Kickin' It (Red Card) - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,45

in? Wait.” Matt’s jaw started ticking. “Where is Willow?”

“Baby, I’m ready for you!” Willow came bouncing into the room wearing nothing but black thigh-highs and a matching corset and clutching a can of whipped cream in her right hand. “Matt! I thought your flight was delayed?” She hid the whipped cream. I almost slapped my own face. Too late, bestie, too late.

“JAGGER!” Matt thundered. He was ready to charge like a bull. I quickly put myself in between both men. “OUT OF THE WAY, PARKER!”

I winced as he yelled over my head. “No! Just take a minute to think this through.”

“Think what through!” And the vein was making an appearance. “He’s naked in my house alone with my sister—and she has—” he sputtered. “Willow!”

“Stop yelling!” she yelled right back. “I’m an adult, and if you must know, I told him that the garbage disposal wasn’t working.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried not to laugh while Matt’s chest heaved like he was storing all his energy so he could decapitate Jagger as soon as I moved out of the way.

“I fixed it,” Jagger said in a cocky voice. “Just in case you were wondering.”

Matt lunged.

“Whoa, whoa.” I held him back. “Hey.” I cupped his face with my hands without thinking. “Look at me, just look at me.”

Matt’s crazed expression met mine and immediately softened. “I’m killing them, pick who goes first.”

I grinned. “You’re not killing your only sister, and you’re not killing one of your best players, plus he makes you good money, right?”

Jagger choked out a laugh. “Voice of reason.”

“Not now, Jagger,” Willow hissed.

“You’re tired,” I murmured to Matt in my best soothing voice. “Just go to bed and I’ll talk to Willow. You can talk with Jagger in the morning.”

He didn’t move.

I hoped he’d listen. Then again, it was Matt, and he could do whatever he wanted; it was his house.

Oh no, what if he kicked her out? And me too?

Panic seized my lungs.

“Hey . . .” He tilted my chin up. “You okay?”

“Perfect,” I lied through my fear and the tears that were building in my eyes at the thought of not seeing him again. “I just, I think I’m tired too.”

“Ummmmm.” Willow’s voice broke through my thoughts and the lingering gaze I was giving Matt. Crap, he was still touching me. “Are we missing something?”

“Nothing you need to know,” Matt said before letting me go and stepping away. I hated that he dropped his hands like he had no right to touch me in front of other people. I hated it so much I wanted to yell at him, to lash out. But I didn’t. Maybe that was progress?

“Don’t kill each other,” was all I managed to say as I made my way toward my bedroom, the one in his house, the one he owned.

I changed for bed.

I stared up at the ceiling and wondered how I would survive the after.

After Matt.

After our friendship was over.

After I wasn’t living in his house, under this roof.

After everything changed and I was on a team.

I was happy.

For the first time in a year.

Truly happy.

I didn’t want that happiness ripped away.

And it occurred to me in a moment of frustration that soccer wasn’t the only thing that completed me.

Apparently, my heart had room for more.

I just wished it was possible.

I turned over and sighed, I’d completely forgotten that I was blanketed in darkness. Maybe because it was his house, maybe because I was just so consumed with thoughts of his tenderness. Of his loyalty.

And just as I was about to reach for the lamp, my door cracked open. It was his face.

The one I knew I’d dream about when I closed my eyes.

He leaned over the bed.

I sucked in a breath as he brushed a kiss across my forehead. “Are you okay?”

I nodded because I knew if I said yes I’d cry or beg him to stay with me and kiss me again.

“I’m sorry I lost my head, I never want you to think that . . .” His voice lowered and cracked a bit. “I would never be angry enough to be violent, I just wanted you to know that. I would never physically hurt my sister—hurt you.”

I exhaled and put a hand on his forearm. “I know.”

Neither of us moved.

His fingers dug into the comforter like he was contemplating ripping it from the bed.

Awareness spread throughout my body as I watched his fingers twitch and flex. I wanted him to give in so badly.

“Parker—”

“MAAATT!” Willow’s voice echoed