Page 45 of Dark Horse

“Talk to her.”

“And tell her what?” I look over at him. “I know I’ve been your guardian and I made you fucking hate my guts, but uh… I think maybe I’ve had a change of heart. How do you feel about an aging asshole who runs a casino and a criminal empire?”

“I think there are better ways of putting it.”

“She’s better off with your friend. She’s always liked athletes, and he probably comes with a lot less baggage. Starting with the fact he didn’t get her brother killed.”

“You don’t think she deserves to know? Doesn’t she have a choice in the matter?”

“What choice? That’s not a fucking choice. It’s wrong. I shouldn’t even be thinking about her like that.”

“If Hazel would give me a second chance…”

“You two were obsessed with each other from the start. You said it yourself.”

“I wasn’t, or rather I was, but only after I stopped seeing her as Bo’s little sister. It’s not that far off from the two of you.”

“It didn’t take you ten years to wake up and realize she was there all along.”

“No. It took me finding her in my teammate’s room, half undressed on his bed. Nearly fucking killed me. I don’t recommend waiting that long.”

“Yeah, well he better not even fucking try it while he’s here. If he wants to fuck her he can fly her back to Cincinnati and do it there.”

Suddenly, I hear a throat clear, and I look up to see Dakota standing on the steps.

“Excuse me. I just need to take these upstairs.” Dakota holds up a case of hard seltzer, and her eyes slice over to me. My heart plummets six feet under my feet.

“Wait.” I step to the side and block more of her path.

“I can take them for you,” Ramsey offers, playing the good brother.

“You can’t go upstairs,” Dakota protests.

“I’ll holler up to Hazel or text her first. I won’t break her rules. I promise.”

“I—” She looks between the two of us, clearly not wanting to give me the time of day. But when her eyes land on Ramsey, something softens in her gaze, and she holds out the case for him. I glance back over my shoulder, but whatever passed between them, I can’t decipher it.

“I’ll get this straight up,” Ramsey promises and abandons us on the deck.

When I hear the screen door shut, I look back to her and see her eyes swarming with skepticism and distrust.

“I don’t know how much you heard, but—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Enough to remind me of where we stand with each other.”

“It’s not what it sounded like.”

“It sounded like I should tell him yes when he asks what my final decision is on that trip to Cincinnati this summer. He said I could fly there first, see where he lives, and then we could take a trip somewhere. Anywhere I want before he has to be back for camp.”

I slide my tongue down the inside of my cheek and look into the distance.

“Is that what you want?” I swallow my pride and fuck if it doesn’t taste bitter.

“Since when does what I want factor into anything where you’re concerned?”

“Since I’m asking.”

“Very romantic of you to do it now when you’re feeling threatened,” she bites back, and I can see the look on her face, realizing that she’s said too much.

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