32. Chapter 25

"So, were you ever going to tell me that you liked my sister?" I nudge Adam with my elbow, and give him what I hope is an annoyed look. But I'm not really bothered at all. Adam is a good guy, and I like him. If this actually becomes something, I think he might be the first of my sister's boyfriends that I would like. "You know you better not do anything untoward, right?"

We're walking to the hotel where the Mavs are staying before our game against the Rams. "Untoward?" Adam laughs at me, and gives me a hard pat on the back as we head into the lobby. "Did you really just use a big word? Looks like Brie is rubbing off on you in more ways than one."

At the mention of her name, a silly grin immediately claims my face. It's been happening since Wednesday. Yeah, I'm completely smitten, and that girl has me feeling like a schoolboy with his very first crush. "Hey. I've always used big words."

Adam throws back his head and laughs at me. "Not since I've known you."

"Which hasn't been very long," I counter.

When we get up to the front desk, I thank the receptionist as she hands me my room key. Silly grin still in place. I take a step back and lean against the wall, checking my phone to see if Brie sent any messages. We've been texting and talking back and forth any chance we could get this entire week. I thought I knew Brie, but I've learned things about her that I never would've thought about in these last few days.

She's like an onion, and I love every layer that gets peeled back. My heart stutters for a moment as it processes the word that my mind just uttered, and I mentally give myself a facepalm.

It's a bit soon to be thinking the "L" word, Josh. Or is it?

I scoff and shake my head at the internal dialogue I've got going on. I push off the wall, disappointed there isn't anything from Brie, and head over to where Coach is giving his normal check-in speech. Settle in, rest, and then meet up at seven for dinner.

Most people don't realize the coordination that takes place when you're traveling with fifty-two players plus staff. It's a project, and though I'm used to it, it never fails to amaze me with how smoothly every away game goes.

"Did you catch that, Owens?" Adam ribs me. My gaze is back on my phone, as if staring at it will magically make a message from Brie appear.

"I've got it. But thanks for being so concerned," I respond, sliding my phone into my pocket. "If only you were this concerned with how I would feel about you dating my sister, we'd be good."

"Bro," Darius chimes in. "Have you not been paying attention to the sparks flying between the two of them?"

Adam pretends like he can't hear anyone and my mouth gapes.

"Noooooooo. He's been too busy dealing with the sparks flying between him and Brie." Johnson elbows me a few times. "So, is Brie wearing my jersey this weekend? It is an away game."

All the guys around me laugh, and then they laugh harder at my clenched jaw and hard stare. "No." That is all I can get out as the guys let out a collective "Ooooohhh".

"Oh, Joshie boy." Michaels smacks me on the back and then starts walking backward, facing me. "You've got it bad for little Miss Cheese."

Heat creeps up my face, and the guys hoot and holler at my discomfort, but even I can't help but laugh at them. Sometimes, being around big children is really annoying—especially if you're the butt of their jokes. My silence makes them laugh even harder, getting the attention of the entire team, whose focus is all now completely on me.

"I love you, Briosh," someone yells while someone else makes kissing noises. Finally Coach tells everyone to knock it off and focus, but not before he looks at me and winks.

My face gets even hotter. When did I start blushing? This is horrible. I take a few deep breaths, hoping a distraction will turn my face back to its normal shade. But the side glances and smirks people keep giving me is working against me.

I love my teammates, but this is going to be two very long days. Good thing we have a game to focus on in the near future, and not my love life. Otherwise I'd never hear the end of it.

I glance over at Adam and whisper, "We're not done talking about you and Susie. I still need to know what your intentions are." I'm only partially serious. My sister is a big girl who can take care of herself, but that doesn't mean that I won't make sure that anyone she's potentially dating doesn't know I have her back. What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't?

"I like her," he responds with a silly grin, one I recognize from wearing myself. "She's pretty great."

I nudge him. "Of course she is! She's related to me." I can feel him all but roll his eyes at me, and I laugh. "Good. Cause I'd hate to not be able to like you anymore."

That time, he does roll his eyes at me.

I reach my room and put the key card into the lock. "I'll see you at dinner," I throw over my shoulder just as I open the door and walk in. I put my bag on the bed, check my phone one last time before putting it on the nightstand, and hop in the shower.

I'm towel-drying my hair when my text alert goes off. My heart leaps, hoping it's Brie. When I get to my phone I see that Finn has tried calling multiple times and sent a text. Susie has called, too, and there are several texts from her as well. I check Finn's first.

