Played (Trapped Book 3) Read online

  After Mitch finishes singing her praises, everyone’s eyes are on me.

  I suppose it’s my turn to say something nice. Something that has nothing to do with what she’s like in bed.

  “That she’s a good person isn’t the issue. My point is that I’m pretty sure Erin doesn’t need or want your help finding dates.”

  “Right, but how will we know unless we ask her?”

  We? I stare at her with arched brows. We aren’t going to ask her a damn thing.

  Suppressing a sigh, I move my arm from around her shoulder to the back of the couch. “I assume you have someone specific in mind?”

  When she starts gnawing at her bottom lip, I know I’m in trouble. She only does that when she’s unsure of my reaction.

  “Evan.”

  No. Absolutely not. Not her goddamned brother. Not in a million fucking years.

  “I think he’d like her a lot.”

  Yeah, no shit. An image of Erin is vivid in my mind. Killer bod. Gorgeous baby blues. Dark red hair—sorry, not red but dark auburn as I’ve been corrected more times than I can count.

  Of course, her brother would like her. It’d be hard to find a straight guy who wouldn’t.

  I shake my head. No. No. Nope. Not gonna happen. “Just leave it alone, Chloe. Erin and Evan don’t need you playing matchmaker.” No way is her brother going out with my—with Erin. No fucking way. In fact, I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to meet any of her future dates or boyfriends.

  That’s when I discover after dating her for four months, that obstinacy is a character trait Chloe possesses. She turns to Paige for a second opinion. A second opinion that obviously carries more weight than mine.

  “What do you think? I mean, does Erin have a type or anything like that?”

  I give Paige the look. Don’t you dare encourage this shit.

  “How old is your brother?” she asks, snuggling up to my best friend as he puts his arm around her.

  My eyes widen. Well, fuck me sideways. Paige has taken sides and it isn’t mine. I narrow my eyes at her.

  “Twenty-five. People say he reminds them of Chris Evans.”

  Captain fucking America? Gimme a break. The only thing they have in common is the blond hair. And I’m not even sure it’s the right shade. Christ, Mitch looks more like him than her brother does, and that’s saying a lot.

  “I don’t know that Erin has a type per se, but Chris Evans is everyone’s type,” Paige says, appearing suitably impressed by the comparison. Angling her head, she looks over at Mitch. “What do you think, hon? Should we help hook Erin up with Chloe’s brother?”

  Mitch stretches out, propping his feet on the ottoman in front of him as he tucks Paige closer to his side. “Sure, why not.”

  Chloe is all smiles now, having gotten her way.

  That’s when my head explodes. I feel like a passenger on a runaway train that’s jumped the track and is barreling toward a cliff. How do I stop this?

  My best friend since I was eight and he was five just sided with his fiancée over me. Sold me out like Sammy the Bull did Gotti.

  That’s loyalty for you. The fucker.

  I can’t even look at him. At either of them.

  But I need to do something. Say something to stop this. “You really think Evan is going to want to start dating so soon after breaking up with—uh, what’s her name?” Sara? Samantha? While the name currently escapes me, I do remember Chloe saying something to me about it a couple weeks ago. I’d only listened with half an ear so the reasons for the breakup are sketchy, only that her brother had been nursing a broken heart.

  “Julia,” Chloe supplies. “And it was a year ago. But that’s why going out with someone like Erin is exactly what he needs. He’s been out of the dating scene too long. He should be spending weekends having fun, not dodging phone calls from our mom.”

  Mitch’s burst of laughter dies a quick death under my withering glare. He clears his throat. “Hey, if it works out, great. If not, no harm done. I mean we’re talking one date, right?”

  I shutter my expression when Chloe returns her gaze to me. “Unless they hit it off and then who knows,” she says as she pats my chest. “Maybe one day we’ll all be hanging out like this.”

  Fuck no. I don’t even have nightmares that bad.

  Mitch’s gaze narrows in warning. “Don’t mind Josh. We’ve known Erin since she was in high school. She’s like a sister to us so we’re a little protective of her.”

  There isn’t a trace of irony in his voice, and Paige’s face remains unchanged.

  “A bratty sister,” I mutter under my breath.

  Smiling up at me, Chloe gives my chest another placating pat. “Well, don’t you worry, Evan will take good care of her.”

  Take care of her?

  Not if I can help it.

  Chapter Six

  Erin

  A headache tickles behind my right eye by the time I arrive home, and it’s the threat of it turning into something monstrous that forces me to eat half the salmon and swallow a few mouthfuls of the garlic potatoes. I haven’t eaten a thing since this morning.

  Another night eating dinner alone. I’m used to it now. Have been since my sister moved out almost two years ago.

  Once I’m done, I store the rest of the food in the refrigerator and put my dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

  On my way upstairs to my room, I send Paige a Siri-dictated text.

  Me: I’m home safe and sound. Dinner was delicious! You’re going to have to give me the recipe for the salmon. Going to bed now. Ttyl.

  Paige: Good to hear