15. June
CHAPTER 15
JUNE
R yan promised he would be on his best behavior, but a few minutes into the drive back home, he touches my knee, making me jump a little. I look at him and whisper. “What are you doing?”
He smiles like a fiend. “Nothing.”
Lachy has the radio on pretty loud, so I doubt he or April can hear us.
I narrow my eyes, and then push his hand off my knee. “You’re bad.”
His brows shoot up. “What? I’m an angel.”
Jake snorts. “Yeah. Lucifer.”
April lowers the music and turns to look at us. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Nothing,” I reply through clenched teeth.
“Have you ever been to LA, April?” Jake asks.
“No. This is my first time, but I won’t be staying long. I just came to check on June. I was so worried about her after what Bill did.”
God. She had to bring him up. What happened at the game feels like eons ago. I spent ten years with the guy, but now, my time with him is nothing but a blip. He’s not worth a second of my thoughts. I’m annoyed she mentioned him, even though that’s her excuse for being in LA.
“You could have called,” I retort.
She gives me a meaningful glance. “Well, I needed to see you in person. It’s easy to lie and say you’re fine over the phone.”
“It’s sweet of you to check on her in person,” Lachy pipes up.
“I know! Thank you for recognizing the awesome sister that I am.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I’m the one being the awesome sister. “Way to toot your own horn, April.”
She sticks her tongue out at me, then looks at Lachy. “How did you end up becoming friends with my boring sister?”
“June isn’t boring,” Lachy retorts. “She’s a great lass.”
“God. Your accent is so swoony. It’s like I’m talking to Jamie Fraser from Outlander .”
My entire body becomes tense. April had better not start flirting with Lachy.
Ryan leans closer and whispers in my ear. “You’re not getting jealous, are you, Peaches?”
“No,” I murmur.
Goose bumps form on my skin. Despite needing to maintain the fa?ade that I’m only friends with the boys, I can’t control my body’s reaction to Ryan’s hot breath on me. I’m glad that April isn’t paying attention to me now. She’s way too observant.
“If you say so,” April replies. “But she did date Bill for an eternity, and honestly, I never knew what she saw in that stuck-up guy. He thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow. Did you know he was voted the most punchable face in high school?”
My jaw drops. “How did you know that? You were only a kid.”
“August told me.”
I throw my head back, resting it against the seat. “Of course he did. Can we please stop talking about Bill?”
“Gee. Fine.” She focuses on Ryan and then Jake. “Do you guys have girlfriends?”
Good grief, April. You’re sucking big time today.
“Yes,” they all answer at the same time, making my heart do a cartwheel. It’s me. They’re talking about me. I can’t help the smile that blossoms on my lips.
“Really?” She sounds disappointed, which makes me even more amused.
“Yeah,” Lachy replies.
“That’s too bad.”
“Why is that?” Ryan asks.
“I was hoping one of you would date June. I said she was boring, but she is a catch, you know? And God knows she needs an upgrade in the boyfriend department.”
My face becomes hot. Okay, April. I forgive you for bringing up Bill earlier.
“You’re not wrong about that,” Lachy pipes up. “Maybe one of us is dating her.”
“What?” she screeches, then turns to me. “You’re dating a hockey player and didn’t tell me?”
I ignore her and glower at the back of Lachy’s head. I can’t believe he said that after I asked them to pretend we’re just friends.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I grit out. “Lachy is kidding.”
Jake takes my hand in his. “It’s okay, Junebug. You can tell your sister.”
April doesn’t miss the gesture. She stares at Jake’s hand clasping mine for a second, then looks at me. “You’re dating Jake. I knew it! That’s why you were his date at that charity event. Jenny said you were the charity case. Wait until I tell her I was right!”
Only my dear sister can compliment and humiliate me in the span of seconds.
I open my mouth to say she can’t tell anyone, but hell, I don’t have any reason to keep my relationship with Jake a secret. It’s okay for me to date one hockey player. The problem is dating Ryan and Lachy at the same time.
“We haven’t made it official yet,” Jake chimes in. “I’d ask you to wait a bit before you spread the news.”
“Yeah. I didn’t even tell Mom and Dad yet,” I add.
April’s face falls. “Oh... okay.”
Lachy changes the subject and asks April about her school. I cringe, thinking that she’s going to clam up, considering all the boy drama. But she’s happy to tell everyone all the wonderful things she’s doing in Baron, Texas. Consequently, she forgets I exist during the rest of the trip.
She’s still talking a mile a minute when we get out of the car and walk to the elevator. I give props to the boys. They’ve been super friendly and engaging to my sister.
In the elevator, I ask the boys, “Do you want to come in for the apple pie?”
“It’s okay, Pea... I mean, June. You probably want to spend some quality time with your sister,” Ryan replies.
I’m disappointed, but he’s right. I won’t be able to relax with April around. What if I inadvertently touch Ryan or Lachy in an intimate way? April can’t know I’m dating all three of them.
The boys decide not to come to my apartment, and since Jake is my official boyfriend, he kisses me goodbye before I walk out of the elevator.
No sooner am I alone with April than she grabs my arm and spins me around. “I can’t believe you’re dating that man. He’s hotter than Henry Cavil!”
“Will you calm down?” I pull my arm free from her grasp and walk to the front door.
“You weren’t planning on telling me you were dating Jake, were you?”
“Nope.”
She crosses her arms. “Why not?”
I push the door open and enter the apartment before answering her. “Because you have a big mouth, and I’m not ready to be in the spotlight again. Besides, it’s too new.”
“Oh, yeah. Better not tell anyone. It probably won’t last anyway.”
Her comment makes my blood run cold. “That was a mean thing to say, April.”
“What? I’m just being realistic. Jake is a hot pro athlete. He probably has hundreds of gorgeous women at his beck and call. You’re cute and all, but you’re no supermodel, June. No offense.”
“Looks aren’t everything,” I retort.
Winston barks inside his crate, keeping me from saying more. April has always been a cute child, but she’s blossomed into a knockout, and unfortunately, she’s developed a vapid personality to go with it.
I rush to let Winston out. Poor thing needs to go for a walk again. He jumps up my legs, happy as he can be. I scratch his head. “Hello, boy. Did you miss me?”
“Eww, that’s the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen.”
“Quit being such a bitch, April,” I snap.
Her jaw drops, and her eyes bug out. I rarely lose my temper with her, but she pushed my limits already.
“April is a bitch!” Admiral screeches from his cage.
She whirls around. “Who said that?”
I fight to keep a straight face. “The parrot.”
“Great. Now he’s calling me names. Thanks a lot, June.”
“You’re acting like your old self again. I guess you aren’t worried anymore about your emergency?” I search for Winston’s leash, which I usually keep next to his water bowl. But Lachy must have put it in a different spot when he dropped Winston off before we went to the grocery store.
“Oh... there’s no emergency anymore. I got my period!” she squeaks.
“What? And when were you planning to tell me?”
She puts her hands on her hips. “It’s not like I had a moment alone with you since we left your friend’s house.”
Shit. She’s right. I was already with the boys when she came out.
“Right. Sorry. But that’s great news. We’ll book your flight to Baron as soon as we come back from walking Winston.”
Her brows shoot to the heavens. “You want me to walk that dirty mop?”
“You don’t have to walk Winston. You’re keeping me company.”
She grimaces. “Can’t I stay?”
“Nope.”
The last thing I want is to leave April alone in my apartment. She’ll snoop around for sure.