Page 91 of Playing for Keeps

At the airport, after disembarking, we could see through the glass walls a crowd of cheering supporters waiting for us. It appeared half of Canterbury had turned up to welcome us home.

Including Char and Theo.

My strides faltered when I caught sight of her dark hair that was so like mine.

Of course Char would be here. Her brother and her son’s father were in the winning team. She was standing with the group of players’ family members at the front of the crowd. Both she and Theo were in Marauders rugby jerseys, but even the smallest adult size swamped Char’s tiny frame.

My chest tightened. Because Char hadn’t entered my head in the past twelve hours. It had all been about Ethan.

His shoulders stiffened as he clocked them too.

We walked through the gate together and Theo ran to Ethan, who crouched down to hug him.

Char was all smiles. “Congrats, Little Bro.” She’d always thought it funny to remind me that she was born twelve minutes before me, especially since I’d always towered over her.

“Uh…thanks.”

“I tried to call you last night but you didn’t answer and then it started going straight to voicemail.”

“Oh yeah, my phone ran out of battery and I forgot to recharge it.”

Because I was too busy having incredible sex with Ethan to think about mundane things like charging phones.

I swallowed hard.

Theo was still talking a mile a minute to Ethan, so I tried to focus on Char. My twin sister. Whose child’s father was the guy I’d just slept with, the same guy she’d once slept with.

Yeah, I was fairly sure the word “awkward” had been invented for this situation.

Char tugged at her sleeve and gave me a sweet, happy smile while I rummaged around for something to say. It was embarrassing how little I actually knew about what was going on in my sister’s life. I’d vowed when I came home to make up for the time I’d missed with my family but, while I’d done that with my parents and Theo, I hadn’t made much progress with Char.

And now? Now I’d slept with Ethan. And let’s be honest, I had no intention of ending what we’d started last night. If anything, I was going to do my damnedest to get it to continue. Was that a betrayal of my sister?

Char broke the silence. “So, did the team have big celebrations last night?”

“Yeah, it was pretty insane.”

“Were Mum and Dad there?”

“For a bit. I don’t think Mum was impressed with the amount of alcohol being consumed, so they left quite early.”

Char laughed. “I can just imagine Mum’s face.”

I grinned too, and for a moment we were teenage versions of ourselves, co-conspiring to get around our mother’s old-fashioned views on alcohol.

Ethan straightened up from Theo, raising an eyebrow at Char. “Theo tells me he’s going to Billy’s house tonight?”

Char frowned. “He’s been invited for a sleepover. But you can cancel if you want. I’m sure they’d understand if you want to hang out with him.”

“Billy’s got a Harry Potter castle,” Theo informed Ethan.

“It’s Daddy’s decision,” Char said.

“Of course he can go. We can hang out tomorrow. And now the season is over we’ve got loads of time, haven’t we buddy?” Ethan tousled Theo’s hair.

My stomach hollowed, because he’d reminded me of an important point. The Marauders season was over. I wouldn’t be spending my weeks with Ethan anymore.

“Can we buy some snacks to take to Billy’s house?” Theo asked.