Beyond the Team (Out of Reach 4)

“Let me change.” I watch as she removes her clothes, everything but her panties, and pulls my T-shirt over her head before hitting the light and settling next to me.

“Tell me how your parents took this. I know you said fine, but there had to be more.”

“It really was fine. I was worried about breaking the family tradition, but they assured me that it was silly and never meant to be a tradition. It was just something that happened. I told them I felt like I was leaving my team, but not my team… them. They’re more of a team than the one I was playing for.”

“What did they say to that?”

“Dad gave me this super-sweet speech about how they would always be my home team, but that what we have goes beyond the team I already have. He said I was adding you and your family and friends to my own team, but they would always be there for me. I probably totally botched that, but you get the idea.”

“He’s a smart man.”

“He is.”

“I like it, though. The idea that we’re making our own team. I think we should wait until we’re graduated to start adding players, but we can practice,” I tell her, sliding my hand under her shirt.

“I thought you were exhausted?”

“I am, but I’ll never be too tired for you.”

“Sleep. We have all summer to practice.”

“No, baby. We have the rest of our lives to make it happen,” I say, covering a yawn. She settles on my chest, our arms wrapped around each other, and I drift off to the best night’s sleep I’ve had since the last time I held her in my arms.

CHAPTER 25

Peyton

It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. Today, my family is getting together at my parents’ place for a going away party. We don’t leave for a few more days, but Cameron and Holden had a rare day off, and we like to take advantage when that happens.

“You ready?” Griffin asks. “I told your dad we would be there early to fire up the grill.”

That’s a new development too. Griffin was determined to show my family that he was in this. That sure, we might be young, but we know what we want. He also wanted to prove that he could play on team Monroe. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but he and my dad bonded over grilling steaks, and it’s been a bromance ever since. Not that I’m complaining. My dad’s a big ole softy at heart, but I’m glad he and Griffin are getting along so well.

“I’m ready.”

“Ollie and Karina are going to meet us there later. They went to see her grandma in the nursing home,” he tells me.

“Oh, I didn’t realize they weren’t home.”

“They left while you were in the shower.”

“Sounds good. I’m ready to go.” He takes my hand and leads me to his Jeep. We’ve just turned on my parents’ road when Karina calls. “Hey, are you all still stopping at Mom and Dad’s?”

“We are.” She sounds happy. Excited even.

“What’s up?” I ask her.

“Nothing. Just been a good day. I was calling to tell you that we’re on our way.”

“Okay, well, we just pulled in.”

“See you soon.”

“She’s extra happy today,” I tell Griffin, dropping my phone into the cup holder.

“Is she?” he asks.

I turn to look at him. “You know something.”

“Dammit.” He laughs. “Okay, I know something, but I told her I wouldn’t tell, and I found out by accident.”

“Is it a good something?”

“Yes.”

“Okay then. I’ll let you off the hook.” I turn to reach for the handle and see a car I don’t recognize in the driveway. “Do you know who that is?” I ask him.

“No. Maybe one of the guys bought a new car.”

“Maybe,” I say, not really thinking that, but I could be wrong. Instead of going into the house, we walk around back to the patio, where we know everyone will be. What we find has me stopping in my tracks.

Griffin bumps into me, his hands going to my hips to keep me from falling over. “Babe?”

I point at the back patio.

“Holy shit.” He kisses my cheek and takes off, running toward his parents, who are standing there, talking to mine. I rush after him and hug them once Griffin is through.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Easton said you’ve been boasting about your grilling skills, and I had to let him know who the true grill master is in the Anthony family,” Gary jokes.

“No. For real. What are you doing here? Not that I’m upset, I’m happy to see you, but what are you doing here?” he asks again.

“Larissa and I are friends on social media,” Anna explains. “She reached out to us and told us about the party, and we thought it was a good time for all of us to meet.”