Page 18 of Let the Game Begin (Kiss Me Like You Love Me #1)

Selene

It was especially sunny when I finally decided to take a walk in the park with Matt. In reality, I’d only agreed to go out with him to avoid Neil—the tsunami that had upended my life.

So, I walked alongside my father in silence until he sat on a bench and motioned for me to join him. I took a seat next to him and put my hands on my knees, rubbing my palms over the surface of my jeans.

“You know, Selene,” he began, watching as a group of children pushed each other on the swings, “I feel regret every day that I wasn’t a better father to you.

” I regretted it too, but I didn’t say that to him.

Instead, I chose to keep quiet and hear what he had to say.

“I know what you and your mother went through, but I think I deserve…” he trailed off, hesitant.

“Another chance?” I finished for him with a bitter smile.

If he thought I was dumb enough to give him one, he was sorely mistaken.

“I still remember when I walked in on you and your coworker. Do you realize that?” I added in disgust. Matt adopted an embarrassed look.

His embarrassment, though, was nothing compared to the disillusionment I had felt.

“I am so sorry…” he murmured, not looking at me.

“Should have thought about that before you did it.” Ours was not an evenly matched fight.

Matt was in the wrong, and he knew very well that it was contemptible for a father to put himself in a position where he was caught with another woman by his own daughter.

He fell silent, and my anger, repressed for so long, swelled and then exploded.

“You have no idea how many times I watched Mom cry when she smelled someone else’s perfume on your shirts or when you gave her some flimsy excuse for why you were going to be late.

” My voice shook, and I couldn’t hide how upset I was.

It was still so painful for me to talk about this, and as far as I was concerned, his actions were unforgivable.

“Selene, I…”

“You have no idea how many times we waited for you pointlessly. To eat dinners, to celebrate birthday parties, to watch school plays.” Matt hung his head, and I turned my face away so I wouldn’t have to see his contrite expression.

Ironically, the new angle gave me a perfect view of two parents holding their daughter’s hand.

“I used to love you so much,” I murmured, staring at the happy little family just a stone’s throw from us.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, more to himself than to me. I got to my feet and looked back down at him.

“We’d better head back now,” I said with finality. Matt got up as well and followed me.

Back at the house, my father went upstairs to find Mia while I remained downstairs alone. I sat down in the living room, worn out and bummed out by my conversation with Matt and watched as Logan emerged to grab the keys to the Audi.

“Where are you going?” I said curiously. He was all dressed up, like he was going out on a date, but I didn’t ask directly if he was because I didn’t want to seem nosy.

“I’m going to watch the game at Adam’s place with the guys,” he answered immediately, but I didn’t believe him.

He wasn’t dressed for a night with the boys.

Still, I just smiled at him and shrugged.

Logan’s love life was none of my business, though I would have been pleased if he had finally decided to date Alyssa.

“Okay, have fun,” I told him. He gave me a wave and hurried out the door.

A moment later, Chloe appeared. She was wearing a magnificent red dress, and her blond hair tumbled softly around her shoulders.

All dressed up like that, she was a carbon copy of her mother.

She walked to the door without acknowledging me, and I didn’t say anything to her either.

Alone once again, I turned on the TV and started surfing with the remote control.

“Selene!” I was startled when Mia’s playful voice echoed through the room.

“Your father and I are leaving for a conference. Anna will also be going shortly.” She pulled on a long, elegant coat and gave me a smile that I did not reciprocate.

“That’s fine.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own? You can call me if you need anything,” my father added, sounding worried as he entered the living room. His show of concern annoyed me.

“Yup.” I didn’t even look at him and focused on the television until I heard the door shut and silence fell. Finally, I was free from their presence.

I got up then and went into the kitchen to get a bowl of the popcorn Anna had made. She really had a gift—she was a magician in the kitchen and even her simplest dishes made my mouth water.

“Miss, I’m heading out now. My children are waiting for me,” said Anna, appearing behind me and taking me by surprise. I smiled at her, still holding the bowl in my hands and watched her pick up her purse.

“How many children do you have?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t think I was prying.

“Two, dear. Two boys.” She told me about her children as I walked her to the door.

