Page 142 of The Illicit Play

He’s sitting on his bed, staring at the wall with this glum look on his face.

His leg is propped up on a stack of pillows, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Even injured, he looks big and strong and a little intimidating.

He’s your brother! The one you used to run to, remember?

Sucking in a breath, I force myself to stand at the end of his bed while Satch takes a seat beside him. Threading her fingers through his, she runs comforting circles over the back of his hand while nodding at me.

Oh shit.

This is it.

I open my mouth, not even sure where to start with this big confession, but Wily speaks before I can.

“What were you thinking?” he snaps. “Going behind my back with one of my teammates? Don’t you know there’s a bro code? I can’t believe that asshole broke it!”

“Don’t call him that,” I quickly bite back. “He didn’twant to, but I just kept throwing myself at him. The poor guy didn’t stand a chance. It’s my fault, okay? Not his.”

“He should have known better,” Wily grits out. “It’s not good enough.”

“Oh, come on,” I whine. “Don’t make him sound like some villain. He’s a good guy. We just got caught up while we were away, and… and then I kissed him again here, and that’s what you saw.”

His eyes narrow. “You didn’t just get caught up; you were full-on sleeping together.”

I shrug, unable to argue with that point.

“Is that all it is? Just sex?”

I open my mouth to respond, but I can’t, because I honestly don’t know. Wily’s accusations about Grady still being in love with Teah haven’t stopped ringing inside my head. I’ve just been too distracted over hurting my brother to really soak it all in.

Maybe that’s why Grady was so hesitant to get something started with me. Maybe it was more about her and less about my brother.

Shit.

My insides shrivel, my knees wanting to buckle as I stand here quaking at the end of Wily’s bed.

I lock them into place and clench my jaw to stop my teeth from chattering.

“You know, it’s a good thing you’re going back to Chicago. I really appreciate all you did to help me, but I’m okay now, and you need to get back to your life, you know?” He huffs. “I’d love to tell you to keep me posted on how things are going, but you obviously don’t want that kind of relationship with me anymore.”

“That’s not true.” I close my eyes.

“How could you not tell me you lost your V-card? That’s huge. I told you all about my first time.”

“Wily.” Squeezing my eyes shut even tighter, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “It’s embarrassing talking about it.”

“We used to tell each other everything! Even the humiliating stuff! That’s what made our relationship so damn special. You’re always the one I go to first when shit is happening.”

“Not anymore. Not now that you’ve got Satch.” I point to his girlfriend.

“Don’t you dare use her to justify what is going on right now! Yes, she’s shifted things between us slightly, but you lost your V-card before Satch even came into my life. Withsome guywho might maybe be your boyfriend and sometimes not. What does that even mean?” He flicks his hand up in obvious frustration. “Have you been sleeping around up there? Have you turned into some kind of party girl? You told me you weren’t into that scene, which means you outright lied to me. It wasn’t just an omission—youlied to me!”

I flinch as his voice rises to a thunderous shout.

“Wily.” Satch tries to soothe him, her voice like a silken breeze.

He instantly relaxes back against his pillows, the thunder replaced with a gray, depressive kind of fog that’s killing me.

“Seriously, sis, you should just go book your flight and get out of here. I think that’s best for everyone.”