Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

“I didn’t see your car,” she says, still hugging him.

“Sophia dropped me off before she went to do a private lesson with one of the girls at the gym. I wanted to be here when you got in,” he says, laying a smacking kiss on her cheek. “You look so great. You’ve put some weight back on. You were getting skinny for a second there.”

She scoffs. “I don’t look like I used to.”

“You’ll get there, being back in the gym and all.”

He puts her on her feet, and I know she is freaking the hell out. “Yeah, true. Thanks, um, but I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Surprise,” he says with a laugh before looking at me. “Hey, dude,” he says as we slap hands and bro-hug. I feel Amelia’s gaze on me. “How was the trip in?”

“Good. It’s cold as hell.”

“Right?” he says before he wraps his arm around Amelia’s neck. “Man, I missed you.”

She’s confused. I can see it all over her gorgeous face. “You knew Chandler was going to be here?”

Ryan shrugs as he gazes down at her lovingly. “I figured.”

“Figured?”

“Yeah. Y’all are still together, right?”

I press my lips together as she looks from him to me. “We are, but how do you know that?”

Ryan points to me. “He told me.”

Amelia’s gaze meets mine, her eyes swirling with anger. I’m pretty sure she won’t be kissing me under the mistletoe anytime soon.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Amelia

“He told you?”

I narrow my eyes at Chandler while he looks back at me with an “oh shit” expression on his face.

Ryan, oblivious, nods. “Yeah, like a month ago, right?”

Chandler nods his head slowly. “Yeah.”

“Figured since you went to Florida to have Thanksgiving with him and his parents, it must be pretty serious.”

My eyes widen, and Chandler grimaces. “Wow, thanks, dude.”

Ryan is just grinning. “What? I’m not mad. Mom…okay, well, Mom looks a little mad.”

I direct my gaze to my mom to find she is, in fact, upset. “You spent Thanksgiving with his family?”

I hold up my palms. “I told you I wasn’t alone.”

“I figured you were at home with friends, not flying to Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with someone else’s family.”

“I told you I wasn’t ready to face our family,” I attempt, but Mom isn’t having it.

“So you spent it with a totally different family?”

“With her boyfriend’s family,” Chandler adds. “She wasn’t ready then, but she is now. Can we just be happy we’re all together?”

Mom glares at Chandler for the first time ever. “You don’t know what it’s like to have your child not be in your life for a painfully long period of time, only to find out she chose a different family over yours.”

“She didn’t choose them over you, though,” he insists. “She did what was best for her, and you supported her until you knew it was my family. I am not trying to disrespect you, Mrs. Justice, but my family has always been kind to you, and you know she was taken care of.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Ryan says with a shrug. “He’s right, Mom. She’s home now, and she looks good. Happy, even. Why are we going to start this trip with a fight?”

Mom looks back at me, and I’m shaking with anger. I can’t believe Chandler told Ryan all that.

“Fine. There are cookies and milk in the kitchen.”

When Mom turns to head toward the kitchen, I turn in the direction of my room. Chandler is right on my heels. I throw open my door and toss my purse and gym bag on the bed. I whip around to find Chandler with his palms up.

“I fucked up.”

“You sure as hell did!” I yell, my body vibrating with rage. “You promised not to tell him.”

“That was before, when we thought we were just hanging out,” he defends. “When things became serious, I had no choice but to tell him.”

“No, you did have a choice. You could have kept your mouth shut! I wanted to tell him.”

His brow perks. “When? When he walks in and sees me? That would have been a clusterfuck. At least this way, there is no blindside, and he doesn’t want to kill me. Amelia, our talk was really good, and he was very supportive. Things are fine. Great, even.”

I throw my hands up. “My mom knows I skipped Thanksgiving with them to be with you!”

“It sucked that she had to find out that way, but who cares? At least you weren’t alone and you were happy. I know that’s what she wants.”

“You just don’t get it,” I protest, falling onto the bed. “I didn’t want anyone knowing until I was ready to tell them. I mean, hell, did you tell them about Drew?” When he bites his lip, my eyes widen and my heart jackhammers in my chest. “You did!”

“No, no, I didn’t. But I did tell my parents. By accident.”