Page 98 of Ignite

Was there anything sexier than bulging biceps and cut abs?

I didn’t think so.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ethan’s voice filled the gymnasium. All banter stopped until the only sound was the soft thud of my boots on the parquetry floor. Ethan had restarted his workout, refusing to look at me even when I stood in front of him, although he did swivel to avoid dropping the medicine ball on my feet.

“I wanted to thank you for my lovely flowers.”

Someone sniggered behind Ethan.

“I hope you put them in water,” Ethan deadpanned, clenching the medicine ball between his hands and reaching up before leaning down and bracing on it for five push-ups. “Flowers can be, fragile. Easily destroyed.”

“I was hoping we could talk, privately.”

“We’ve done all the talking in private we’re ever going to do.”

“Ethan, please.” I didn’t want to beg in front of the team. I’d never even tried fighting for Darin. Not in private and not like this. Ethan wasn’t Darin. Ethan was—my future? Possibly, but not if we kept with the misunderstandings piled on top of misunderstandings.

“Go.” He said at the same time dropping the ball. “Go.”

“There are things you need to know.” When he took a step backward, I took a step forward and tried to at least pique his curiosity.

“Oh, I figured it out. You’re back with your ex.” I felt everyone snap their attention towards Ethan’s accusation.

“What the hell, Ryles?” Korbin whistled. “How the …”

“That’s right,” Ethan said in the voice that could reach the opposite side of a football oval. “I already know. His car was parked outside your house all night.”

“I’m not back together with him.”

“Over so soon? Oh, well, you’re good at one-night stands.”

The slap echoed, causing a pause in the moans of men doing medicine ball work.

“He was drunk.” I snapped, beyond angry that Ethan thought so poorly of me. “He was spiraling. The wedding plans were becoming too real. I listened. I put him to bed.”

Shit. Even I knew how that sounded.

“Fine. Thanks for the heads up. Enjoy the flowers. Go home and make him a nice cup of tea. Think of me while you’re doing it.”

“I didn’t. We didn’t—“ I cried, not letting him brush my hand away. “I called his fiancée. I pulled up my big girl panties and called Trixi. She came over. We all talked until she took him home. He was still too drunk to drive so she asked if they could leave his car overnight.”

Ethan’s eyes stormed as he tried to take it in. It all made sense, now. He’d made so many assumptions, but he should have taken a second to trust me.

“Ethan, please. Darin’s car had a sleepover. He didn’t.”

“Flick, thanks for the gym. Training’s over.” Ethan grabbed his wallet and keys before storming off, leaving me standing in the middle of the gym.

When Korbin took a step towards me, arms open in comfort or to do whatever he thought could help, I held up my hands and shook my head. Even Flick looked at me, her eyes pleading with me to let her help. No. Nothing could help. Nobody and nothing.

Not many women could claim two humiliating dumpings in less than twelve months. First Darin, who’d dumped me for Trixi. Now Ethan, who’d dumped me over a stupid misunderstanding and pride. Mine and his. Only, he didn’t know that I’d changed my mind about the RFS.

I needed to get away.

“Rylee, you on call today?” Reece called out, getting my attention before I could turn and run. “I mean, the reports are that it’s gonna be fierce.”

“I heard the reports. I rang and offered to come in, but they’ll call me if they need me. I’m going out to check on my horses.” I wrung my hands, wishing I was already on Wildfire with the wind in my hair and no cares, no heartbreak.

Losing Ethan’s respect had hurt more than losing my ex.

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