Page 34 of Penalty Shots

"I'm not doing this with you." I reach for the knob, but he blocks it. "Landry," I say, all warmth gone from my voice. "If you value your handsandyour career, like I know you do, then I suggest you move. Right now."

His fists clench and unclench.

“How long?” he asks.

"How long what?"

"How long will your accounts be frozen?"

I don't need him to get involved. I already have a plan in place, and I don't need to burden anyone else in my world with this. Despite how much I despise the thought of sinking so low. I can always ask my parents for help.

My dad will do it in a heartbeat. No questions asked.

But mom… I'm already bracing for the storm she'll unleash in my direction.

“Until the property division process is complete or...” I stop myself.

"Or what?"

I've already said more than I wanted to.

"I need to go. Izzy needs me." I move to leave again. And this time, he bends and picks me up by the waist and tosses me over his shoulder. I pound on his back.

"Put me down!"

He pushes aside a flower arrangement and sets me on the counter next to the sink. Holding me by the waist he looks at me intently.

"Or. What. Rina?" He enunciates each word.

I clear my throat. The last thing I need is my best friend's brother looking at me with those heated eyes. His hair is pushed back but messy from his earlier dance routine, and he’s practically standing in between my thighs in a suit that should be illegal.

I've seen him dressed before. The guys are always dressed to the nines before each game. But the way he looks right now. A woman can only have so much self-control, especially if he is the person I need to stay the furthest away from.

He slides his hands off my waist and places them on the counter on either side of me. And bends so that we're face to face.

"Tell me… or what?" He watches me like I'm the most captivating thing in the world.

I gulp. "Or… until I choose to stay with him."

A look crosses Keelan's face. The same look he had when Redmond passed security guards at the arena in search of me. Redmond knew I was working that day. He knew the team would be there. And he chose to make a scene so that everyone would know what was going on between us. It was the only way he would be able to get my attention.

And it worked.

"No," Keelan growls. "You're not going back to him."

There's something I don't take lightly in this world, and that's being told what to do with my life by someone who isn't me. I grew up with a mother who was controlling in everything I did. I vowed I would never let someone take that from me. Everything will always be my choice. I don't care who the person is.

You tell me what to do, and we're going to have problems.

I want to push Keelan away just for saying the words. I want to tell him to fuck off and to mind his own business.

But there's something I want far more than that. And I can never allow myself to admit it because I'm already in too deep.The damage is done, and now all I can do is try to live the best life I can.

I lift my chin, and Keelan stays in the same position before me. Watching me.

I reach for his tie, and he straightens. I wriggle it like I'm attempting to fix it. And as I do, I look him in the eye.

"Don't you ever," I say calmly. Then, not so calmly, "Ever!" I tug him to me by the tie. "Tell me what to do. I'm in charge of my life… and, quite frankly, yours too. So don't piss me off, Landry. That's a game you don't want to play. I have enough enemies as it stands."

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