Page 118 of Sweet Thing

I sipped my Earl Grey. “He was embarrassed about it. But kind.”

My father nodded, approving. “And then I threw you together under the same roof. Gosh, if only I’d known that someone had a crush on someone else.”

“Okay, point taken. I wanted to help, be a team player, contribute to the Kershaw enterprise. I don’t always feel like I do that in the way the boys do. And I … I wanted to spend more time with him. I can admit that now. The more time I spent with him, the more I started to like him beyond the silly infatuation. Seeing him grow and learn as he became easier with Mabel, as they fell in love with each other. It was beautiful to witness. And then we became closer.” I broke off there, so it was clear what exactly I meant by “closer.”

Dad grimace.“Okay, I don’t need to know the details. From my viewpoint, and not just as the father who wants to wrap you up in cotton wool and never let you date, he took advantage?—”

“Dad.”

“No, hold up. He knew you had this crush. He knew anything between you would have to be a secret. He’s older, more experienced, andsupposedto be my friend. He took advantage, Twinkle, that’s all there is to it.”

There was no reasoning with him when he was like this. Still, I tried.

“I made the first move on him.” No need to mention overhearing him jerk off with my name on his lips when he came. My cheeks flushed at the memory. “And he tried to tell me how wrong it was. I agreed—at first. But after a while it became too hard to resist what was happening between us. Our chemistry. He came to the club because he knew I wasn’t having a good time with Rowan, and the only reason I went out with him was to make Lars see me properly.”

I swiped at a tear.

“Twinkle.” He put his arm around me and pulled me close.

“So, please don’t blame him. We both went into it with our eyes open.”

“Okay.” Said with a reluctance bordering on fury.

“There’s more, Dad.” At his tightening grip, I met his concerned gaze. “Not about Lars. There’s a reason we came home from our travels early. I-I was mugged in Greece.”

“Addy … you were hurt?” He sounded positively woebegone.

“I healed quickly. Physically, anyway. I didn’t want to tell you and Mom because you’re so protective of me and this year is such a big deal for you and your career. Nothing should get in the way of that.”

“Nothing should get in the way ofthat? You mean, my daughter’s well-being shouldn’t get in the way ofthat?”

He rubbed his forehead, like that could wipe away everything he’d been through in the last twenty-four hours. Adeline Kershaw, the ultimate trial.

“I didn’t want to rock the boat.”

“Then I guess you shouldn’t have started sleeping with my teammate!” He pushed off the stool and paced for a few seconds, hands on hips.

“And this is why I didn’t tell you.”

“Are you saying I’m overreacting?”

“No, this is completely within the range of Theo Kershaw’s standard responses to stimuli.”

His eyes narrowed to slits at my smart-assery. “This is because of the Finals thirteen years ago, isn’t it? That’s why you didn’t tell me …anything!”

“Dad, if I can’t contribute to this family positively, the least I can do is keep my actions carbon neutral.”

Emotion gripped him. “You actually think you don’t contribute to this family positively? Twinkle, have you any idea how much joy you give me? How you complete us? You took time off college to help when Tilly was born. That was epic. I don’t think I could have kept playing if you weren’t here during that first year.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I wasthisclose to retiring but knowing you were keeping the home fires burning and the support this family needed gave me the confidence to keep at it. You’re the reason I’m a legend!”

No one had ever told me this. “Really?”

“The Kershaws would benothingwithout you. I would be nothing without you. So I missed a game thirteen years ago. Big deal.”

I sniffed. “An important game.”

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