Page 23 of Triple Power Play 3
“Don’t act surprised. That’s exactly what happens when you ignore a person—they move on.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“You don’t believe me? While you were ignoring her, she was chatting with someone else. I thoughtIwas the one she was replacing.” I pause for dramatic effect. “Nope.” I punctuate the end, popping the ‘P.’
His chest heaves with rapid breaths. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about a certain someone going from shoulder to cry on to dick to ride on, telling her hemisses his princess,” I mock with a twisted frown. “He adores her,andshe’s all he thinks about.”
Ethan’s jaw ticks, his nostrils flare, and the vein in his neck pulsates. His voice drops an octave. “Who?”
“You know who. Fucking Reece,” I grit through my teeth. “And get this: He. Watched. My. Game.”
“Jesus Christ, he’s desperate.”
“He’s going in hard is what he’s doing. He even offered for her to stay with him in LA.”
Ethan nods, his face deadly calm, which is honestly scarier than his perma-scowl. “Is that so?”
“No lie. Check her phone. He was still texting her when I came home from the charity dinner.”
He cocks his head and raises his brows. “You read this and didn’t murder anyone?”
I place a hand on my chest. “You wound me, Coach. I’m a new man. I asked her about it…” I trail off just to irritate him.
“And?” he snaps, his gray eyes dark and stormy.
“And he’s probably texting her right now, telling her to sit on his face.”
I grin, and he punches me in the arm—hard.
“Fuck! I’m sore, asshole.” I rub my bicep. “She told me she likes him but doesn’t want to fuck him.”
“Yet,” he adds.
“Exactly. He’s just biding his time, waiting for an opening.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Me?” I ask, taken aback. “I went and married her. You’re the one leaving him an opening.”
“Yeah, we’ll fucking see about that.” He stands and extends his hand, palm open. “Give me your room key.”
I honestly don’t get enough credit for all the matchmaking shit I do.
10
ETHAN
By the time I reach Aurora’s door, I’m vibrating with fury. Giving her space wasn’t the best approach, and I knew that, but truthfully, it wasn’t for her. I needed to sort myself out, and I can’t do that around her and Jax. They’re my weakness. I fear I’ll give up anything for them, and I don’t want to lose myself. I fought hard for who I am.
I’m frightened by my feelings and where this is leading, and I’m frustrated with myself. I’m unable to control the violence and panic in my chest when I smell vomit, and I hate myself because of it. Jax is my player; we can’t walk around openly as a triad. People won’t accept us, and the attention will make me uncomfortable, as much as I’m ashamed to admit it.
I’m relieved at the thought of Reece joining our little family, but there’s no fucking way he’s replacing me.
I swipe the key card, the light blinks green, and I push into the room, only to be met with the sheer opposite of the dark storm raging within me.
“Jesus, fuck.” I stumble over a pink glitter-filled balloon, then another, as if they’re attacking me. “Did he leave any flowers or balloons for the rest of New York? Damn.”
