Page 54 of No Rhyme or Roughing
The game was a train wreck, and every time the camera showed Ryder, his face was angrier. I watched him try to fire up his team on the bench, yell at the refs, and even argue with Frankie.
That burning in him had me leaning forward, mesmerized.
Wanting him to scorch me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
RYDER
“Welcome!”
The squeal came seconds before a woman I’d recognize anywhere barreled into Sydney at my side.
Sydney let out a squeak of surprise but didn’t return the hug. “Um… hello.”
I coughed, trying not to laugh. “Sam, you’re going to scare her away.”
Sam released Sydney and backed farther into the small townhome she shared with Sullivan. “Sorry! It’s just… you two are so cute.” Her eyes flicked from me to Sydney. “And I’m so excited we’re all able to get together for the holiday.”
Teddy stepped out from behind us. “And here I thought I was the only cute one.” He pulled Sam into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for the invite, beautiful.”
She wrapped an arm around Teddy’s waist and led us through the entryway toward where Sullivan was bent over, peering into the oven.
“Now, that’s a sight.” Teddy laughed. “Sammy, you really got Sul to cook? Should we order takeout now or later?”
“Har har.” Sullivan straightened, kicked the oven shut, and wiped his hands on an apron. An apron that had a full-length David—Michelangelo’s David—printed on the front. Headless, as if the apron-wearer were the statue himself.
Lord have mercy. Sullivan was just another version of Teddy, and neither had changed a bit since they were teenagers.
“Beer?” He pointed to Sydney first, and she shrugged an okay. We’d barely spoken in days, but that had been my fault as I tried to get my head on straight, tried to sort out all these thoughts I had about her. They were never-ending, ceaseless.
“Ry, watch out!”
I whipped my head around just in time to see a bottle of Stella flying at me.
“Jesus, Sul.” I caught it, barely.
“My turn next.” Teddy aimed as if he were going to throw his beer—hisopenbeer—at me, but at the last second, he took a sip instead.
“Assholes,” I muttered.
Sydney disappeared into the living room with Sam, who was probably asking her a million questions. Invasive ones. It was in her nature—just like my brother’s. I should have seen how much better suited they were for each other years ago.
I heard Coach Frankie’s voice greet them, and suddenly, I was having Thanksgiving with two of my coaches, even though one was family. Not exactly my idea of a good time.
Sullivan stirred something on the stove then set the spoon down and turned toward the kitchen island, resting his elbows on it and fixing his gaze on me. “Glad you showed up, Ry.”
I picked at the label of the beer before taking a long drink. “Sydney made me.”
Teddy barked out a laugh, and Sullivan grinned. “You really like her, don’t you?”
Again, Teddy laughed. I shot him ashut-upglare.
“About that… We aren’t… She isn’t…”
Teddy’s hand on my shoulder stopped me. “What my captain here is trying to say is that, while he’s over the immense betrayal of our Sammy’s heart belonging to you, Sul, he isn’t ready to fall in love and ride off into the sunset with my sister.” There was a warning in the way he saidmy sister.
I brushed his hand away. “Right.”
