Page 12 of Breakaway to You

She gasped. “Wait. Was he in the room when Jordan showed up?” Her excitement clearly showed that she hadn’t heard a word I’d said.

It was no use. We were talking about this whether I wanted to or not.

“Yes.”

“Oh my gosh!” She squealed so loud it made me wince. “I wish I could have been there.”

“It really wasn’t that exciting.” I didn’t know if I completely believed that. The part with Jordan had been awful and slightly embarrassing. But the part with Zeke…well, that had been close to exciting. Which it shouldn’t have been…and I felt guilty about it.

“Doubtful.” Her eyes sparkled, and although I didn’t want to talk about Jordan or Zeke, I was glad my messed up life could at least bring her some joy. “Did Zeke say anything to you about it once Jordan left?”

“Just that he was surprised I’d dated him,” I said. “He didn’t think someone like Jordan would be my type.”

“Did you tell him Jordan’s not your type but that he is?” she teased, waggling her eyebrows.

“Actually,hetold me he’s my type.”

Her eyes widened. “He what?” She looked giddy about my response.

“He was just joking.” I waved it off.

She raised one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows. “Joking or flirting?”

“With him, it’s the same thing.”

“So if he’sjoking,” she said, using air quotes around the word joking, “does that mean he is done being upset about the physical evaluation you gave him?”

“Yes. We came to an understanding,” I said. “He’s accepted that I’m here to help him.”

“Maybe he can help you too.”

My brows furrowed. “How so?”

“Maybe he can be the guy to get you to believe in love again.” She looked starry-eyed at the prospect. She splayed her hands out in front of her, as if she were painting the scene. “Girl who had a crush on a hockey player for years from afar, now becomes his physical therapist. Therapy session after therapy session has them getting to know one another, and then the next thing they know, they’re falling in love.”

I gave her a quizzical look. Where was she getting this from? How did she get from me doing my job to falling in love?

“You read too many romance books and watch too many romance movies.” I shook my head at her. “And there is no way I would ever date a hockey player again, especially not one I work with.”

“Fine,” she relented. “But I agree with Zeke. He’s totally your type.”

He totally was.

“Whatever.” This was a pointless conversation.

We ate in silence for a few seconds, a thoughtful look on her face before she said, “Hmm…maybe I should date Zeke.” She turned to look at me. “You can introduce me.”

“What? Don’t be crazy.” The thought alone of her going on a single date with Zeke made my stomach turn. “Hockey players are not to be trusted.” Yes, that was definitely why I didn’t like the idea of her dating Zeke. “And not just hockey players but possibly all men.” Men were not to be trusted, and as her older sister, it was my obligation to watch out for her. It had nothing to do with me not liking the idea of him dating a woman. Jealousy was not what I was feeling right now. Nope.

“Okay, calm down.” She held her hands out to stop my ‘men are horrible’ speech. “Not all men are bad. You just happened to date an egotistical cheating jerk.”

I pursed my lips and let out an annoyed sigh. She was right, but I was still on the men-are-dumb-and-I-don’t-want-to-date bus.

“Dad was a good guy,” Quinn said softly.

A sadness crept over me. “The best.”

She reached over and grabbed my hand. “I’m not saying you need to date Zeke. I was just teasing you. I care more about you keeping your heart open, no matter the guy’s profession. Don’t let a hard learning experience ruin all future life experiences.”

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