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She glances at Masters over my shoulder and whatever signal he gives her must be enough, because she slumps back down. I try not to, but I can’t help glancing back at Masters as I stand. The look he gives me makes me think he knows exactly what I just did. I’m not sure whether it makes me feel better or worse about it.

I jog down the beach after Aldo, falling into step beside him. “Where are you going, Rossi?”

He doesn’t even acknowledge me, his hands shoved in his pockets and his shoulders up around his ears against the cold. I let him march a few more meters before reaching out and grabbing his shoulder, hauling him to a stop.

“Hey,” I say, keeping a grip on his coat as though I might be able to stop him from walking off again. “Why are you pissed off that I’ve had sex with other people?

“We haven’t actually had sex, though, have we?” he scoffs and shakes off my grip.

I frown. “Is that what you’re angry about?”

Aldo leans back his head and growls at the sky. “You are so infuriating!”

“Tell me, then!” I bark. “I’m not a fucking mind reader!”

“Tell you what?” he asks. “That you’re a damn hypocrite? You punched Lane for kissing me and then you turn right around and fuck him? What the actual hell?”

“I mean technically, he fucked me.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. If I could buy a filter, I would.

Aldo just blinks at me with those deep brown eyes. “You let him fuck you?”

I swallow, lifting a hand to reach for him, but he takes a barely noticeable step away. Just enough to escape my attempt. “I’d just found out about Nan. I was a mess. I needed to forget. I wanted pain and I knew goody-two-shoes Masters wouldn’t be able to say no if I asked him to help me out.”

“Does Lane know it was your first time?” Aldo asks. He’s standing so still, it’s starting to freak me out.

“Fucking hell.” I laugh and shove a hand through my hair, wishing I’d worn a hat. “It’s not like I’m a bloody virgin.”

Aldo sneers at me and turns to walk away, but this time I reach out and grab his arm, forcing him to stop.

“You broke up withme,” I snap. “You don’t get to be angry that I’m fucking other people, Aldo.Youended things.Youdecided I wasn’t worth the risk.”

Aldo’s eyes widen, his anger instantly replaced by something that has me dropping his arm and stepping back. “I never thought you weren’t worth the risk, Doug.”

“Yeah. You did.” I shove my hands in my pockets, regretting ever chasing after Aldo fucking Rossi. “Unless there’s another reason you ended things. I can’t imagine it was because I was shit in bed because I know for a fact, I give excellent head.”

Aldo’s mouth twitches and he closes the gap between us, placing his hands on my shoulders. It takes everything I have not to pull away.

“I broke things off between us becauseIwasn’t worth the risk, Doug. You just dive into things without thinking, and I knew if you lost your job because of us, you’d never forgive me.”

My throat is thick as I stare at him. I don’t know what to say. My skin feels too tight for my body, and I really wish that bottle of rum was within reaching distance. Even if it is fucking disgusting. “I still don’t understand why you’re so angry.”

Aldo drops his hands from my shoulders and rubs a hand over his face. “I broke up with you to save you from yourself. You were thinking with your dick, Doug. Like always. You’re a fucking player, which is fine, but I knew you weren’t going to catch feelings. I didn’t want you to risk your job for a bit of fun. But then you go and fuck your other captainandthe assistant coach. It’s like you’re trying to get fired, Doug. Is that what you want? Because people usually just hand in a letter of resignation.”

By the end of his little rant, he’s breathing hard, his tan skin flushed and his eyes bright. I know I’m going to smile. I can feel the corners of my mouth turning. So, I take his face in my hands and pull his mouth to mine instead.

Aldo places his hands on my chest and shoves me so hard, I stagger backwards. We stand there, the wind whipping at our hair, as we stare at each other breathing hard.

I hold my hands out with a shrug. “What else do you expect, Aldo? You, Masters, Joy . . . You all look at me like I’m capable of more, but I’m not. I’m thirty-one, Aldo. This is me. I’m not going to change. Take it or leave it.”

He presses his lips together and I brace myself, ready to turn and walk away if he starts on some motivational speech shite. But he doesn’t. He exhales sharply and reaches for me, his hands grasping my face as he presses his lips to mine. It’s a welcome surprise, and I kiss him back with equal enthusiasm. His lips are cold and when he opens for me, my tongue instantly seeks the warmth of his mouth.

I don’t know what we’re doing. Just because I’ve put my neck on the line with Joy and Masters doesn’t mean this can happen. Especially as I’m officially on West’s radar. But as Aldo presses his body against mine, his fingers scraping through my thick beard as he kisses me hungrily, I honestly can’t find it in me to give a shit.

JOY

“He just can’t help it, can he?” I say, more to myself than Lane as we watch Doug and Aldo kissing further along the beach.

Lane huffs through his nose. “It’s purely defensive. If anyone shows him even a hint of kindness, he pushes them away. He’s like an abused dog biting the hand of someone trying to feed them.”

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