Page 14 of Ace My Heart

Joel chuckled. “Say what you want, Stink, but you know that later on tonight, when you’re in bed all alone, I’m going to be making her wet herself in a sexy way. I like a woman with a bit ofexperience. Now, if you’d been with more than one guy, I might be interested, but I don’t give lessons to beginners, sorry.”

I propped myself up on my elbows and glared at him. “Oh, hand me a bucket, I think I’m going to puke! Besides, Ihavebeen with more than one guy.”

Joel straightened. “Sorry, Mel, but the yeti you boned last night doesn’t count.”

If I’d had use of both my legs I would’ve gotten up to punch him, but I couldn’t, so I settled for throwing the remote at him. I missed, and he picked it up with a grin and sat it gently down on the armrest beside me.

“You know what’s funny, Joel?” I asked, forcing a breezy tone through clenched teeth. “That you actually believe that the only reason you haven’t slept with me is becauseyoudon’t want to.”

He gazed right at me then, turning the full force of his very blue eyes onto me. I tried my hardest to meet them with defiance.

“Mel, one day you’ll realise that you want me.”

“Oh, God, Ireallyhope so. I just can’twaitto be another notch on your bedpost!” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

Julie cleared her throat behind us. Joel flinched and turned around. I could see her face over the back of the sofa. She looked a little put out. I guess she’d heard the last part of our conversation.Well, take that, Joel. Maybe you won’t be making her ‘wet herself in a sexy way’ tonight after all!

“Ready to go?” Joel asked her. She smiled at him and I took back my last little thought. Julie was clearly all too eager to fall under the Joel Herbert spell.

“You both have areallynice time tonight!” I called insincerely as they headed for the door. “Don’t worry about me; the invalid will just look after herself for the night.”

Joel sighed and turned around. Julie had brought a pair of crutches with her, and they were propped against the wall just inside the door. He carried them over and put them on the floor beside me.

“No need to milk it, Mel,” he said in an undertone. “You’ll be fine. Steve will be back in no time. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He stood up and walked back over to the door. “Don’t wait up!” he called as he ushered Julie out.

The thought of Steve returning before Joel kind of terrified me. Joel might be annoying as all Hell, but he had a knack for defusing his dad’s explosive moods.

And now I’d be left to cop the full brunt of it, while Joel romanced my physiotherapist.

I was sobbing before I even had a chance to work out what was making me feel so upset. I forcefully rubbed at my wet cheeks, wishing the tears away.

My phone rang. With a shaky sigh of relief that someone out there wanted to talk to me, I reached for it.

“Hey Brad,” I mumbled. I made a pathetic effort to sound like I wasn’t crying, but he wasn’t stupid.

“Are you okay, Mel? Are you in pain?” he asked anxiously. I was touched by his worry.

“Nah, just down about the match. And feeling a little lonely.”

“What, isn’t Steve there?”

I shrugged. “Nope. And Joel just left to screw my physio.”

Brad snorted. “Why doesthatnot surprise me? I am surprised that Steve left you all alone with a sprained ankle though.”

It was my turn to snort. “I’m not. We had a massive fight.”

“Why?” Brad was curious.

“Oh, it’s a long story, but the gist of it is that he’s pissed at me because I lost.”

“That’s bullshit! I mean, it’s not your fault that you fell over and sprained your ankle!”

“Well thanks, it’s good to know that someone’s on my side.” Even if it was in part my own fault.

“I’m always on your side, Mel. Do you want to grab dinner? Amanda moved her flight up to get back to work, I just dropped her at the airport, but I’m still down here until tomorrow evening. Maybe we could get Uber Eats, watch some crappy TV?”

---