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Dull heat creeps into my cheeks.
Why am I making such a big deal about this?
I should just admit that Ford and I knocked boots, and it meant absolutely nothing. It was a hookup. A frenemies-with-benefits situation.
But not a single sound leaves my mouth.
“It’s nothing,” I finally mutter.
Her eyes widen. “Oh my god, if you’re actually trying to convince me that it’s nothing then it has to be something.” She points to the phone. “I don’t think I could pry that thing out of your cold, dead fingers.”
Unfortunately, she’s not wrong.
“It’s, ah, just someone from dance.”
“Wow.” She shakes her as if in wonder. “Now you’re lying to me?”
I huff out an embarrassed breath and break eye contact. My gaze slides over the sheet of pristine ice before landing on Ford, who loiters near the player benches. That’s all it takes for my heartbeat to hitch before thrashing against my ribcage. His eyes pin mine in place as he jerks a brow. A knowing smile lifts the edges of his lips. A second later, he swings away, disappearing into the locker room.
“Oh my god. You slept with him, didn’t you?”
I wince and force out the truth. “Yeah. In hindsight, I’m pretty sure it was a mistake.”
A long stretch of silence follows that admittance. Any moment, my nerves are going to snap.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
I blink, thrown off by her response. “Trust me, it is,” I reiterate. “He’s my stepbrother.”
“Haven’t your parents been divorced for a while?”
“Well, yeah. But Crawford is like a father to me.” Then I blurt, “I don’t want to do anything that would damage our relationship. It’s not worth it. You know what Pamela is like. She’s a non-existent presence in my life.”
A sympathetic expression flashes across her face. “That’s not true. She cares about you. In her own way.”
“That woman is too damn busy jetting around the world to worry about me.” Bitterness creeps into my tone. I’ve spent years trying to brush it off and pretend it doesn’t exist. It’s like revealing a weakness and I hate it. Even to my best friend.
She wraps her arm around my shoulders and tugs me close. “I love you and so does Crawford.”
Thick emotion swells inside me. “I know.”
“Ford cares too.”
I snort.
“He does. I see the way he watches you.”
“I have no idea what’s happening between us. It was probably just a one-time deal.”
“Or it could be something amazing.”
A groan works its way up my throat. I’ve never felt more confused in my life. We’ve only slept together once and already the lines have become blurred.
Before I can share any other details, my phone dings with another message. I don’t bother glancing at the screen.
I know who it’s from.
“Can I assume it’s Ford?”
