Page 31 of Played

Maverick points to me and then to Caleb, putting two and two together, and then he laughs. “Oh, she’s a smart lass, then. She played you both like fiddles.”

I dart up to knock him out, but da puts his hand out quickly, catching me. “Enough, Ethan. Don’t you think you’ve taken enough heat for this?” He tilts his head. “And why do you care so much, hm?”

I divert my eyes. “I don’t care. I just don’t want anyone talking about it.”

“What’s with the bear?” Malcolm teases, taking it from da.

“He went and saw her.” Caleb points out, catching on.

“To give her a piece of my mind.” I point out, argumentatively.

“And she ended up giving you a bear?” Malcolm asks, as if my argument is so weak, it’s humorous.

“It’s for Peg, stupid.” I spit. “She said it was given to her by her aunt, when she came to the states. She was terrified, and the bear was the only thing that made her feel safe.”

Da looks at me. “And you and your brother both had a relationship with the lass? Is this some kind of weird bedroom thing that I don’t want to know about?”

Caleb shudders. “Da, no! God!” He gasps. “I fucked around with her here and there, but there was no chemistry! She was just something to fill in the gaps when I didn’t want anyone to know. What Ethan and her did, I have no fucking clue.”

Da looks at me again. “How come you never told me about the lass, son? Was she just a roll in the hay to you, too?”

Suddenly, I feel defensive. Like I need to defend Freya’s honor, since she’s being made out like a whore. “No, da!” Then I hesitate, realizing what I've admitted to.

“Are you in love with her, son?”

I swallow, staring at my hands. My brothers and my cousin are standing over me, like this is a fucking interrogation. “Would you fuck off!” I bellow. “I’m not answering with these assholes standing over me.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Maverick surmises.

“Look.” I sigh quickly. “I was in love with her. Before I found out about her fucking Caleb, too.”

Caleb looks at me. “Why the fuck do you care? It was moons ago, man. We never lasted more than six thrusts and it was over.”

Now it’s my turn to shudder. “You want me to puke?”

“God, grow a pair, man.” Caleb chuckles mirthlessly. “Twenty bucks says that if we each made a list of all the lasses we’ve fucked around with over the years, some of them might line up. Who the fuck cares?”

Malcolm interjects. “Yeah, me and Maverick here fucked the same lass, but that was his recommendation.”

“You two are sick.” I wince, kicking Maverick further away from me.

And that’s when Declan, my other brother, walks in. “What am I missing?” He asks, holding his laptop in his hand, like a large notebook. He’s also got his earpods in his ears, looking like he just got off the phone.

“Ah, Ethan’s all bent out of shape because he and Caleb fucked the same lass.” Maverick waves.

He furrows his brows. “Gross.”

I lift a hand, voice raised an octave, emphasizing my words. “Thank you.”

“She some kind of desperate whore?” Maverick adds, and I feel my fist ball up. “No, she’s not, asshole.” I say through gritted teeth. “And the next jerkoff that alludes to that is going to taste my knuckles.”

“Someone’s still in love with her.” Malcolm says in a singsong voice, and then he sips his beer.

“I am not, shithead. How could I be in love with her after she...did...what she did.” I gesture with my hand, as though speaking the actual words is too repugnant.

Da sits next to me on the couch, folding his arms across his chest. “Ethan, what is it that is so repulsive about this lass, huh?”

I look at my brothers and Malcolm. Da picks up on my hesitation. “Don’t you boys have something to do?” They seem to find their way out the door. “Caleb, you stay.” I roll my eyes, resting my head on the back of the couch, in exasperation. Caleb sits next to da. “Go on, son. Answer me.”

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