only ways to stave off the ache that never seemed to go away. Sometimes, I could swear I felt it in my dreams.
“One! Two! Three!”
What was she going to do? Breath through the door? I doubted it. She might be a force of nature, but a linebacker she was not.
A little too late, I remembered that I’d given her a key in case I locked myself out. Cursing, I shuffled awkwardly to the door, but she had it open and was slipping through before I could latch the chain lock.
“Really, Tripp? Can’t answer a text?” Her green eyes were bright as emeralds. Nose wrinkling, she looked around me. “Good God, it smells like a frat house in here.”
“If you’re not going to clean, then get out.”
Turning away from her, I went back to exchanging my mushy ice pack for a fresh one. I slapped it on my shoulder and reclined back on my nest on the sectional couch, which was now covered in dirty clothes, old takeout containers, and a remote…somewhere in the cushions.
“Tripp,” she said, and her voice was so full of compassion that it made me want to hurt things.
“Don’t start.”
“Please talk to me.” She sat down on the couch next to me despite the junk covering every available surface. “I want to help you.”
I scoffed. “What are you gonna do? Fix my shoulder? Go back and win the game for us? C’mon, Em, there’s nothing you can do to help me. Just leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere. If cleaning is what you need, then I’ll clean.”
I didn’t answer that. She could do whatever the hell she liked. I wasn’t going to stop her.
We ignored each other while she picked up trash and dirty clothes. I pretended not to notice her and closed my eyes in protest. If she wanted to waste her time, whatever. I wasn’t her daddy.
When she was done, she sat down beside me, but I didn’t acknowledge her. I knew that if I did, I’d break.
Another knock came at the door, and I cracked open an eye. It was some guy I didn’t recognize. “Hey,” he said to Ember. “I was at your place, but your friend Charlie said you were over here.” His eyes darted to me. “Are you ready?”
“I can’t go out tonight. I’m sorry. I meant to text you.” She lowered her voice. “He’s still a little down. Raincheck?”
“For you, anything. I’ll text you.”
“Okay, bye,” she answered, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
Since when did she have a boyfriend?
Chapter Seventeen
Ember
The twins fell asleep with surprising ease. They weren’t even awake long enough for Tripp to wish them good night. The one night when I could use their bedtime to clear my head and organize my thoughts, and their lights were out in less than ten minutes. Why do they always do the exact opposite of what I want them to? It’s a conspiracy. It’s like they know.
My heart was thundering as I closed the door to their room and headed back down the hall. This wasn’t going to be easy, but it was necessary. Doing the right thing had allowed me to survive thus far. And cutting things off before they got too complicated was the right thing.
Wasn’t it?
I reached the end of the hallway. “We have to talk,” I said clearly, though inside I was shaking.
Tripp got to his feet from where he was reclining on the couch. “Uh-oh, that sounds ominous. Come here. The twins get to sleep okay?”
Why did he have to be so damn nice? I went to him, taking a seat by his side. I hoped he couldn’t tell how nervous I was. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” Even though I kinda did.
“I know what you meant.” He held up a finger to my lips before I could respond. It stopped me short—like it always did when he touched me. It only made me want him to touch me more. “I bet I can guess what you’re going to say.”
Bewildered, but at the same time not really surprised, I blew out a breath. He always seemed to know what I was thinking before I thought it. It was unnatural. “You do?”
He nudged my shoulder and said with patient exasperation, “C’mon, Em, how long have we been friends?”
To be honest, it felt like forever. “A long time.”
“I bet you’re thinking we were crazy for sleeping together. That a friends-with-benefits relationship could never work between us. That you’re worried it’ll mess everything up. The