Page 78 of Play It Sinful

Oh crap. Is he talking about Sean being roofied last weekend? I knew that they were waiting for something before taking action, but Sean didn’t elaborate.

“Resolved how?” Darren asks.

“Josh found out who slipped the drug in Sean’s drink. He was kicked off the team.”

“Only kicked off? He should have been expelled from school,” I say.

“I agree. Maybe he will be, but trust me, not being a part of the team anymore hurt him.”

I cross my arms. “Serves him right. Fucking jackass.”

“So we have even more reason to celebrate.” Sean smiles. “What do you say, Ash? Heritage tonight?”

It’s clear he wants to go, but he’ll come home with me if I say no. I don’t want to be that type of girlfriend.

“Oh, all right. I’ll make an appearance.”

“Of course you will.” Ryder chuckles.

“You’re starting to sound like one of the twins,” I say.

Ryder looks at me in horror. “You take that back.”

I shake my head and walk away. “Nah. I’d better get back to work.”

Before I turn around completely, my gaze locks with Sean’s. The glint of pure adoration in his eyes takes my breath away. I hurry off before I burst into flames.

CHAPTER 33

ASHLEY

Ican’t believe I’ve been with Sean for two months. We’re still single to the outside world, save for Darren, the twins, Ryder, and Kenzie knowing our secret, but we’re committed to each other. We haven’t labeled our relationship yet. I know that once we do, we’ll have to come clean to our parents, but we aren’t ready to rock our relationship boat yet.

We’re back home for Christmas, and this time, we didn’t make any false promises. We know we won’t be able to stay away from each other, but we have to be more careful.

Christmas is my mother’s favorite holiday, and she went all out on the decorations inside and outside the house. All the houses in our neighborhood are completely decked out, and people come from other communities to see the light show at night.

I’m in the kitchen, decorating cookies with Kenzie. She hasn’t said much since Sean and I arrived. In the past months, we’ve talked a few times over the phone, but there’s been a shift in our relationship, which saddens me. We used to be so close.

Sean is outside helping his father put the last touches on the Christmas lights, and Mom had to run to the store, leaving me alone with Kenzie for the first time.

“So... you and Sean are still... you know,” she says without looking up from her work.

“Yes, we’re still together.” I watch her for a couple of beats, then add. “I love him, Kenzie.”

She whips her face to mine. “For real?”

“Yes. I know you were against us from the start. We tried to break things off when we returned to Fairbanks, but in the end, we couldn’t.”

“I didn’t know it had gotten that serious. I thought you were just fooling around.”

“It started out that way.” I glance at the half-decorated cookie in my hand. “I haven’t told him yet that I’m in love with him.”

“Why not?”

“I’m afraid he might not feel the same way.”

“Ash, come on. You know how responsible Sean is. He wouldn’t risk hurting our dad if he wasn’t head over heels in love with you too.”

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