Page 64 of Under the Lights

He wasn’t deterred at all, ignoring my physical protest as well as my “Stop it, Dom!” and just unbuckled me.

Then he caught both of my hands in one of his massive palms and pulled me out of the truck with his other arm snaking around my waist.

The neighborhood felt like an upgrade from typical college digs. It had neatly kept lawns edged with fresh mulch, soft lamplights casting warm halos over wide porches, and the faint scent of honeysuckle drifting through the warm summer night air.

The mountain breeze whispered through the tall pines, carrying with it the quiet hum of cicadas and the distant bark of a dog. Streetlamps lined the winding road, their amber glow pooling on the pavement like molten gold.

Ella was already waiting on the sidewalk, alarmingly unconcerned by this whole ordeal.

What the fuck was wrong with this family?

As soon as he placed me on my own feet again, I wrenched out of his grip, glaring daggers at him. His easy grin never wavered, maddeningly.

“We’ll be there in a few, Dom. Go inside.” Ella instructed, waving him away dismissively.

“See you inside, Darlin’. I’ll be waiting.” He bent his head a little and winked at me, his minty breath ghosting over my face.

“Right,” I sighed, anxiety twisting my stomach into knots.

This was a fucking disaster. It wasn’t that I’d purposely hidden Dom and me having a past — I just hadn’t known how orif I should bring it up. I’d started to trust Ella as a friend, and the thought of rocking that fragile balance was terrifying.

What the fuck was I supposed to say?

Oh, and by the way, I fucked your brother when he was here for his scouting trip, but don’t worry, I definitely thought he was already in college.

That would’ve gone over well. I’d been hoping maybe it would come up to nothing, the same way I’d been hoping I could just avoid Dom. Which both had obviously been workingsowell for me.

Dom brushed past me, our fingers grazing, sparks firing up my arm despite myself. Ella waited until his footsteps faded before breaking the silence.

“I think you might’ve been withholding some information from me.” She cocked her head to one side, eyeing me, her face giving nothing away.

“Not on purpose.”

Suddenly, she snorted. “Girl, you’re so fucked.”

Then she started giggling as I gaped at her.Insane. This whole-ass family had to be insane; there was no other explanation for it.

“Ugh, I so wanted to play the bitchy big sister, but I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. You should’ve seen your face.”

I blinked once, bewildered. “Wait, you’re not pissed?”

“Pissed? I-I almost feel … like I shou-should apologize.” Ella shook her head, still giggling away.

“Huh? What are you talking about? Am I having a stroke or something?”

“Oh God, sorry, I’m sorry,” she wheezed, holding a hand in the air, gesturing for me to hold on.

In an effort to calm herself, she took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m good. What I’m trying to say is, you don’t know my brother like I do. I mean, obviously you don’t — how could you?”

“I still don’t understand what you’re getting at.”

Did I even want to know at this point? This whole conversation had been pretty disturbing so far.

She pursed her lips with a sigh. “My brother is extremely bullheaded.”

“Okay … and?”

“And, apparently, he decidedyou’rewhat he wants. What happened between you two anyway? And when?” Her eyes burned with curiosity.

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