Chapter 25
OWEN
Alexis drove as I sat in the passenger seat, the low tones of the radio lulling us into a calm ambience. The only hints I got for our date was to pack a bag and that we would be gone overnight.
One night! Twenty-four hours on our own!
What do I do? What do I say?
Nerves had me contemplating every move. Until I remembered my brief interaction with my brother the day before.
I had stormed into my parents’ house on high alert, Liam lazing on the couch, stuffing his face with popcorn.
“Get up! Get up!” I screamed.
Liam jumped to his feet, startled. I continued forward and slapped him clean across the face like the little bitch he was.
“WHAT THE FUCK, ASSHOLE?!” he roared before whipping out his hand to return the favour. I dodged before he tackled me to the couch, where we began wrestling—pretty unsuccessfully, I might add.
We soon lost our breath, and Liam got a stitch, so we called a truce. After exerting some of my pent-up frustration, I suddenly felt lighter. “Next time you open your big mouth, bitch boy, I’m gonna crush your balls till you lose the ability to speak.”
Liam chuckled, then stuffed more popcorn in his mouth. “Can’t have that. I still plan on giving Coop siblings.”
“Geez, you don’t even close your mouth when you eat. Filthy animal.” I spared a side-eye to his noisy chewing. “Like father, like son, I guess.”
“Hey, don’t blame my boy just ’cause you have no game. Coop even managed to score you a date, so I’ve heard?”
My lips stretched into a wide grin. There was no way I could prevent it. “Huh. Yeah, I guess the little man helped a bit."
Liam smirked. “Now, don’t fuck it up, bro. Go get ya girl.”
Yeah, go get my girl.
I sniggered from the memory, which made Alexis perk up. “What’s funny?”
“Nothing. Just something Liam said.”
“Hmm. Liam has a lot to say, it seems.” She didn’t sound perturbed, more amused. Which was confirmed by her shy, mischievous smile that had me fucking glitching.
“So where are you taking me?”
Her eyes lit up. “Stay put. I can’t wait for you to see.”
I can’t wait either.
Anticipation simmered higher as we drove for hours. Although, it was nowhere near long enough.
Alexis gave me a tour of the old apartment she had previously shared with her sister. It was spacious now that she and Austin had moved out.
After we recouped and dumped our luggage, she rushed me into a cab, refusing to tell me where we were going.
I welcomed the unknown, drinking in her excitement as she dragged me around the city. I was high off the buzz of just being with her. Anything else was a bonus.
When we pulled up outside the main football stadium for the East Coast Cyclones, she managed to leave me winded when she slipped her hand in mine.
Alicia awaited us at the entrance, wearing girl boss attire with a professional-looking lanyard hanging around her neck. Her eyes clocked our joined hands before her smile stretched into a wide grin.
Alexis tackled her with a hug, and I just stood there like an idiot, stressing about the appropriate greeting for an ex-sister-in-law. Alicia didn’t seem to hold the same qualms, stretching high to press a kiss to my cheek before slipping a lanyard over my head.
“I’ll meet you in the tunnels after the game,” she said as a goodbye.
“Tunnels?” I asked Alexis.
She just winked.
The atmosphere was electric as full-time was called. I was positively high from the potent energy radiating from the crowd. My team dominated, and I swear I was on the verge of losing my voice from all the screaming.
Alexis proved herself the best company, and I had to force myself not to kiss her over and over again. I truly wished for the day to never end.
As the masses drained from the stadium, she led me through winding corridors and security checkpoints until we reached her sister.
“Ah, good. I’ve got it from here,” Alicia said.
Alexis nodded and began to retreat. “You’re not coming with me?” I asked, the disappointment clear in my voice.
My pretty girl bit into her lower lip before shaking her head. “I’ll see you back at the apartment.”
I didn’t have time to reply before Alicia was dragging me away and shoving me into the next room.
My brain took a good minute to process what was right in front of me. The Cyclones team hustled about, completing their post-game rituals while my mind fired off in disbelief.
Keep it together.
Alicia continued to shepherd me through the busy group when we were blocked by a solid, muscular chest, bare and gleaming with sweat. My gaze rose to clash with big baby blues that kept bouncing between Alicia and me. Then, those same eyes narrowed when a hand was shoved my way.
“Ethan Harris,” he said as introduction, his tone angry and borderline antagonistic.
Is it me?
I knew who he was, as did the whole world. Almost starstruck, I accepted his handshake, which I regretted immediately as he crushed my fingers in his bulking, tight grip.
Alicia scoffed beside me, not bothering to hide the rolling of her eyes. “We’re busy. Move.”
Nope. Definitely not me.
His hostile expression immediately dropped as his gaze ran over Alicia—who didn’t unfurl from her ice queen persona.
Oh, hell. I knew that look all too well since I had been sporting the same for years. Ethan Harris had fucked up bad .
Ignoring his presence entirely, Alicia sidestepped him, expecting me to follow.
Once we made our getaway to a sidelining room, she introduced me to the head physiotherapist for the Cyclones, and left me speechless when I was told I would be shadowing him the rest of the day.
Mind-blown.
I was put to work immediately, slipping into the new role with little dissension. No one seemed to care that a complete stranger had just infiltrated their ranks—except for one.
Ethan laid on his front as I massaged his calf. He was highly strung, the tension radiating off him like a whip. For some reason, I didn’t think it was the game he’d just played. More so, a particular woman with the last name Thorne.
I remained silent, waiting for him to ask. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.
“So… How do you know Alicia?”
I smirked. The girl herself was nowhere in the vicinity. “Ah, we went to high school together.”
“High school? You must be close…”
“We used to be.”
“Used to be?”
I huffed and stopped my recovery massage. He read the cue and sat upright, shifting to face me. I analysed him as I said my next statement. “Her sister is the love of my life, and I’m trying to win her back. Something tells me we’re in the same boat?”
His jaw ticked before he deflated. “I met Alexis once. Let’s just say those Thorne girls are fucking scary.”
I chuckled. “Scary, but entirely worth it.”
“ Entirely. ” Ethan sighed before running an errant hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do. How to fix what I’ve done.”
He looked miserable, absolutely wrung out. I knew that feeling.
Submitting to my pity, I decided to offer some insight. “Let’s make a deal.”
“I’m not giving you $50,000.”
“Okayyyy, that’s specific. But I don’t want money. A phone call will do.”
“Who am I calling?”
“My brother.” So I can rub his favourite player in his stupid, gossiping face.