Page 70 of My Favorite Sin

Shit. “Yes, she’s fine. And she didn’t get stabbed. It was a shallowknife wound.”

“Why is there a knife wound at all? What situation was she put in?”

The self-hatred returns. “A man was drunk and tried to attack her because… I won a game against him.”

Amabella’s shocked gasp is overpowered by my father’s stern voice, and I realize I’ve been placed on speakerphone. “Daniel, when are you going to learn how irresponsible your actions are? I can deal with your defiance against me but now you’re putting Ally’s life at risk? I can’t understand you.”

No rational conversation can be held with my father when he’s in a mood like this. I don’t have any fight within me today and hang up the phone. Though, for once, I’m not at odds with the man.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

DAN

My arms ache as I punch the boxing bag over and over again. Sweat drips off me. I’m out of breath. Everything burns. But I don’t stop.

“Man, what isupwith you today?” Felix laughs.

Only now do I realize Felix’s friends have left and the two of us are alone in his apartment gym. “What do you mean?” I take a breather, removing my boxing gloves to wipe my face with a towel.

Felix leans one hand high on the gym’s squat rack, watching me curiously. “I’ve never seen you so… aggressive.”

“I’ve got shit on my mind.”

“Yeah, like what?”

“Nothing.”

He laughs again, the sound smug. “Since when have you ever had girl issues?”

“What are you talking about?” I glare at him and gulp down water.

“Dad pisses you off, but you never lethim get you this riled up. You’ve lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in poker and never cared. So, it’s got to be a girl.”

Goddammit. “Fine. Yes, it’s a girl.”

“And?”

“And nothing.” I place the gloves back on and resume punching.

“Wow.” Felix laughs harder. “She must have really done a number on you.”

I growl, punching the bag once more before giving Felix enough information to shut him up. “There’s a girl who’s off limits to me. End of story.”

He shrugs. “So, what’s the issue? Unless she’s dating your brother, I don’t see why she’s so off limits.”

I glance at Felix, surprised that he’s mentioning Harper. For a while now, I’ve known he’s had a thing for Tyler’s girlfriend but she’s not a topic we ever discuss. Felix and Harper rarely speak to each other. When they do, it’s forced pleasantries at family events. I caught him looking at her a few years back, longer than a guy should ever look at his brother’s girlfriend and realized there was something unspoken happening. When I asked him about it, he didn’t say much, but made me promise to not tell anyone else.

“Bro, what’s going on?” Felix pushes. “You clearly need someone to vent to.”

I take a seat on a nearby bench and catch my breath. These last three days have been the most agonizing of my life. Not only am I going out of my mind unable to talk to Ally or hold her in my arms, but I still haven’t heard news on whether her period has arrived. If there’s one person I can trust with this secret, it’s Felix. He won’t like what I have to say, but given his situation with Harper, he’s the least likely to judge.

“I gave you my word I wouldn’t mention your Harpersituation to anyone. Do I have your word you’ll do the same for me?”

“Of course.”

“Blond, blue eyes.” I start listing Ally’s features, hoping Felix will catch on, like it somehow lessens the severity of my situation if I don’t speak her name aloud. “Incredible piano player. Turns twenty-one in a month.”

I see the exact moment realization hits Felix. The smug look washes off his face and he turns still. “Oh, fuck, man. You and Ally?”

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