Page 104 of Risky Play

I muttered under my breath. I definitely wasn’t. If Maddie wanted me the way I wanted her, she would have fought for me. Instead, she was too scared of her brother to give us a real shot.

“But you really love her, right?” Luna asked.

“Yes,” Ty answered for me. “That’s why he’s been so mopey.”

I glared at him through the rearview mirror, and he gave me a cheeky grin.

Dick.

“Then I don’t understand the problem,” Luna said

“She doesn’t want to tell her brother. I don’t want to be her dirty little secret anymore,” I explained.

“Do you blame her? The last guy she dated got his teeth knocked in by her brother. She’s afraid for you because she loves you,” Luna said.

She never said that, though. When I told her I loved her, she stared back at me in silence, and then I stormed out. Maybe I didn’t give her a chance to react, but if she loved me, she would have said something by now.

“That’s what I told him,” Ty said. “But anyway, princess, you ready for me to tour you around?”

I mentally thanked my best friend for changing the subject and distracting my sister.

It didn’t take much longer to get to campus. I found a parking garage and followed behind them as Ty showed Luna all the academic buildings and student services. I worried about her on her own, but Ty still had another year before he graduated, so I knew he’d keep an eye on her.

I hesitated when I noticed he led us to the skating rink. I hadn’t been to any of Maddie’s games, but I knew they played in the same rink as the men’s team. Ty pushed me inside, forcing the argument from my lips.

“Now for the best place,” Ty told my sister. “The rink. You want to join the women’s team, right?”

The corner of Luna’s lips turned up. “I’m thinking about it.”

“Come on. E told me we could take a peek at practice.”

Luna looked taken aback by that. “You and Elsa still talk?”

Ty nodded. “Not everyone hates their ex.”

“I do,” she muttered.

“What happened with Chelsea?” I asked.

Luna scoffed. “She cheated on me. Good riddance.”

Ty put an arm around her. “Sorry, Lulu. You come to Franklin, and I’ll find you a nice guy or girl.”

“Or enby,” she reminded him.

“We’ll find you someone better than her,” he told her with a smile.

“Thanks, Ty.”

We slipped into the stands, small as they were, and watched the girls hustling down the ice. Maddie’s dark braid flowed behind her as she beat Elsa at laps.

“Whoa, she’s fast,” Luna breathed out, impressed.

“She gives E a run for her money,” Ty said.

I pressed a hand against my sternum, feeling like my heart might burst at the sight of Maddie. She was beautiful and fierce as she tore down the ice, reminding me of everything I missed about her. My heart screamed at me that I never should have given her that ultimatum, but I couldn’t keep hiding our relationship from her brother.

Luna raised an eyebrow at me, and then her lips parted. “Oh. That’s your girl.”