Page 11 of Fool Me Once

Gemma simply casts a glare at me and rolls her eyes, but my sister shakes her head and answers for her. “No, she hasn’t had anything to drink. If she had, I wouldn’t have her drive me home. Contrary to what you might think, I’m not a complete moron.”

I know why I don’t want them to leave. Because after seeing the shaky state Gemma is in these days, I fucking hate thinking about them taking off right now. She isn’t okay, and it’s easy to tell that.

“Yeah, well, we’re not in California anymore. It’s dark and spitting snow. I should take you both home.” I walk closer to them. “I rode with some of the guys here anyway.”

My sister looks genuinely frustrated with me and widens her eyes.Stop, she mouths in warning.

I might be Saylor’s blood, but there’s no one she considers more family than Gemma Jones. The two of them have been inseparable since the day they first met, and I’m not sure either of them could survive without the other.

Gemma stuffs her hands into her pockets. “You do realize I grew up in Maine, too, right? I think I can handle driving in some snowflakes.” She nudges my sister. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” Saylor mutters, still looking at me. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow or something.”

When she turns around and they head out the door, I take in the giant fucking snowflakes falling from the sky and covering the entire driveway. It rained earlier, then the temperature dropped, and now, it’s snowing. The roads are going to be a goddamn ice rink.

Grabbing my own jacket, I catch the door just before it closes, earning a dirty look from my sister and an even meaner one from Gemma.

“The roads are fucking shit, okay? And, yes, Dale Earnhardt, I’m sure you’re a great fucking driver. But other people on the roads aren’t.” I hold my hand out. “Give me the keys. I’m driving you guys home. I’ll have Ryder pick me up after he leaves here.”

For a moment, it’s a staredown between the three of us. But finally, Gemma shoves the keys against my chest before hightailing it to the car and climbing into the back seat.

“Can you just stop?” Saylor hisses through her teeth. “I had to pep her up to even come here tonight. And I promised you wouldn’t fuck with her if she did.”

“I’m not fucking with her!” I throw my arms out. “I’m sorry for not wanting my sister and her best friend to get killed in a car accident on the way home from Friendsgiving. Excuse the fuck out of me.”

She drives her finger into my abdomen. “Don’t try to act like you’re Superman, big bro. If that girl wasn’t with me, you wouldn’t have paid attention to the weather, and we both know it.”

Quickly, she backs away, but not before giving me a look of warning.

“Don’t talk to her on the way home. Don’t crack one of your lame-ass jokes. Don’t ask her how she is, anddon’tyou dare pry for information.”She inhales. “You lost the right years ago, Smith. Don’t act like you give a damn now.”

Spinning around, she heads to the car and gets in on the passenger side, and I know this ride home is going to be quiet and awkward.

Because you don’t want to piss off my little sister. Especially when it comes to her best friend.

Pulling my helmet off, I drag my arm across my forehead to wipe away the sweat as I skate off the ice.

“Your sister and her hot friend took off pretty fast last night,” Ryder says from behind, both of us heading toward the locker room. “Who were they in a hurry to see?”

At the wordhot, I have to force myself not to turn around and give him a warning glare. Instead, I shrug it off—at least as best I can.

“Who knows?” I say, heading into the locker room. “With my sister, I wouldn’t dare to guess.”

“You’re not kidding,” he murmurs under his breath. “That girl, Gemma—do you really think those cuts and bruises were from a car wreck?” He lets out a quiet sigh. “She seemed nervous the entire time she was at Kolt’s.”

“Not really our business, Ry,” I grumble because what he just said is all I’ve thought about since the other night when I saw Gemma for the first time after so long.

Sleep has been hard to find. Hell, it’s been hard to focus on anything.

Someone hurt my girl, and I’m going to fucking kill them when I find out who.

“I mean, judging by the way you stared at her, itisyour business, Smitty.” He grins when my gaze snaps to his as we both sit down on the bench and begin pulling off our gear. “Yeah, I noticed you staring the fuck out of her the entire hour she was there. What’s the story?”

“No story,” I say and finish undressing down to my briefs.

“Oh good. So, you’re saying there’s a chance for me,” he taunts. “Good to know.”

“Fuck off,” I utter before standing up.

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