Page 5 of Risky Game

“Fine.” He’d thrown his hands up in exasperation and Molly had hidden her laugh behind her slim fingers. “Have it your way, but you’re the most stubborn, stupid person I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Yeah, well, you’ve known me my whole life, so it’s not a surprise, is it?”

He’d scowled at me, kissed my cheek, and whispered, “I’m worried about you,” before leaving the room.

Molly’s gaze had followed his departure with a worried look she didn’t wipe away nearly fast enough for me to see. “You can tell us what happened, you know.”

“Nothing happened. I want to pay off my loans and save some money before starting grad school so I don’t live in debt forever. It’s as simple as that.”

It wasn’t the first lie I’d ever told my brother, but if he found out what really happened, he wouldn’t think I was stupid and stubborn. He’d hand me the Biggest Idiot Ever Award.

“It’s all right if Luke and I go swim?” I asked her.

“Please. And thank you.” She sipped her ginger ale. “I swear, once I’m feeling better, we really won’t rely on you so much.”

“It’s no problem.” I gave her a quick hug. “Truly. You’ve all given me everything I already need. And I’m happy to be here helping, especially with Jassen busier now.”

“You know we love you, right?”

“I love you all too.”

She gave me that same worried look Jassen wore in my presence these days. I kicked the guilt of everything I was hiding to the back of my mind.

I had a swim date in my near future. The rest of my future could wait a while.

Jassen came home while I was feeding Brittney and Luke hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. They might have had a shit ton of money these days but were still the simplest people on the planet. You could take the kids out of the run-down apartment in the poorest neighborhood in Omaha, but you could never take away their love of cheap hot dogs and box mac’n’cheese.

Molly, now feeling better, had gotten in a shower and was able to eat her own small bowl of mac’n’cheese. Color was back on her face and it only brightened further when the door to the garage opened.

Brittney woke up cranky from her nap and the only way to keep her quiet was to hold her. Not a sacrifice, but after hours of hearing her whimpering, I was ready to head to a quiet home, spend the night with a glass of wine, and trying—again—to stop thinking about how much I’d screwed myself over in the last couple of years.

“Daddy!” Luke jumped down from his chair and raced toward his dad.

As soon as Jassen came around the corner, Luke was draped over his back. Arms practically strangling my brother, feet tucked in tight around his stomach.

Molly’s face lit up, and that pinch of regret and pain at how naïve I’d been to think my ex actually loved me hit me hard and fast. He couldn’t have, when it was so obvious the way these two stared at each other was real love. Paulie never came close to looking at me the way my brother smiled at his wife.

I buried my face in Brittney’s shoulder, blowing a raspberry against her to hide the emotions. Over my dead body would Jassen ever find out what Paulie did to me.

“Hey there, sweetie.” Jassen walked straight to Molly, almost like he didn’t even see me, and kissed his wife. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. Thank you. How was your day?”

“Mine was great. The team…” He made a face and shrugged it off before turning to me. “Are you going to let me hold my daughter, or are you taking her home with you?”

After the day I’d had with her? He didn’t have to ask. I handed her over. She smiled and squealed—happily, not grumpily—as soon as Daddy had her in his arms. “Just wanted to wait so she didn’t get covered in all that kissy slobbery stuff you and Molly do.”

“Ruby!” Molly slapped my shoulder.

Jassen rolled his eyes. “I might have found a job for you today. If you’re interested.”

“Waitressing? How’d that happen?”

“Not waitressing. But my coach might be in need of a new nanny.”

“A nanny?” My lip curled. It couldn’t be helped. Yeah, I liked Luke and Brittney, but they were blood. My niece and nephew. The laws of nature demanded I think they were the cutest souls to walk the planet.

Jassen chuckled. “Think about it tonight. He called me in after practice was over and asked.” He scratched his jaw and kissed Brittney’s forehead. “He’s recently divorced, and Amelia was supposed to stay with her mom during the year, but something changed, and now she’s coming in a few days. He’s stressed, and now his daughter…”

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