Page 88 of Risky Play

I worked for another hour until I got to a good stopping point. Dinah was too preoccupied with my brother, and I didn’t want to ask questions about what they were up to. I shut down my laptop and put it back into my backpack.

I was hoping to slip out unnoticed, but my brother was in the kitchen when I tried to get to the front door.

“Hey, wait!” he called after me.

I sighed. “What?”

Noah walked over toward me and rubbed a hand over his big, bushy beard. “Can we talk?”

“No.”

“Mads.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “What do you want?”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Matt told me you felt like I blamed you for what happened with Chester. I want to apologize for that. I don’t blame you. It’s just… You’re my little sister.”

I stared him down. “I’m also not a little kid. You don’t have to do that big brother overprotectiveness anymore.”

He massaged the back of his neck. “You’ve dated a lot of guys who haven’t been right for you.”

“That’s none of your business. Who I date is of no concern to you.”

“Is this why you won’t let us meet the new guy? Because I’ll scare him off?”

“Yes,” I lied.

No, it was so much worse. He had no clue.

“I’m sorry. D kinda gave me the business about that, reminded me about how annoying her brothers were when we first started dating. So, when you’re ready, I’d love to meet your new guy. I promise to be on my best behavior.”

I stared at my brother. He would absolutely not be on his best behavior. He was going to go through the roof.

“Maybe,” I said and shrugged.

He nodded.

“I have to go,” I said and turned to leave.

Luckily, he didn’t stop me. The guilt was still weighing me down, but I wasn’t so sure I’d ever feel comfortable telling him. I knew one person who could help me.

When I got back to my dorm, I dropped my bag on the floor and flopped onto my bed. I pulled out my phone and sent a video chat request to my best friend Ally.

She answered immediately, her blonde hair up in a messy bun. “Hey, you slut! I thought you forgot about me.”

I cringed. “I’m sorry. I’m the worst!”

“Mmmhmm. So how’s Philly? Has Noah forced you to move in yet?”

I groaned.

“That bad?”

“He fought Jaime.”