Page 18 of Playing Dirty

Little does Theo know,switchvery much applies toallthings in the bedroom for me, and hearing it leave his lips does absolutely nothing to help the attraction I’m trying to shove away. Especially knowing we’re about to climb into the same bed.

At least it’s a king. Plenty of room to share without even knowing the other person is there, even if both of us are well over six-feet tall.

The fact that he’s half-naked? Well, that’s my problem.

He chooses the left, sliding between the sheets without a word, andstarts scrolling on his phone. I avoid joining him for as long as I can, but when it’s time for me to pull back the comforter and top sheet on my side, I offer him one final out.

“You sure you’re good with this?”

“As long as you promise not to smother me with a pillow while I’m asleep, I’ll be fine.”

I hum out a little laugh. “There’s an idea.”

His lips twitch, fighting a smile, and I realize it might be the first time I’ve ever seen one from him—or at least something remotely close to one.

Damn.

Maybe there’s hope after all, and he’s not nearly as bull-headed and blinded by resentment as he’s made himself appear. Or maybe hell has frozen over and we’re entering the apocalypse.

Based on how things are looking outside, it’s a toss up.

Five

Theo

To my surprise, the bed is empty when I wake up just before seven the next morning. Finding no stray pillows on the floor or in the bathtub, I have to assume Madden took my word for it and slept in the bed—not that I really care either way. Still, it’s weird that he’s already gone before the sun is up. Especially on winter vacation, which most people would consider a chance to sleep in.

At least we made it through the first night without a blowup or suffocating the other in our sleep. I have no idea how tenable that is long term, though, and it creates a stormcloud of impending doom inside my head. But I do my best to shove those thoughts down and focus on the positive as I shower.

Even if it was a bribery tactic, I’m spending the week in one of my favorite places; one holding countless amazing memories from mychildhood. Plus being out on the mountains—breathing in the fresh, winter air—is one of the few places I can find peace besides the baseball diamond. Carla’s and Madden’s presence won’t be enough to ruin it for me.

With some time to kill before I’m due to meet everyone for breakfast, I jump into my Snowlinemorning routine. First is to grab coffee at the little café near the main lodge, then head up to this small little nook I found as a kid to watch the sun come up over the mountains. It does the trick, putting me in a decent mood by the time I arrive at the restaurant.

There’s no sign of Dad or Carla yet, but I spot Madden seated at one of the tables near the window, and I head over to join him.

“Sleep okay?” I ask as I take a seat.

“Oh. Yeah, it was fine. Did you?”

I offer a non-commital shrug. “Wasn’t murdered in my sleep, so I’ll take it as a win.”

His lips twitch slightly before he takes a swig of water, but I’m surprised when he doesn’t make any sort of playful taunt back. In fact, he doesn’t speak at all, so I use the time while we wait for Dad and Carla to look over the menu despite knowing I’ll get the same thing as always, creature of habit that I am. But as it creeps past nine and they still aren’t here, annoyance licks through my veins. And when my phone buzzes on the table and I read the text waiting for me, my annoyance turns into a sharp pang of irritation.

Dad: Gonna miss breakfast, but still plan for dinner.

A scoff leaves me, but I don’t bother responding and just shake my head before dropping the phone back to the table.

And so it begins.

“They’re not coming.” I glance up at Madden’s voice, and he aims a pointed look at my phone. “That’s what the text said, right?”

“What gave it away?”

I’m not sure if I’m more pissed at Dad for forcing me into thisfamilytrip, only to cancel on the family portion of it the first day…or if I’m actually angry with myself for having the tiniest semblance of hope that he might actually still be a man of his word.

Because he’s only making it more and more apparent that the ship containing whatever shred of honor he still had set sail long ago.

Madden studies me for a moment before asking, “You know we’re gonna be left to our own devices pretty much the whole time we’re here, right?”