Sneak Play (The Playbook #3)
Prologue
July- Freshmen Year
Unknown
Your mom said you have to be my friend.
Me
Who is this?
Me
Consider me intrigued.
Unknown
[picture message]
The image is cropped with a tattooed arm slung around my mom’s shoulder, and my brother, Joey, smiling in the stranger’s direction.
Unknown
I’m basically part of the fam now.
Me
Hold please, I’m calling my mom to check on her safety. Seriously, who are you?
Unknown
Tell her I miss her already.
Unknown
Also, wouldn’t this be so much more fun if you had to figure out who I am the hard way??
Me
This isn’t a scavenger hunt, dude.
“Hi, honey. Everything okay?” my mom asks, likely concerned because I’m normally a texter, not a caller.
“Yes, but why’s a random guy texting me saying he’s your new bestie?”
A giddy laugh ricochets through the phone. “Oh, my goodness, he’s so funny… Let me tell you, Shay, this is a guy you need to meet.”
My mouth drops open in disbelief. “Are you serious? Mom, why are you trying to hook me up with guys my first week at college?”
“I just think he’d make a great…friend.”
“And you’ve known this guy for all of five minutes?”
“Actually, Joey and I took him to lunch.”
“How did all this happen?” I ask incredulously.
“We were in the quad area, and I had my hands full with stuff I’m taking home for your dad.
Joey started getting very overwhelmed. He came right over and helped me carry everything I dropped so I could tend to Joey.
He was so kind and patient. I can tell he looks after those he cares about, and I just wanted you to have a friend like that. ”
Dammit, she knows my brother is my soft spot.
“That actually does sound really nice.”
“He’s the sweetest.” I can practically see her heart eyes.
My phone vibrates. “He just texted again.”
Unknown
Don’t cheat … you have a very identifiable picture of a piece of my body.
I shake my head, not sure what to do with this situation. “This guy is literally telling me not to find out his name from you.”
“Aww, like a secret admirer. It’s so cute.”
I roll my eyes. “Mommm, this guy doesn’t even know who I am.”
“Oh yes, he does! I showed him a picture…and he was very interested.”
“Lord, Mama.”
“I’m serious, and you know what he said?”
“What?” I ask, unable to help myself.
“Shay Moore, one of the most sought-after high school point guards, who’s coming to Mountain Ridge to take the women’s team to victory.”
Butterflies erupt for a guy I don’t even know. Most guys are intimidated by my “ball-handling” skills.
“Okay, okay. I get it.”
“I promise not to give your number out to any more strangers. But he truly doesn’t feel like a stranger. He knows your dad too.”
“Dad?”
The silence on the other end of the phone has red flags firing off in my brain.
I gasp. “As in, Dad’s his hockey coach, isn’t he?”
I can almost picture the slight wince on her face, knowing that complicates things even more.
“Yeah, maybe don’t tell your father I gave your number to one of his top recruits.”