Page 35 of Fight from the Heart

“Because Pam’s had the hots for you for years, but this Mandi thing pushes her over the limits.”

“Pam does not have the hots for me.”

“She’s so hot for you it’s like eating a jalapeno pepper with tabasco sauce on it.”

“That is not true.”

“It’s like a poker primed for branding, all red-orange and fiery, ready to sear and sizzle and burn.” Ethan gives me a cheeky grin.

“You’re making that up.”

“She’s so hot, it’s—”

“Who’s hot?” Pam interrupts, entering the room and suddenly filling all the air with her scent.

“You’re hot,” Ethan says.

“What the fuck, man?” I snap.

“He’s only teasing,” Pam says, waving a dismissive hand at Ethan. “Wishful thinking.”

“What does he wish?” I question, looking back and forth between the two of them as Ella enters the room.

“Ethan likes to pretend he has a crush on me because I always turn him down.”

“An arrow through the heart every time.” Ethan presses one hand to his chest over his heart while simultaneously reaching for Ella. He tugs her onto his lap and looks up at her. “Until now.” It’s strange to watch a man kiss my sister, right on her cheek, over her scars. He doesn’t see them like I do, as a reminder of a time I let her down. If I were emotional, I’d say I love this guy for the way he loves my sister, but I have no emotions.

“Anyway, thanks for dinner, E, but I’ve got to get going. Work in the morning, and I had a late night last night,” Pam states.

“Oh, up all night misbehaving,” Ethan teases her.

“Yeah, now that would be wishful thinking,” she mutters.

What the hell?

“What do you need to do at the garden center this time of year anyway? It’s like a second winter out there.” Ethan teases her, and I’m wondering the same thing. She should be in my home, day and night, helping me—with writing, sexual favors, and spending time with me.

My chest tightens with the knowledge of how empty my house feels since she’s left.

“Orders. And arrangements for a certain someone’s grand opening,” she teases Ethan. His place doesn’t open until April, which is a little less than a month away.

“Are you guys still going to New York next week?” Ella has worked with a photographer friend to pair her new clothing line with images. She has another show in the city, and I promised I’d attend this one since I missed the last one at the end of January.

“Yeah, we’re going.” Ethan tugs at Ella’s hip, peering up at her again, and my sister cups his face, leaning down for another kiss. It’s all sticky sweet and too much sugar for me, especially with the tension between Pam and myself.

“Okay, then.” Pam claps her hands. “E. Ella. Thanks for dinner. Delicious as always, Ethan. Your place will be a hit.”

“You should come to New York, too,” Ella blurts out, and the room goes silent. Pam’s eyes shift to me but leap back to my sister.

“Uhm, that’s sweet of you, but I don’t think I can get the time off. When do you leave?”

“Next Wednesday evening,” Ella replies. The plan is a long weekend in New York. I have a meeting with my agent on Thursday with Ella’s showing on Friday night. I was even able to hook up an impromptu fight at the gym on Saturday evening.

Ella glances at me, her brows pinching before she gazes back at Pam. “Well, maybe next time then? We can turn it into a girls’ thing.”

“A girls-plus-Ethan thing,” Ethan teases, squeezing at Ella again. After Ella slipped away from him the first time, I imagine he doesn’t want to let her out of his sight.

I know the feeling, man.