I scratch the back of my head then sigh, as the best way forward right now is to own up to the situation. “Violet and I…” I take her hand to make a statement. “We’re together.”
Ford’s eyes laser focus on our hands. “What?”
“Ford, don’t be ridiculous,” Violet says. “We’re adults, and we’re allowed to see one another.”
“How?” he grits out. “How did this happen?”
“We ran into one another that one time at the stadium a few months back, and then we…” My face screws up. “A murder mystery party.” I throw that out there, and Violet tries hard to hide her chortle.
“The colonel in the kitchen with the wrench kind of thing,” she adds.
Ford’s eyes change to pure venom. “Fuck you, Declan.” Before I can process, Ford lunges forward and takes hold of my shirt.
“Ford!” Violet gasps.
“What the hell, man.” My words fall on deaf ears.
We stumble onto the ice in a scuffle, sliding around, as neither one of us has skates on. “There is no way I’m okay with this.”
I do my best to shake Ford off me. “Then talk to me like a normal friend,” I raise my voice.
Ford steps back but keeps his grip on my shirt, his gaze completely furious. “Friend?Are you kidding me? You know she’s off limits.”
“You’re no longer playing hockey, and neither am I,” I justify and push him away.
“Doesn’t matter.” He’s unamused. “The rule is for life. Besides, we kind of work together now in some way. You crossed a line!”
I huff out a breath to calm myself. I wasn’t expecting confetti, but this is the worst-case scenario by far. “We can’t control the way we feel,” I highlight.
Ford pinches the bridge of his nose. “You have a reputation that I sure as hell witnessed on a few accounts. You really want to tell me you’re in a relationship with Violet? Screw that, you don’t do relationships, since you only ever think about yourself.”
“That’s not true. Did I not play as a team, am I not supporting a team?”
“Don’t compare hockey to Violet,” he shouts.
“Stop it, you two!” Violet watches, horrified, from the sidelines.
Ford looks at her and points to me. “No! You’re my little sister, and you deserve the best.” He throws his arms in the air. “I knew it. I had a feeling you two were up to something, but I wanted to be so wrong. This guy here only looks for his momentary good time.”
“People change,” I mention.
It causes him to laugh. “Oh yeah? You really want to tell me that you intend to settle down with a wife, kids, and a kickass Labrador who retrieves like crazy?”
“What’s your point?” I’m getting angry.
He looks between us, as if we’ve gone insane. “Have you really grasped what Violet deserves? I mean, can you honestly look her in the eyes and say that your relationship will go exactly where she wants it to go?”
My heart flinches from his words. A sharp knife wound.
“Relax, Ford, we’re not even there,” Violet explains, but I hear uneasiness in her tone. We’re enjoying one another and seeing where this can go.”
“Fantastic. Get emotionally invested, only to walk directly into heartache. Because, Violet, you wouldn’t be here telling me about you and Declan if you were just having fun. I know you too well. Deep down you want more, you want it all and believe maybe he can give you that. You’re lying to yourself if you try to tell me otherwise,” Ford lectures.
I adjust my shoulders as reality seems to shower down on me, especially when Violet goes mute, and she doesn’t blink. Her brother just threw a bucket of reality onto her.
Hell, maybe I’ve been lying to myself too, because I know what kind of future Violet wants, and we’re not on the same page, but I can’t seem to push her away because of our magnetic pull.
The momentary silence is broken by Ford continuing on his tangent. “And threatening my son? What the hell?”
