Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

“So, you’re dating my sister?”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “It’s more than that. We’re together, and I love her, Ryan. I love her more than I’ve ever loved anything else.”

He blinks, once, twice, and then a third time. “You love her.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” I say quickly, and I realize I am starting to ramble. “It isn’t just some run-through, Ryan, I swear it. My intentions from the beginning were pure and real. I wanted to add to her life, but what I didn’t realize was how much she added to mine. She sparks a light inside me, and I can’t ignore that. I won’t ignore that.”

His eyes narrow further. “So if I said you can’t be with her—”

“Then I would miss our friendship, but I won’t leave her. I know that might sting—”

“It doesn’t sting.” I press my lips together as he looks down at the floor. He takes in a deep breath, filling his lungs, before he lets it out slowly.

“It doesn’t?” I ask, my voice breaking.

“No. I want the man who is with my sister to be like that, to give up anything for her. And if you’d give up a long-term friendship, then you must be pretty serious about her.”

My heart stops in my chest. “I am.”

“Is she happy?”

“I think so. She seems so. She is finally working at the gym by the house. It’s only her second night, but she’s pretty damn stoked.”

“A gym,” he says in awe. “Wow.”

“I’ve been begging her for weeks, but I knew she had to do it at her own pace.”

He nods. “I meant, is she happy with you?”

A small grin pulls at the side of my mouth. “I think so. She makes me happy, that’s for sure.”

“Then she must be happy, because when she isn’t, no one is.”

I laugh, even though he doesn’t.

“Drew never did that for her. She was always so sad and defeated. Not at first, but once she left with him, she was.”

I’m pretty sure he was emotionally abusing her, but I don’t dare say that. I won’t betray Amelia’s trust like that. “We don’t really talk about him.”

“That’s good. I wish she’d never gone back to him.”

“Me either.”

He cocks his head in question. “What do you mean?”

Apparently, I’m all for spilling my guts today. “She kissed me at that party when you first hooked up with Sofia. Everything changed. I’d thought maybe something would start up, but she chose Drew over me.”

He inhales and lets out a hard sigh. “Wow, so you’ve liked her for a long time.”

I nod. “I respected you too much to push for it.”

“But not anymore?”

“It’s not that I don’t respect you, man, I do. But I’ve been unhappy for way too long to go back to that feeling. I love where I am. I love her.’”

He brings his top lip in between his teeth as he nods. “I want you to be happy. I want you to have what I have with Sofia.”

“I’ve got it,” I say with all the faith in the world. “Amelia’s everything.”

He meets my gaze, and I find myself holding my breath. “I know you, Moon. I know who you are, what you stand for, and how you love. You were there for me when I got sad about my dad, and even when I was crying my eyes out, you comforted me. You didn’t make fun of me or anything. You cared for me. You loved Lana when she didn’t deserve it at all. Amelia needs to be loved like that. All I want is for my sister to be happy, and if you promise me she is, I’m good.”

I feel like I’m gonna pass out. “Ryan, I swear to you, I’d never hurt your sister. Not only because I love her but because I respect her. I respect you, your mom, and the memory of your dad. I’d never let any of you down. You remember how you said Sofia was your game changer?”

A little grin lifts the side of his mouth. “Yeah.”

“That’s Amelia for me. I thought I knew what an amazing girl was. The One. But she came along and redefined everything I thought ‘The One’ was. She… Fuck, dude, I don’t know. She’s just it. She’s what I see when I see my future.”

Ryan grins, running his hands through his hair. “You sound like me when Sofia came along.”

“Game changers.”

“Game changers,” he agrees.

With a sheepish grin, I say, “I thought you were gonna kick my ass.”

“Oh, I should,” he laughs, and I smile. “I don’t like people dating my sister behind my back.”

“I know, which is why I needed to tell you.”

He taps his beer to the inside of his knee. “Does she love you?”

“I don’t know,” I say softly, a little embarrassed. “I haven’t told her yet.”