Page 72 of My Ex's Brothers

Her cheeks redden.

“See you later, Mamma Mia,” I whisper, and then I shoot Dane a grin. “See you later, bro.”

And with that, I make my way outside, just as Manny is pulling up.

18

AMELIA

It’s nearingeleven thirty by the time Dane and I have Lyla fastened into her car seat.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask as I shut the car door.

He walks me around to the passenger side and opens the door for me.

“Absolutely,” he says with a smile. I look up at him for a moment, noting the relaxed grin on his face.

“Don’t you have practice or?—”

“Practice is this evening. Four thirty. We have plenty of time,” he says, nodding for me to get in the car. “Now come on, I know that omelet you split with Tripp did not fill you up. So we’re going to stop for coffee on the way.”

I get the feeling it’s pointless to argue, so I don’t. But there’s something in the tone of his voice, in the way he says the words, that feels different. Dane isn’t forward like Tripp or bossy like Richie. He’s not smooth like Dex.

What he is, is a shape-shifter. Every time I think I know him, think I know what he’s going to say or how he’s going to act, he does something to surprise me.

“Coffee, huh?” I say as I get in, listening to Lyla in the back seat.

Dane starts the car up. I don’t miss his smile as he pulls out of the driveway. “I mean, you did say you preferred coffee over tea,” he says, shooting me a look.

“I did?” I ask, sitting back in the seat.

He nods. “That night, at the bar. You were drinking coffee. Kind of an odd thing to be drinking in a bar. I asked you about it and you said?—”

“I could drink coffee day or night,” I say, feeling strangely on the spot. How does he remember that? It was over a year ago. “You remember that?” I ask, dumbfounded.

He turns, focusing his gaze on the road. “Yeah, of course,” he says softly. “I remember a lot of things.”

The way he says the words is sad, almost guilty. I have to wonder exactly what it is that he remembers that makes him look so sad.

“So, you give any more thought to the game?” he asks, changing the subject. Lyla coos and giggles in the back seat.

“Dane…”

“I’m just saying, I think it would be fun. We could get you a seat in the box and?—”

“What about Lyla?” I ask.

“I know my parents would jump at the chance to see their granddaughter.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. “You don’t think they hate me?”

He looks at me with a surprised glance. “Why would they hate you?”

“Because I’m a home-wrecker, Dane.”

He looks at me like I’ve grown three heads. “No, you’re not. Dex is the home-wrecker. He’s the one who screwed up the best thing to ever happen to him.”

“And what about his wife, huh? Is she the worst?” I bite out, feeling strangely defensive. I shouldn’t be defending my cheating ex, but I guess I really am losing my marbles.

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