“Jen, be serious. This isn’t a prank?” Ian asks, sounding shocked, then says, “What about your—”
Whatever Jen says makes him shut his mouth as he shakes his head and wipes his hand over his mouth. I wonder if they’ve been together long or if it was a one-night accident.
“I’ll help you with whatever you need, but let’s talk some more after, okay?” Ian says, his tone softer. “Yeah, okay, bye, love you.”
The locker room is silent, making it clear what we were all doing. It’s hard not to when he drops that bomb out loud. Ian throws his phone in his bag, quickly changes, and slides it on his shoulder as he turns to face us.
“Not that it’s anyone’s business, but that was my sister,” he clips before anyone can comment and shuts the locker room door behind him on his way out.
Ryker scratches his chin. “Never knew he had a sister.”
“The man keeps his personal life so tight-lipped, how were we supposed to know?” Cole shrugs as he unbuttons his jersey.
“I wonder if she’s anything like him,” Pauly wonders out loud.
“Dude,” Cole groans. “She’s pregnant. She probablyhasa man in her life.”
“I didn’t mean it like I’m interested in her. I just meant, does the apple fall far from the tree kind of thing,” Pauly defends himself.
“And do you seriously want to get involved with Ian Kelly’s sister? Imagine dinner at Christmas with him glaring at you across the table? You don’t want any part of that,” I tell him, cringing for the poor man who’s going to get what I imagine is the biggest cold shoulder from his future brother-in-law.
Cole shivers as he removes his jersey. “My God, imagine your brother-in-law being the most arrogant yet quietest person you’ve ever met. Such a weird contradiction.”
“Not our problem,” Ryker replies as he takes off his shoes.
It’s not, but man do I feel bad for the future brother-in-law whose problem it’s going to be.
Chapter 11
Quentin
Iinhale and exhale deeply as I sway gently from side to side in my hammock. The sound of birds chirping fills the quiet afternoon as I enjoy some sunshine. This is my go-to routine in the summer when I have an afternoon to myself, and I relish every second of the peace it brings.
Or I at least attempt to feel at peace. Because every time I’ve gone to my backyard and lain in this hammock to relax, my mind constantly draws back memories ofher.
She was stunning, witty, and confident. And that was what I garnered in the short time I got to spend with her. It intrigued me and made me wish I could’ve gotten to know her more.
I even thought about reaching out to Idris, who was the head of security back home at the palace. He came with me when I moved to America to watch over me and get away from working for the royals. Over the years, he’s been my go-to whenever I’ve needed anything security-related. I knew even with the little details I could provide him with that he’d somehow come up with answers, but he’s been busy over the last five years after becoming a father of two and married to a professional volleyball player. He only takes oncertain jobs, allowing his wife to work so that he can be the primary caretaker of the house.
But I could tell she didn’t want anything more than what she was offering and I had to come to terms with that. Plus, I am thirty-six and she is twenty-four. Sure, we might have had the best sex of my entire life, and sure, she might’ve been the only woman to intrigue me in a long time, but we are on different paths in life.
It’d never work.
Or at least that’s why I try to convince myself because I haven’t been able to get her out of my head.
My phone rings in my pocket, and I see Camille’s name on my screen.
A smile spreads across my lips as I grab it to answer. “Salut, petite soeur.”
“J’ai besoin de ton aide,” she says with a hint of panic in her voice that has me sitting up so fast that I fall out of my hammock.
“Q, are you okay?” Camille asks, sounding even more worried.
I groan as I scramble to sit up. “Oh, yeah, just fell out of my hammock. Are you okay?”
“We’re okay,” she confirms, making me blow out a breath of relief.
“You need to be careful. Your old bones can only handle so much,” Ryker chimes in, letting me know they must be in the car together.
