Page 104 of Anti Player

She flings herself into my arms and kisses me.

Brett covers his eyes. “I don’t want to be seeing that shit.”

Maddie pulls away. “Sorry.” She winces.

“That’s fine. You’re the best guy I know, Kaleb, so if you’re completely dedicated to my sister and my nephew then I can accept that,” he says, surprising me.

“You can?” I ask.

“Yes, you numbskull.” Brett’s laugh echoes in the apartment.

“You big bully,” Maddie jokes and then she is hugging her brother.

“Wait? Aren’t you leaving tomorrow?” Brett asks.

Maddie licks her lips. “I got accepted to a school here in the city. I never did give them a reply on the scholarship. Leaving wasn’t sitting right with me and now that I can attend school here, I’m staying.”

“Wow,” Brett says, and I agree.

Suddenly, Ellie, Syd, and Asher are at my door.

“Why are you awake?” Maddie asks Asher, who looks adorable in pajamas with little baseballs on them.

“I couldn’t sleep. I thought I heard Syd’s voice,” he says sweetly.

“Sorry.” Ellie winces.

“We’re staying in New York,” Maddie says cheerfully.

Asher’s light eyes turn bright. “We are?”

“Yes, sweetie. You and Mommy are going to go to school here,” Maddie says, and Asher runs up to her and hugs her waist.

“Yay, you aren’t leaving. OMG, Crew and Liam are going to be so happy,” Syd says.

We all burst into laughter.

“And you guys?” Ellie questions, pointing between me and Maddie.

“Turns out he loves me too,” Maddie relays to her, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Hold up,” I say. “She knew how you felt?”

Maddie nods. “Yeah, why?”

“Because Connor was the only one I confided in about my feelings for you,” I share.

“Huh,” Ellie laughs. “See, you can trust us with your secrets, and I’m so happy you both came to your senses. We all saw how much love there was between you.”

“Wait, how did I not see it?” Brett asks.

“We were careful around you,” Maddie explains. “But when you were back home, Kaleb arranged the most perfect day for us at Coney Island, and we kind of had a hard time keeping our hands to ourselves.

Brett groans, “I don’t need details, but I am glad to see you happy and if you do anything to make her sad.” He points a finger at me. “I’ll break both your hands.”

I wince. “That won’t be happening. Her heart is safe with me.”

I reach down and peck her lips, knowing that this is just the beginning.