Ethan, her oldest, was eighteen and dreamed of becoming a great baseball player.

The younger boy, Jace, was fifteen and played the piano.

I didn’t ask any questions about the father of her children, but I got the impression that he hadn’t stepped up for them.

Anna had worked for Mia for so many years precisely because of the generous salary that Mia offered, which gave her enough to support herself and her kids without anyone else’s help.

She had been looking after Neil, Logan, and Chloe since they were little.

She told me that Neil had been a very smart but mistrustful boy; curious but introverted.

I looked at her as she spoke, and it occurred to me that she could help me.

She had known Neil for a long time; perhaps she could shed some light on the shadows surrounding him and his mood swings.

But Anna was in a hurry, and it wasn’t really the time to pepper her with questions.

I said a polite goodbye to her and watched her leave.

I returned to the living room and sat back down on the sofa.

I intended to take advantage of the solitude to eat some popcorn and watch a movie.

I just needed a break from everything that was happening, especially with Neil.

I was still deciding on what to watch when I heard footsteps on the staircase.

Seconds later, his imposing frame appeared in the living room.

I hadn’t realized Neil was even home. I’d thought he was out with Jennifer or his other friends.

“What are you doing here?” I asked before choking on a piece of popcorn and coughing.

“I’ll remind you that this is my home.” He smiled and looked at me in such a seductive way that it gave me goosebumps.

“I thought you’d gone out as well.” I cleared my throat and went back to pressing remote buttons randomly. My brain was already all static and the closer he got the more precarious I felt.

“No. Jennifer left half an hour ago, and I need to relax.” His hair was damp, and he smelled like body wash, a sure indication that he’d just taken yet another shower. I could deduce that he and Jennifer hadn’t met up to talk.

Heedless of my discomfort, Neil sat down near me and stretched out his legs, crossing one casually over the other. I went rigid and instinctively moved slightly to increase the distance between us.

“Leave it here,” he said when I landed on a channel with a boxing match on. Was he a fan of the sport? Suddenly, I had a vague memory of a punching bag swinging in his room. Too bad for him: I had no interest in watching dudes punch each other.

“I’m anti-violence. I don’t like to watch certain programming,” I argued, and he just smiled, his eyes locked on the screen.

I rolled my eyes and continued chowing down on the popcorn as I gave him a furious look.

Although I was visibly irritated by his intrusion and his presumption, I couldn’t help but be dazzled by the line of his profile and those full lips that generated all sorts of fantasies in the female brain.

I sighed and reluctantly bid goodbye to my peaceful evening. I focused on my popcorn. Suddenly, Neil’s hand invaded my field of vision and thrust into the bowl.

“Hey!” I exclaimed in annoyance, the way I might react to a naughty child as he grabbed a handful.

“Yes?” he asked, chowing down with his typical indifferent air.

“This is my popcorn. There’s more in the kitchen if you want some.” I held the bowl out of his reach, though I was sure he would have just taken it if he really wanted it. After all, he always found a way to get the things he wanted.

“Don’t be greedy, Selene. Be generous, like you were last night.” He gave me a sly look, and his luminous eyes seemed even brighter than normal.

“Knock it off,” I demanded and stared at the TV screen, trying not to look at him.

“The details…” he murmured thoughtfully, as if his mind were wandering off somewhere else.

“What?” I asked, turning to him in confusion.

“The truth is hidden in the details.” The low timbre of his voice drove the air from my lungs.

“What are you talking about?” I whispered. Though we weren’t sitting that close together, it felt like the space between our bodies was shrinking.

“True intelligence means knowing exactly how to read them, Selene, and when you do, nothing makes sense anymore.” He pulled the popcorn bowl from my hands and set it on the glass table in front of us before drawing closer and touching my cheek.

His cold fingers glided across my skin, and I didn’t pull away from them.

I did, however, close my eyes, because surrendering to him hurt like a dagger to the heart.

“Except everything makes sense, and we can’t upend our whole situation,” I answered hesitantly. I wish I had the strength to reject him outright, but no matter how hard I tried to resist him, I was overwhelmed by the emotions he generated within me.