Page 96 of Lowering His Guard

I nod.

She points at Tanner. “And he’s the chaos.”

“Nope,” I deadpan. “He’s the organized part.”

“Brock made a joke. I must be dying.” Tanner feigns fainting. When he’s on the ground, everyone ignores him. “Isn’t anyone going to resuscitate me?”

“I can ring Alaia.” May digs her phone out of her pocket. “She’d be happy to resuscitate you.”

Tanner scowls as he stands. “Whatever,” he mutters as he stomps away.

Coach Knox blows the whistle. “Family Day! Grab your people. Show 'em what you do.”

“It was lovely seeing you,” Nolan says to Patrick and Lin. Corbin and Gage say the same before wandering off to find their families.

I crook my finger at May. “Come here, pint-sized.”

She eyes me suspiciously. “Why?”

“I'm going to teach you football.”

“I'm going to die, aren't I?”

Jace pushes her. “Go. Have fun. I’ll stay with your parents.”

I grasp May’s hips and lift her over the fence.

“He’s big and strong,” Lin says.

May rolls her eyes. “He enjoys moving me where he wants me.”

“Let him,” her mom says.

I lead her away.

“What are we doing?”

“I’m teaching you the blocking stance.” I place her where I’d line up. I gently move her feet. “Little wider. Weight forward.” I touch her shoulder. “Head up.”

Her nose wrinkles. “Can I be the quarterback instead? I enjoy ordering big, strong men around.”

“No,” I growl. The only man she’ll be ordering around in the future is me.

I stand behind her and place my hands lightly on her shoulders. “Push.”

She pushes, but I don’t move.

“You’re cheating,” she huffs.

“I’m just standing here.”

“Exactly, giant.”

I bend my knees. She pushes again and I rock backward.

Her eyes widen. “Whoa!”

“It’s called leverage.”