fool not to.” His lips quirk up in a rueful smile. “I’m happy for him. It makes sense because if he stays another year, he risks injury. His draft stock is high this year so there’s no reason to wait, but shit, I’ll miss playing with him. So yeah, this year, we’ve got to win it. If we don’t win the title, our careers here will be a bust. All the potential and nothing to show for it.”
He shakes his head and the dread I managed to shelve the other night slides into my stomach.
“You’ll win.” I try to project as much confidence as I can.
“Knock on wood.” Matty bangs the cabinet above his head.
My phone buzzes. I pull it out and read the message from Knox. “They’re on their way.”
“Great. Let’s get these steaks seared.” He throws a stick of butter into the pan followed by the steaks. The smell of deliciously cooked meat fills the kitchen and I try not to gag as my guilt churns in my stomach. I busy myself with cleaning up the kitchen and avoiding Matty’s gaze. I don’t need him seeing how upset I am and then grilling me on what’s wrong until Knox shows up with his brother.
“We need biscuits,” Matty declares. He grabs my arm and pulls me over to the stove. “Keep spooning the butter over the steaks. I’ll be right back.”
He disappears down the stairs. Alone, I can only think of Jack’s words and how stupidly I’ve jeopardized everyone’s future. Not just Jack. Not just Masters. But Matty and Hammer and every other guy on this team who has sacrificed so much to have their perfect season.
I shouldn’t have come here. I should have called Knox and said it was over. Lingering over the corpse of our relationship is bad for everyone. I press my hand against my abdomen, but the knot won’t go away.
By the time Matty returns from wherever he disappeared to, the lump in my stomach has grown to the size of an elephant.
He’s got something clutched in his big fist.
“You’re making biscuits from scratch?”
He slaps a roll of refrigerated biscuit dough onto my palm. “Ta da!”
“Thank God.” I smile weakly.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, finding out you made biscuits from scratch would have totally demoralized me, so I’m glad to find out that you are merely mortal when it comes to this.”
“No one makes them better than the little puffy dough man.”
“Hey, there you are.” I turn to find Knox and his brother standing at the door. Both of them are staring at me.
I know what this is. This is “The Test.” Knox wants me to show him I can tell them apart, like I do from the pictures. It’s the one chance I have. The one action I have never wanted to take. Already the hollowness of losing Knox sets in, but I love him too much to kill his dreams with my selfishness.
I glide to both of them and then place my hands on the first brother’s shoulders. His arms close around me and when I lift my face for a kiss, he dips down to press his foreign lips against mine. Over his shoulder, I can see Knox’s eyes—the confusion, disappointment, the hurt.
I close my own because I can’t see that pain. I close them and keep kissing Ty until his tongue slicks against my mouth.
I pull away because I can’t go that far.
“Hey.” I point to Knox. “This is the infamous Kintyre?”
Ty’s grip around my frame tightens—probably in frustration and disappointment.
Behind me, Matty is silent. He’s curious about the test, but he doesn’t know I’ve failed.
I wait for Knox, but it’s Ty that responds. “Yeah, honey, this is my brother.”
Knox stares at me, willing me to pick up on the mistake. He’s never called me honey. Baby, sweetheart, but never honey.
I smile blindly back at both of them and wait for Ty—acting as Knox—to introduce me to my boyfriend. As he drags Knox forward, I wonder how long they’ll play the twin switch and how many times they have done it before. Would Knox actually let Ty sleep with me?