Finn:Kissing anyone I should know about? thinking emoji>

That's a strange question. He knows about Brie and I.

Me:You already know. shrug emoji>

My phone immediately starts ringing. It's Finn.

"Hey, Finn. What's up with that text?" I ask. Rubbing my wet hair with the towel again.

"I was hoping you could answer that for me. I have a picture over here that looks like you were kissing someone who isn't Brie."

The towel freezes in my hand, and my chest tightens.

"What?" I stutter. "That's not possible. What are you talking about?" My phone vibrates, and I see a link to Tea Time. I click on it to see a picture of what looks like me kissing someone with dark hair. I panic, wondering if Brie has already seen this. Then I remember all of Susie's calls and texts. Chills run down my spine and my stomach rolls. "I don't know who or what this is."

"Well, it doesn't look good," he says. "It's not just on Tea Time; it's everywhere."

"I gotta go."

"Josh, we need to—" I hang up before he finishes. I need to call Brie. Now.

I rub the back of my neck while the phone rings and rings and rings. Finally, I get her voicemail. My heart feels stuck in a vice, and my throat is thick.

"Brie, It's Josh. Please give me a call when you get this," my voice pleads. "I don't know who this woman is or where this was taken, but I do know it isn't what it looks like. Please call me back."

I hang up and consider calling until she picks up, but instead, I call my sister.

"What's going on?" Her voice is a harsh whisper.

"Are you with Brie?" My heart races. "Can you put her on the phone?"

"No, she's home, but even if I was with her, I wouldn't put her on the phone," she chastises me. "What the heck is going on?"

I put her on speaker and throw on some joggers and a Mav's T-shirt.

"I don't know, Suse." I collapse on the bed, rub my face with my hand, and blow out a big breath. "I don't know where this could've happened or who this person is. I was with Adam the entire time, talking about you."

She groans. "Really? Do you have to be such a big brother terror with guys I date?" I almost smile at that.

"Can we focus, please? I'm worried sick that Brie thinks this picture is actually what it looks like."

"She does, and so does everyone in town. I know you've done dumb things, Joshua." Oh, my sister is very mad at me. "But I'm hoping I'm right by sticking up for you because I know how you feel about Brie."

"She told you?" I ask, my head jerking back.

"Hah! I knew it." I groan at the smugness in her voice. "I didn't need her to tell me ‘cause I was right."

"Suse, can you gloat later? Right now, I'm sick."

"Sorry. We were at Thanks-A-Latte when we saw the picture."

I cringe and start to rub my hand against my chest. I can't even imagine the humiliation Brie must've felt seeing this picture in front of the whole town. I drop my head and whisper, "She must hate me, Suse."

Her voice softens. "She's hurt and confused, Josh, just like all of us. Lucky for you, I'm pretty sure this isn't what it looks like. It's not, right?"

"No, it's not," I say firmly.

"Well, then figure out how to fix it." I think of Adam. I was with him the entire time.

"Right. I gotta go talk to your boyfriend and see if he can figure out where we were when this happened."

"Ugh. He's not my—" I hang up before she finishes. If I wasn't so worried about Brie I would've gotten a nice chuckle out of her response. But I am worried, and I'm hoping that Adam can help me figure out what this is.

I ignore all the incoming texts and grab my key card.

Running down the hall, I pound on Adam's door.

"Coming," Adam yells, I pound again. "I said I'm coming, geez. Josh?"

He opens the door, and I push my way in. "Sure, you can come in, Josh." He's standing with the door open, looking over his shoulder at me. When he sees my expression his brows furrow. "What's wrong?"

I shove the phone in his face. "Do you remember this? Does any of it look familiar as to where this could've possibly happened?"

Adam takes my phone from me and looks closer. "Who is that? Wait, is that at the airport?"

I take the phone back and look closer at the picture. Normally, the team takes our own flight, and we rarely walk into the airport, but today was one of the days that we needed to so we could get to the team bus.

I immediately call Finn.

"This was at the airport," I say immediately. Then look at Adam, who nods. "I was with Adam the entire time."

"I'm on it," Finn responds. "Focus on the game, Josh, and try not to do anything stupid, please. I'll get this cleared up."

The call disconnects, and I stand staring at my phone. My heart is heavy when a text alert showing Brie's name pops up. My mouth goes dry, and my heart races as I open it.

Her words make my blood run cold.