Page 104 of Play It Sinful

“Oh, I didn’t realize you had to retake it. Let me check.” She types away on her keyboard, and the sound gets on my nerves. I’m not sure why it’s bothering me now when I never had a problem with it before.

“Yes, I have it.”

“What does it say?” Kenzie leans over the counter.

“The same as the prior result.”

“She’s not my sister, then.” I step back, pressing a fist against my mouth. My heart is pounding so hard against my ribcage, I fear it might burst through.

“Ash is not your sister.” Kenzie repeats, then hugs me. “She’s not your sister!”

I don’t know how it happens, but we start to jump on the spot, chanting that Ashley isn’t my sister. From the corner of my eye, I see Nurse Wilson watching us with her mouth agape. She must think we’re crazy.

Kenzie steps back, then wipes the moisture from my cheeks. I didn’t realize I was crying. “Let’s head out to the waiting room and give an update to your friends.”

“Okay.”

She hooks her arm with mine and steers me in the right direction. I walk in a daze. My head is definitely stuck in the clouds. I can hardly believe this turn of events. I don’t care that I need to have a serious conversation with my mother and my dad. My mind is focused on the fact that there’s nothing keeping me from the girl I love anymore. Now I need to pray for her to get better fast, so I can spend the rest of my life worshiping her and making up for the three years we lost.

The entire gang is waiting for us—Darren, Alex, Logan, CJ, Noah, and of course, Ashley’s friends, Gia, Blair, Zoey, and Ash’s roommates. I open my mouth to tell them the good news that Ashley is in recovery when I notice someone who shouldn’t be here. Brian.

I advance toward him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He jumps out of the chair and shifts backward. “Ash’s my girlfriend. I have a right to be here.”

“The hell she is. Leave now, before I finish what I started.” My hand is already balled into a fist.

Kenzie jumps in front of me. “What are you doing, Sean?”

“I’m not getting into it right now, but this motherfucker needs to get the hell out.”

Alex and Logan join us. “You heard Sean,” Logan says. “You need to go. Don’t make us drag your ass out.”

Brian glances at the girls. “This isn’t right. I need to be here.”

Alex gets into his personal space. “Hey! Don’t look at them. Just fucking go already.”

Brian looks at me. “Can you at least tell me if Ashley is all right?”

If he hadn’t done what he did to her, I might take pity on him, but I don’t feel an ounce of remorse when I say, “No. You don’t deserve to know.”

“Is there something wrong here?” A security guard approaches.

“Yes, can you please escort this man off the premises?” I reply. “He’s disturbing the peace.”

The security guard grabs Brian’s arm. “Come on now. Let’s go.”

“But I did nothing wrong! I’m waiting for news about my girlfriend.”

The guard hesitates.

“She’s not his girlfriend. This man is a stalker who’s been harassing my sister,” I reply, stretching the truth.

Brian’s eyes bug out. “That’s a lie!”

“It’s a not a lie, sir,” Logan tells the security guard.

Having a second person back me up is enough for the man. He steers Brian away, but I’m still fucking pissed that he was here to begin with.

---