My throat tightened as I gripped her waist and yanked her against me. “Dammit, Rylin. I don’t deserve you.”
“Sure you do.” Then she winked adorably. “As long as you win the game.”
I laughed, then kissed her like I was marking my territory and headed out before I gave in to my desire and got fined for being late to the plane.
The game was hard and rough. The other team fought for the win, but the Nighthawks were a force to be reckoned with, and we fucking crushed them in the end. But damn, it had come with a price. Not one guy who’d been on that field wasn’t feeling the pain, not that it would stop us from giving our all again in game six.
The minute the game was over, I texted her and asked if I’d earned a reward for all my hard work. She’d responded with a picture of a negligee laid out on our bed that had my head spinning.Well, fuck.If that was what I earned for giving everything I had on the field, every ache, bruise, and injury would be so fucking worth it.
Pullingup in front of Rylin’s childhood home, the heartbreak and desperation were clear. I didn’t need to go inside to feel the damage. The whole place reeked of it—pain soaked into the walls, bad decisions stacked in corners, and silence where there should’ve been laughter. But I’d planned ahead, making sure that this went as smoothly as possible, with no drama, and no opportunity for the relationship between Denise and her daughters to be fractured even further.
She wasn’t home. I’d gotten her out with a job interview across town—a real one. Someone owed me a favor, and I’d cashed it in without a thought. I needed her to be gone for a few hours, but the truth was, I actually hoped she got the job. Maybe she would get her head out of the fucking bottle and put the pieces of her life back together. Then perhaps, one day, she could begin to repair what she’d broken and have some kind of relationship with Rylin and Reese.
For now, it was time enough to pack Reese and get her the fuck out.
Movers showed up ten minutes after we did. They were fast and efficient. I supervised the activity while Rylin helped her sister gather the things she wanted to take in the car with us. Their eyes kept darting every time a box was carried out the front door, like they still couldn’t believe this was actually happening.
Reese was smaller than I expected. A few inches shorter than Rylin, with a daintier frame, but I saw the same steel under Reese’s soft exterior that lived in Rylin. Reese’s eyes were also hazel, and they had the same brown hair, but she had a sassier mouth. She had a bright, crooked smile that made me want to ruffle her hair and tease her as any big brother would.
On the drive back to Manhattan, Reese asked what felt likeallthe questions.
“So you just…found me an apartment? Like, poof, here’s a place to live?”
“I don’t do poof.” I flicked a wry glance at her through the rearview.
“You really think I can afford the rent?”
“I’ve taken care of the first month, but you should be able to take over after a few weeks working at The Tight Line. And though it’s not necessary, you can pay me back. Also, it’s rent-controlled, so it’s cheaper than most places in the city and won’tever get more expensive.” That had been a little tricky, since rent-controlled apartments were technically only allowed to be passed to a family member who had also lived there for at least two years. But I’d promised the landlord that if Reese lived there for more than two years, I would pay the difference between her rent and market value. Then, once Reese moved out, he could officially raise the price, and I would pay it until he had a new tenant in place. Once we had an agreement, he’d fudged the paperwork—not something I felt either woman needed to know at the moment. “And it’s in a safe area, close to work, and an easy train to our place.”
“Our place?” she drawled, her tone full of amusement.
Rylin jumped in with a nervous laugh. “No, um, he meant his place. It’s just that I stay there a lot and, um, you know. Slip of the tongue.”
“No, it wasn’t,” I grumbled. “If you weren’t so damn stubborn, you’d already be living there full-time.” My mouth kept running without my permission. “And just so you know, it’s going to happen. Sooner rather than later. Told you, I’m not letting you go.”
Rylin’s jaw dropped, and Reese grinned wide. “Wow. You really are in love with my sister.”
Rylin groaned beside me, pink blooming in her cheeks as she buried her face in her hands. “For crying out loud, Reese…”
“What?” her sister giggled. “He’s head over heels. Look at him. Guy’s probably already picked out a ring.”
I didn’t deny it. Reese was one hundred percent correct. But I just smiled and took hold of Rylin’s hand, resting our intertwined fingers on my thigh. Letting her stew on the idea while her sister continued giggling in the back seat.
Later that night, after Reese was settled, I walked into our bedroom with a small bag hanging from my fingers.
Rylin sat on the edge of the bed in pajama shorts and one of my old Nighthawks hoodies, brushing out her damp hair. She looked up, sleepy but curious.
“What’s that?”
“Something for you.” I winked as I handed it over.
She pulled out a jersey and unfolded it slowly, her breath catching when she saw her name on the front and mine—along with my number—on the back.
“You made me a jersey?”
“Figured if you’re gonna come to your first game, you should be repping it properly.” I stepped between her knees and wrapped my hands around her waist, helping her to her feet. Then I curled my arms around her and smirked as I stared down into her gorgeous eyes. “Besides, this way, everyone knows you’re mine.”
Her smile lit up the whole damn room, then she sniffed haughtily, making me chuckle.
