Page 35 of Let the Game Begin

I was so tired of living with the burden of what I had done. Tellinghim the truth and setting him free for good was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t bring myself do it over a text message or even a phone call.

I headed downstairs for dinner and took my seat at the table with Matt, Mia, and Logan. Chloe was out with Carter again, and Neil was in the wind. I had promised myself that I was going to get something in my stomach—I was eating very little, and it was making me feel increasingly fuzzy and anxious.

On top of everything else, I didn’t have any friends I could trust with my troubles, and I felt so awfully alone. I’d thought about confiding in my mom, but the idea of her getting angry at me was horrifying. She wasn’t the right person to ask for advice about this. I would just have to face it on my own. Like always.

I toyed with the food on my plate and smiled at Anna when she asked me if everything tasted all right. In reality, I only reluctantly ate the delicacies she had prepared. I was too torn up inside, worried, and depressed.

“Hey.…everything okay?” Logan asked, scooting closer to me. I just nodded, hoping I looked convincing.

“So, kids…” Matt patted his lips with his napkin and looked at me and Logan. “How’s school going? Tell me all about it.” He rested his chin on his fist and awaited our responses.

“Well, I’m ready now for a test at the end of the month,” Logan began, giving me some time to come up with something cogent to say.

“Glad to hear it, you never let us down, Logan,” my father commented with pride.

“Good job, Pup,” Mia praised him, one hand pressed to her chest.

“Mom,” he chided her sternly and reddened in embarrassment.

I barely restrained my laughter.

“And what about you, Selene? What’s going on with you?” Matt prompted me.

“I’m adjusting,” I answered shortly, nibbling on a piece of bread just to keep myself busy.

Matt didn’t push and dropped his eyes to his plate, clearly disappointed by my attitude. Mia patted his shoulder in reassurance, but I didn’t feel any pity for him.

After that, dinner proceeded in monastic silence. Occasionally, I would respond to Jared’s text messages, but Neil was the one who was really on my mind. I jumped at every noise from outside and expected to hear the roar of his engine at any moment. How was I supposed to ignore that sinful smile and matching body when he walked in the door? Would I even be capable of it?

Though I was feeling tense, I remained politely seated at the table until everyone had finished their dinner. For a second, I thought I was going to get away clean, but then I heard the click of a lock and the front door opened.

I stiffened immediately and poured some more water into my glass just to hide my obvious nerves.

“Neil, darling, is that you? Come in here with us for a minute. There’s still some dessert left.” Mia gestured toward the kitchen, but her son didn’t bother to dignify her with a response. He took the stairs briskly and retreated into his room.

Logan threw a worried glance at his mother, and a strange sort of understanding passed between them. A moment later, Mia nodded almost imperceptibly at Logan, who immediately stood up and cleared his throat.

“Uh, please excuse me, I’m going upstairs for a minute,” he announced before backing away from the table and heading quickly to the stairs. What was going on? I tried to project an air of indifference, but it was obvious to me that something wasn’t right.

Unable to tolerate the fraught atmosphere at the table anymore, I made my excuses and left to go to my own room. I wanted to take a hot bath and watch a movie in bed.

I was almost there, too, when I was stopped in the hallway by the sounds of shouting coming from Neil’s room.

“It’s none of your business!” Neil’s deep baritone voice bellowed.

“I’m just trying to help you; don’t you get that?” Logan responded, alarmed.

I chewed nervously on the inside of my cheek. I wanted to hear what they were arguing about, but it seemed like a sibling issue, and I had no right to eavesdrop on them. It would have been disrespectful.

So, despite my curiosity, I walked to my room, determined not to insertmyself. Then, suddenly, I heard a loud thud and instinctively ran for Logan to make sure that he was okay and hadn’t run afoul of Neil’s wrath.

I threw open the door of the next room, looking first at Neil, standing in front of his brother, and then at the room surrounding them, which appeared to have been devastated by a tornado. A lamp had been shattered against the wall, tiny shards lay on the floor among a few loose books.

“It’s fine, Selene. Get out of here,” Logan said placatingly. I should have listened to him but my legs wouldn’t obey me.

“You leave too, and get off my dick!” Neil thundered at his brother. His golden eyes were dull and blank. The black of his pupils sucked up all the gleaming honey that I’d admired so much. Neil was dripping sweat, his fisted hands were trembling and his breathing was irregular.

“Selene, please go away,” Logan pleaded, shooting me a worried look. It was wrong of me to butt in, but…