Page 145 of Forever Offsides

“I didn’t,” Rhett assures them. “I had no clue. I never would have brought him here if I had known all that was going on with him. Truthfully, I would have tried to get him help. He never wanted it from me, but I still would have tried.”

Russel may be gone to Rhett, and I do feel bad about that, but Russel is a toxic waste dump in a nice neighborhood. He’s bringing down all of our property values, and it’s time we cut him loose and get rid of the stink.

“I will discuss it with Randolph, but at the very least, he’s off the team.”

Rhett nods. “I know. He should be. Whether I’m the coach or not, I wholeheartedly agree with that decision.” He drops another kiss on my forehead and pops upright. “I’m going to step out and let you be with her. I’ll be in the waiting room.”

With a wink, he leaves the room, and silence ensues.

Well, that happened.

“You knew?” I question Crew.

His green eyes slay mine. “Are you trying to piss me off more? Of course I knew. We all did. Because we fucking know you, Quinnten! Especially me. I’m your goddamn twin. I know you better than anyone.”

“You do, Crewcut. I’m sorry. Also don’t shout so loud.”

He releases a tense breath. “Crap. I’m sorry. But I thought you might not wake up and then we heard you were awake and we not only learn that our twat of a teammate is a cheating, betting motherfucker but you’re also sleeping with our coach.”

That’s impossible to argue, so all I go with is, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was… afraid. Or not ready yet. I don’t know. He seemed too good to be true. You know, minus the whole older dude, coach of the Rebels, ex-boyfriend’s dad thing.”

That gets a half smile from Crew and a big smile from Mason. “We thought it was likely the same guy from the spring, and you were simply being cautious,” Crew acknowledges. “We didn’t know you were in love, and I sure as shit didn’t know it was my coach.”

“We literally didn’t know who the other was until we’d already been texting for months. By the time we figured it out, we already liked each other a lot. Then we backed off but it didn’t work.”

“He’s your smile,” my mother states.

“What?” my father clips out. He’s having a tough time with this, and I get it. In a lot of ways, I get it. He’s in a hell of a predicament.

“Her smile, Asher. Have you not seen it? Our daughter has been smiling again. Extra smiles. Smiles beyond work and friends and family. Smiles that light up her insides.”

“I’ve seen it,” Mason admits. “Crew has too.”

“Yes. I’ve seen it,” my father comes back with, even if it’s a bit resigned. “But…” He comes over to me. “You really love him? He’s a lot older than you. Like he’s quite possibly closer in age to me than he is to you.”

“I’m twenty-eight, Dad. I’m a surgeon. I’m not a kid. I know my heart. He’s a good man. I wouldn’t be with anyone less again. I have the best role model for that.”

He rolls his eyes. “Now you’re sucking up.”

I half-grin, my waning energy practically on empty. “But it’s also true. I have you and Mason and Crew. I’ve seen the way you love Mom, and I’ve seen the way Mason loves Sorel. That’s how Rhett loves me. Now that we’ve cleared that up, can someone help me back into bed?”

That seems to snap my family out of their revelatory stupor. My mother springs into action first.

“Crew, get off the bed and get on her other side.”

“You’re going to need to go slow,” I tell them.

My father is losing his mind. “Quinn, can I just pick you up?”

“Only if you want to tear her stitches and make her scream in pain,” my mother reprimands. “Crew, I want you in front of her. I’ll be at her back.”

“What can I do?” Mason asks.

“Get me some ice chips, please?” I ask. “And maybe tell my nurse I’d love her forever if she could give me some Zofran.”

“What’s Zofran?” my dad questions. “Is that pain medicine?”

“No, it’s for nausea,” my mother explains. “Do we need an emesis basin?”