“Earth to Ivy.”
I blink. "Sorry. Just thinking."
Her gaze locks onto me and doesn't leave.
"Is there more to this than you're telling me? Remember, we don't keep secrets from each other. Ever."
I look away, rubbing my palms together.
"Have you seduced one of your brother's teammates yet?"
The heat in my cheeks increases tenfold.
"Ah ha. I knew it! You couldn't have been this flustered about a man you haven't met yet. How did you do it?"
"I didn't seduce anyone," I say, crossing my arms. "He seduced me. And it's King I want."
A smile spreads on her face. She moves closer.
"Tell me everything. Don't leave out one detail."
I tell her everything that has happened between Declan and me over the past few weeks. She studies me carefully, unusually quiet.
"You're attracted to him," she says when I finish.
"No, I'm not."
"Your face is doing that thing where it turns red and you can't make eye contact."
I stand abruptly. "I should go. Early day tomorrow."
She grins knowingly. "Run away, then. But eventually you're going to admit you're attracted to Declan."
"Never happening," I say on my way to the door.
"We'll see."
I drive around town, then finally to my apartment when I'm pressed and it’s past eleven. I'm fishing for my keys when a figure steps out of the shadows.
My heart pounds painfully against my ribs. I yelp, dropping everything. At the last second, I catch the flowers before they fall.
"It's just me," Marcus says, holding up his hands and eyeing the flowers. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you. Can we talk?"
I want to tell him that I'm tired and done dealing with an overprotective brother who treats me like I'm still twelve. But I unlock the door.
"Fine. Make it quick," I say, making sure I pick up my bag and everything else that fell.
We step inside. Marcus looks too big for the small space in my apartment's living room. His six-foot frame makes everything look cramped.
"I'm sorry about today," he says immediately. "I overreacted."
"You think?"
"I just..." He exhales. "You're my little sister. I'm supposed to protect you."
