Page 32 of Property of Player

ME: I did too. Thanks for not taking no for an answer and for making me take that walk with you.

He sends me a crazy-looking emoji with googly eyes, and I giggle.

PLAYER: Sleep tight, angel.

ME: Goodnight, Josh.

I fall back and stare at the ceiling. He didn’t say he’d come by, but he asked if I was working, so maybe I’ll see him again tomorrow. The thought fills me with warmth. I know I shouldn’t want him. I shouldn’t open myself up to be hurt again, but this feels like the first time when we were young and in love, and everything was new and we were just getting to know each other.

The feeling is euphoric.

Chapter nine

Player

Beck sets down a box. “That’s the last of it.”

We just carried a load from the bed of my pickup truck. I only needed to bring my personal stuff since the condo I’m buying is a furnished vacation rental. We don’t close for a month, but I was able to rent it until I take ownership.

Beck moves to the sliders and onto the balcony that overlooks the marina, and I follow.

It’s early morning, and the sun peeks through some clouds. He folds his arms. “Nice place, brother.”

“Thanks.”

“What are you, like a block from The Rusty Pelican? Guess I don’t have to ask what drew you here.”

Leaning my hands on the rail, I give him a half-smile. “Nope.”

“Dad will be thrilled. He always loved Taylor. He never understood why you dumped her.”

“He still doesn’t know, Beck, so don’t tell him.”

Beck shakes his head. “Why the hell are you keeping it secret?”

I spin on him. “Did you tell anyone? Who else knows?”

He lifts his hands in the air. “Far as I know, just me, and only because I eavesdropped.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “Yeah. Someplace you shouldn’t have been.”

“I hid in the bed of the truck because I thought you were going to meet those fucking Thompson boys. I was afraid you were going to get your ass beat. I had no clue it was Dozer you were meeting.”

“You shouldn’t have been there.”

“He had no right to ask that of you, brother. Hell, he didn’t even ask—he demanded.”

I don’t need Beck to refresh my memory. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I’d been a prospect just long enough to satisfy the club before they could give me my patch and not have it look like favoritism. My dad wanted me in, so they made it easy.

“Well, he did, Beck, so drop it.”

“I get he didn’t want his sister involved with a club member, but you were the president’s son, for Christ’s sake. He knew you were a good man.”

“Didn’t have anything to do with what kind of a man I was. As long as I wore that patch, he didn’t want me near his sister.”

“So, he made you choose.”

“The patch or Taylor. He promised he’d make sure I never had both. If I didn’t give her up, he said he’d never vote me in.”