The Keeper (Playing To Win Book 1)

My bare feet slap against the dirty hotel carpet as I stomp out of the elevator on my floor. And yes, I know how gross that sounds. And that I’m probably not the first person to do this disgusting walk of shame. Ick.

That thought hits about the same time I manage to walk face-first into Maddox’s chest. His hands grip my shoulders as he laughs. “Hold up, trouble. Where’s the fire?”

“You’re a tool, Maddox.” He grins, and I pinch his nipple. We’re very mature for our age. Technically, I may be his aunt, but he’s always been more like an annoying brother than anything else. He’s two years younger than me but likes to act like he’s ten years older.

The door to our suite opens behind him, and I cringe.

Great. More witnesses to my humiliation.

Brynlee pops her head out of our door and scrunches her nose like she just smelled a skunk. Or more accurately, just got a look at my morning-after face, which is probably even worse than I’m imagining. Because seriously, that would be about right. “Come on, Lindy. If you move fast, you’ve got time to shower before we have to leave for the airport.” Her nose scrunches again. “And use some extra body wash. The booze is wafting from your pores.”

Great.

I look like a hot mess, and apparently, I smell like a bar.

Freaking fabulous.

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I silence it without even glancing down.

This day is off to a stellar start.

Maddox ignores Bryn and shoulders his leather weekender bag with his stupid, cocky smirk. “See you at the airport, trouble.”

“Giant tool,” I mumble under my breath and push into the suite, where my best friends all stand, waiting for me with varying shades of what the fuck flashing across their faces.

Huh. Is this what an intervention feels like?

I cannot deal with this. Not now. Not with the excitement vibrating through Everly or the concern coming off Bryn and Grace. And worse, not when the disappointment’s clear as day on Kenzie’s face.

Nope. Can’t. Deal.

I put my hand up before anyone opens their mouth. “I’m going to take a shower. A long one. A hot one. Really hot. Scalding hot. Any chance someone ordered Starbucks for the road?”

“Lindy, stop.” Gracie moves around the girls. “You can’t run away from us.”

The room spins as the pressure builds behind my eyes. “I just need a minute.” I grab her hand, desperate for her to hear more than just the words. “Just a minute to breathe. I’m not running away.”

Everly tilts her head with a wicked grin in her eyes, and I glare. “Zip it, Evie.” She probably knows me better than anyone, so she knows I shut down. And okay, maybe I tend to ignore or run away from my problems. But I really just need five fucking minutes to shut down. Alone.

I turn back and feel like I’ve been sucker-punched by the hurt on Kenzie’s face.

How many people am I going to hurt today? “Listen, I love you. And I know we need to talk, but right now, I need a shower. I need some fucking coffee, and I need to stop feeling my pulse behind my eyeballs.” My voice raises with each new word until I’m full-blown yelling. “We’ve got an entire country’s worth of a flight home, where you can spend hours telling me how stupid I am. Trust me. I’m already disgusted with myself. But I beg you, please. For the love of all that’s holy. Please give me a few fucking minutes before you start the lecture.” I take a few steps before turning back. “And not a word of this to a single soul in the family or I will disown you all.”

Everly clears her throat, but I thrust a finger in the air, cutting her off. “Not. One. Word.”

I don’t bother waiting for an answer or looking back again as I move into the bathroom and lock the door for good measure. My friends don’t really do boundaries.

I try to forget the expressions on their faces as I slide down the shower wall and wrap my arms around my knees, but it’s not that easy because when I don’t see their faces, Easton’s is everywhere. Hot tears mix with the spray of scalding hot water while I sob silently.

Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to marry Easton Hayes.

Wanted the white dress and the long aisle.

Wanted to wake up next to him and know he was mine. Really mine.

I’m pretty sure I doodled Mrs. Madeline Hayes a time or ten in a notebook after I met him the very first time. He was so handsome and so broody. It’s hard to forget just how broody he was back then. I knew no boys would ever compare to him. And that was before.

Before I even knew what an incredible man he’d become.

Or how much he’d mean to me.

Never in a million years did I fantasize about waking up next to him with a ring on my finger and having absolutely no memory of how it got there.

I wished for this to be the year my life finally changed.

The year I got what I wanted.

Stupid birthday wish.

The girls gave me a wide berth when I got out of the shower.

They left me alone as I threw my clothes back into my bag, handed me a coffee, and stayed quiet as we drove to the airport. What do they say about small miracles?

It’s not until we’re all on the plane and Everly sits down next to me that she decides I’ve had enough time to sulk and lifts my sunglasses off my head. “We need to talk.”

I close my eyes and lean back against the leather seat. “I know. And I’m sorry I yelled before. It’s not your fault. It’s not any of your faults. I’m the idiot. It’s just . . .” I try to put into words the insane emotions warring inside me. The hurt. The devastation. The anger. At myself. At Easton. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”

My phone rings again, and I silence it for the millionth time this morning and toss it in my purse.

“Well.” Everly reaches inside my bag and pulls it back out. “I’d say you’re going to have to answer this at some point. But there’s something you need to know first.”

I crack open my eyes. “What else could I possibly need to know? Did I have a threesome last night too?”

“Jesus Christ, trouble,” Maddox groans way too loud. “I don’t need that shit burned into my brain.”

“You picture Lindy having sex a lot, madman?” Everly taunts. “Kinky. I like it.”

Callen takes a swig from a flask and cracks an arrogant smile. “Don’t knock it till you try it.”

“Try what? Picturing Lindy having sex?” Brynlee asks, shocked.

“Eww.” Grace’s cheeks pink as she smacks Callen’s shoulder. “Just. Eww.”

Callen winks at me. “What? I’m not related to her.”

“Oh my God.” Everly covers her face as she cracks up.

“I didn’t have a threesome,” I moan. “It was a bad joke.” Because that’s what this whole day has been. A bad joke. “We’re going to get it fixed, and if I’m lucky, we’re going to do it before the whole world finds out.”

“Easton isn’t something that needs to be fixed, Lindy,” Kenzie clips back, protecting her brother.

“Lindy . . .” Brynlee pushes when my phone keeps ringing.

“Oh my God.” I give up and yank the stupid thing out of Everly’s hand. “Hello?”

“Madeline Kingston. What the hell were you thinking?”

And the hits just keep coming.

A collective groan echoes around the cabin.

Gracie reaches across the aisle and hands me her iPad, and I gasp and completely miss whatever else is being said. Because on the screen is Everly’s Instagram page.

With a post from last night.

Easton’s holding my face in his hands, and I’m holding his hands in mine.

And that look in my eyes. Wow. We look so happy. So . . . in love.

And then there are the rings on my finger. They’re on full display for the world to see.

Everly’s caption reads Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Easton Hayes!

I look at the girls and cringe. “Hi, Mom.”