Page 14 of Sin Bins and Second Chances
Was he my kryptonite? No, that wasn’t righteither. He wasn’t my weakness. Ethan mesmerized me when I was a young girl. Maybe infatuation?
Well, whatever the hell it was then—or now—I don’t like it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
He chuckles and slides closer, his arm moving to rest on the back of the seat behind me. “Please.”
With a sigh, I drive the golf cart back around and under the carport.I am not doing this for him.I tell myself. My goal is to enjoy dinner and have a few laughs with the team. It was my normal.
“Good girl,” he whispers softly before sliding away and off the seat.
What? Did he just? I whip my head around. “Excuse me?” He smirks with a stupid twinkle in his eye. “I’m not a dog or a pet.”
He raises his hands in the air. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think it’s better if you just don’t talk to me.” As I hurry past him, I can’t resist rolling my eyes, eager to distance myself from him before running inside. Why? No other reason than to get in there and occupy myself, so I stop thinking of him.
It could work. Maybe. Probably not, but by golly was I going to try.
“Everything good?” I’m barely walking back into the kitchen when Andrew approaches.
I narrow my eyes at him. Surely, my cousin realizes he fucked up. He didn’t tell me Ethan was back. I’m also not ready to talk about it. Saying yes, would be a lie. I don’t know how I feel. If I can get through the next hour or two, things will be better. I need time to process. For now, I’ll just pretend Ethan isn’t here or that it’s not as big of a deal as it feels.
It’s the perfect plan—pretend he’s just one of the guys, another member of the team. Ethan Miller means absolutely nothing. It’s not as if he was my first crush or first love… firsteverything. I swallow and glance at him.
He smirks.
Damn it.
Andrew walks out the back door and I follow him. I keep my smile soft until we’re alone and I can give him a piece of my mind.
“I need a word with you.” I glance around to double check that nobody is around us.
“What’s up?” He flips the burgers, then turns around to face me.
“Why didn’t you tell me Ethan gottraded?”
“I was legally obligated to keep the secret up until recently.” Andrew shrugs.
I punch him in the shoulder. “Asshole! I don’t care if you knew for one hour or one month, you should’ve told me.”
His eyebrows rise. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t.” The lie comes easily.
Andrew’s eyes narrow. “Interesting.” He tries to bite back his smile.
“You never told him the truth, right?” I sigh.
Andrew looks taken aback. “Of course not; we’re family. Daisy, it was a rough time for everyone. You didn’t have to go through it alone.”
“Yes, I did. He was too good. You know as well as I do he would’ve come back to be there for me, for the family. He would’ve put school and hockey on the back burner.”
“I don’t think you’re giving him enough credit.” Andrew argues.
“I did what I thought was best.” I cross my arms.
Andrew sighs and shakes his head. “Daisy, I didn’t tell you then because you were already going through a lot, but I think you made a mistake. I’ve seen the guy play hockey, played withhim at the start. He was always going to find a way to keep playing.”
“Do you think it’s too late?” It’s a stupid thought. I’ve moved on. He clearly has too, not that I’m even entertaining the thought. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. The past. That’s where it’s going to stay.”
