Page 73 of The Blackmail of Denise Randall

We fall into an easy banter. The game quickly becomes intense as we get more competitive. “‘Bout to score. Get ready to cheer, Princess.”

I chase him down the court. “You wouldn’t know how to score. You’d have to know how to get in.”

“You doubting my game?”

I reach out and slap the ball out of his hand. “Not doubting. I know.” I quickly turn around with the ball and race down the other end of the court with Keaton hot on my heels. However, the more we try to steal the ball from each other and block, the more our bodies come into contact. Soon, the game becomes more intense, and somehow intimate with just the two of us in the gym, our bodies keep pressing against each other.

We hear the gym door slam while Keaton’s body is locked around mine, both of our hands holding the ball. We both turn our heads to find Trent and Alice standing in the doorway. Trent’s eyes blaze as they lock on our entwined bodies. He mumbles a few curse words and charges toward us. I stand in front of Keaton.

“No, no, no. We’re just fooling around.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of!” Trent growls at us. Okay that was on me. Bad choice of words.

Keaton slams the ball down. It makes a loud pop that echoes through the gym. I watch as it slowly bounces away. I wrap my arms behind me and try to prevent him from moving around me. I look up at him with pleading eyes. He doesn’t look at me though. He glares at Trent as his jaw ticks.

I whisper, “Please, Keat.” He looks down, and I watch as his eyes slowly soften. “Please.” With one last huff, he turns around and walks away from us. I call after him. “I didn’t mean for you to leave.”

He holds a hand up and gives a single wave. “It’s for the best.”

I ball my hands into fists and place them on my hips. “Happy Trent? We were just playing a game of ball. What’s your problem?”

Trent’s mouth drops open, and he points at his chest. “Me? My problem? He has the problem! You’re too young. Oh no. No, no, no little sister. I didn’t try to con a nice, much younger girl into being my plaything.”

“He didn’t—”

He holds his hands up. “And when did you start protecting him? You couldn’t stand him. Some fucking Stockholm syndrome going on here. You know what, you’re right. It’s my fault. It’s my fault for bringing him into the mix after Noah left. I led him straight to you. I brought him into our family. I treated him like a brother. You’re off-limits.”

“Trent-”

“No! Off-limits.”

With that, he storms out of the gym. I watch him leave with my arms crossed and a scowl. I turn to Alice. “I don’t recall him being this bad when Noah started dating you.”

She huffs. “We had our fair share of problems, believe me. Mom was the biggest obstacle there. But Denise…Trent didn’t help raise me either. He didn’t watch me grow up. We don’t share the same bond as you two do. He has you on a pedestal. He loves and cares about me, sure, but you’re his baby sister.”

“Keaton is only three years older.”

Alice gives me a knowing smile. “Keat’s older and more experienced. He seems so much older since you weren’t in school together.” She sighs and raises her eyebrows. “Plus, it looked pretty steamy between you two. Trent’s just trying to protect his baby sister. He’s always afraid of failing to protect us.”

I feel my anger deflating. I uncross my arms, and my shoulders drop. “He hasn’t failed anyone.”

“I know. Don’t be too hard on him, okay? If this is meant to be, he’ll come around. Have a little patience, though.”

“Wait—what? No.” I give a nervous laugh. “There’s nothing between us. I just don’t want Trent trying to beat him up every time he shows his face.”

“Oh okay.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

“Seriously.”

“Okay.”

We decide to play one-on-one. I keep thinking about Trent. I hadn’t realized he carried all that guilt on his shoulders. There was nothing he could do, not for Alice or for Landon. Now he’s worried that he’s put me in Keaton’s perverse path. He should understand that I’m an adult and more than capable of making my own decisions regarding men. Keaton is actually the least of his worries. If you only knew, big brother.

After our game, I decide I need to have a good, long talk with Trent.

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