Page 103 of Playing for Keeps

Theo ran off to brush his teeth while I helped Mum with the dishes.

“Ethan’s a good dad to Theo,” Mum said unexpectedly.

I concentrated on rinsing the plate, not meeting her gaze. “Yeah, he’s great.”

“He always puts Theo first. Which is how it should be.”

“Of course.”

When I glanced up, she was giving me a look I couldn’t interpret.

My shoulders seized. Had Dad said something? But I was fairly sure that if he’d divulged to her what he’d walked in on, she wouldn’t be indulging in cryptic comments. I’d be getting a full-on earbashing instead.

“I’ve been surprised by how good a father he’s been, given how he was raised.” Mum loaded the cutlery into the dishwasher.

“That wasn’t Ethan’s fault,” I said sharply.

This reminded me of the frustration I’d felt growing up when my mother discriminated against Ethan because of his family situation.

Luckily, my father had stuck up for Ethan. Without his moderating influence, I was fairly sure Mum would have done everything she could to discourage our friendship.

The unfairness I’d always felt on Ethan’s behalf rose inside me. “What have you always had against Ethan?”

My mother put the casserole dish in the sink and turned on the tap. “I was always concerned that Ethan Lewis was going to lead you astray.”

She swirled the water in the dish aggressively, then looked up, staring out the window for a few moments at Char on the patio before turning her gaze back to me. “But I guess I worried about the wrong child, didn’t I?”

Chapter25

Ethan

Luke was away at New Zealand rugby training camp and I was moping around like a kid who’d lost his favorite toy.

My body had become used to sex three times a day. Even when Theo had stayed with me during the week, Luke and I had had plenty of opportunities for orgasms while Theo was at school.

The worst dry spells had been at the weekends when Theo stayed. Although Luke had at least still come over, and the three of us had hung out. Luke had introduced Theo to Beyblades, which had quickly become his newest obsession. And while I couldn’t even master the basics, Luke, in typical fashion, had picked it up quickly. Seeing him and Theo crouched over the mini stadium with their identical looks of concentration was not only amusing but also had my heart doing a weird squeeze.

So although I hadn’t been able to touch Luke at the weekends, I’d still got my daily dose of him.

Now, four days without him seemed like an eternity. It was also enough time for anxiety to have sprouted in my stomach like an invasive weed.

For the past few weeks we’d been so hot and heavy, so caught up with each other. What if being apart gave him a chance to think things through?

Luke was smart, incredibly handsome and on his way to being the next rugby superstar. He was also one of the best people on the planet.

He could have any guy he wanted.

I’d already hurt him so much in the past. And being with me long-term would come with lots of crap. We’d had a glimpse of it the other day with Anthony’s reaction. Maybe Luke would decide our relationship wasn’t worth the effort?

I pulled up in Char’s driveway to pick up Theo and groaned out loud. Because Anthony and Alison’s car was there. Just what I needed.

Hey Anthony, nice to see you. Although you’re seeing a whole lot less of me than you did when you caught me half naked and dry humping your son.

The front door was already half open, so I poked my head inside. Tense voices were coming down the hallway from the living room.

Shit. Had Anthony told Char what he’d seen? How would she react once she knew? I really had no idea how Char would feel about the idea of Luke and me together.

“Knock knock,” I said loudly.