Erin tried not to squirm. For the last thirteen years since her ill-fated relationship as an eighteen-year-old, Erin had kept her private life private, even from her sister. Jessica did not need to know what Erin got up to in the bedroom—or who with—just as Erin didn’t need to know what went on in hers. “She lives upstairs.”
“Does she?” Jessica set aside the knife she’d been using to butter thick slices of wholemeal bread. “Well, in that case, don’t you think we should go and return her jacket to her? Wouldn’t want her to turn up to training tomorrow without it.”
Fuck. Erin had walked right into that one, hadn’t she?
“That’s a great idea!” Maisie bounded to her feet, Lia’s jacket held tightly in her hands. “Let’s go now!”
“I don’t know about that.” Erin had lost control of the situation so quickly, her head spun. “She might be busy.”
“We can try, though, can’t we? The picnic can wait.” Jessica strode toward the door, Maisie by her side.
Swearing under her breath, Erin trailed after them. On the stairs, she hurried past, needing to be the first one to knock on Lia’s door. When it opened, Lia looked surprised to see her—expression morphing into a confused smile when she saw Maisie hovering at her elbow, Jessica’s hand resting on Maisie’s shoulder.
“Hi.” Lia’s gaze moved between the three of them—her eyes widened when she clearly recognised what Maisie was holding.
Before Lia could say anything to contradict her story, Erin opened her mouth. “Maisie wanted to return your jacket. You must have left it at mine last night when we were analysing those videos.”
If Lia noticed the panic in Erin’s voice, she didn’t react. “Sorry about that. I must’ve forgotten to pick it up.”
How Lia left the hoodie behind, Erin didn’t know. She’d certainly enjoyed peeling it off her. Although, after the amount of orgasms Lia had had last night—Lia had quickly discovered how much Erin loved winning games—Erin could forgive her forgetfulness.
She just wished she’d spied the damn hoodie first.
Because Jessica’s knowing gaze was locked onto Lia’s face, drinking in her and Erin’s every interaction, and Erin wanted to curl into a tight ball of denial. Jessica would make a bigger deal out of this than necessary.
And it wasn’t a big deal.
It wasn’t any kind of deal.
Oblivious to Erin’s inner turmoil, Lia reached out to take the offending item of clothing. “Thanks, Maisie.”
“What happened to your hand?” Maisie caught Lia’s left hand in her own, frowning at the purple bruise that had bloomed on her knuckle. “Did you get hurt in the game yesterday?”
Scarlet flooded Lia’s cheeks as she snatched her hand back. “No! I just…knocked it. On the table. Last night.”
Do not look at me, Erin willed, knowing exactly how Lia had gotten that bruise—by trying to stifle her moans as Erin knelt between her thighs. Do not look at—
Lia’s gaze darted to hers before skittering away.
Erin swallowed, knowing Jessica would have noticed.
“Is it sore?” Thankfully, everything so far had sailed straight over Maisie’s head. “It looks sore. Have you iced it? I had to do that last week when I bruised my knee after I fell over at football practice.”
“It’s fine, Maisie.” Lia’s smile was tight, but her gaze was soft as it held Maisie’s. “Honest. You hurt your knee?”
Maisie shrugged. “It only hurt for a day. It’s all better now.”
“Come on, Maisie.” Gently, Erin pulled Maisie away from Lia’s door. “Lia’s got her hoodie back. Let’s leave her to it. She looks like she’s on her way out.”
Much like Erin’s, Lia’s preferred choice of pants when inside her apartment were faded joggers, not the black skinny jeans currently hugging her hips, a different pair to the ones Erin had yanked off her last night.
“Just got back. I got kicked out of my grandmother’s retirement home so they could eat lunch.”
Erin closed her eyes, wishing Lia hadn’t said that. Because she knew, as Jessica straightened beside her in excitement, what her sister was about to say.
Jessica sprung the trap she’d been waiting to unleash ever since suggesting the three of them go upstairs. “So you haven’t eaten? Because we’re about to go for a picnic together. Erin—as usual—bought way too much food, so if you want to join us, you’re more than welcome.”
Erin barely refrained from burying her head in her hands. “I’m sure Lia has better things to do on her one day off than spend it with us.”
