Page 93 of Playoff
“What’s this?”
“Bourbon.”
I stared at the dark liquid and my mind went back to the night I met his sister, and I was tempted to chuck the drink. I closed my eyes for a moment to push back the memories.
“I don’t think you were properly introduced to my twin, Jessica.”
My eyes snapped open and locked on the woman who moved out from behind him. There were shadows under her eyes, and her smile was tentative, but she still looked like everything I wanted.
I checked back with JJ. “Properly introduced?” I fucked her the night I met her. He probably knew that now.
He nodded, then stepped back, leaving the two of us staring at each other. I had no idea when Fitch vanished. The crowd noise muted and I couldn’t see anyone else.
“I’m sorry about your grandmother.” I’d never had the chance to say that. I’d been tempted to send flowers, but expected JJ would have tossed them.
“Thank you. She was an amazing woman, and we’ll miss her.”
My brain was coming back online, thinking instead of just reacting to seeing her again. I had no idea what was going on here. “I didn’t expect to see you here. And I definitely didn’t think your brother would be okay with us talking.”
She bit her lip. “Things in BC were…eventful. I’d really like to talk to you, if you wouldn’t mind?”
For a moment, I wondered if I’d been hit in the game. Had I gotten a concussion and not realized? JJ putting Jess and me together? Jess wanting to talk? “Pinch me.” I held my arm up.
“What?”
“I’m not sure Cooper is the one who got injured tonight. I might have a concussion.”
A hint of a smile played around her mouth. Then she reached out, ignored my arm and pinched my waist.
I flinched back, looking down at where she’d touched me. “Felt that.”
“I guess you’re not injured. Could we go somewhere quieter? Please?”
I had no idea what was going on between the twins, but the two of us being somewhere quiet usually ended up with sex. Even if JJ was turning a blind eye, I didn’t think I could keep this up. I was already too involved with this woman.
“Not sure that’s a good idea.”
She bit her lip. “To talk. Just to talk, I promise.”
So that was what this was about. Closing things between us, keeping everything nice and neat. Not sure why it was so important. Nothing about us had been nice and neat, and Jess telling me that we were over, really over, was not the way I wanted to end this day. I wanted to say no. Throw the bourbon down my throat and disappear. I didn’t need a roadmap—I knew how this was playing out.
But there was an anxious frown on Jess’s face, and I couldn’t refuse her. If she needed this, I could do it.
“Fine.” I tossed back the bourbon in one gulp. “Where do you want to go?”
Chapter 38
I can’t say I’m sorry
Jess
* * *
The knot in my stomach eased when Alek agreed. I wasn’t sure he’d be willing to talk after the way I’d run out on him. I couldn’t blame him. But he followed, so I had a chance. Maybe a small one, but it was something. “We can go to my place.”
He stopped in his tracks. “Your place. Your place that you share with JJ.”
I nodded. “He knows the whole story.”
