Twisted Collide: The new sports romance in the Redville Saints series
Twisted Collide: Chapter 41

Dane Sinclair is hard to read.

The man is colder than ice.

To his teammates, he’s granite, an impenetrable force. They need him like that to rely on him to protect them.

But behind closed doors, he’s a man trying his hardest to fight his demons.

I see it in bits and pieces like a kaleidoscope.

The eager part of me, the part that refuses to back down from a challenge, loves that I’m the one who gets beneath his skin.

When his gaze found mine during the first period, right after Hudson scored, we had a moment, but then I didn’t hear from him after the game. I knew he’d fight it and turn cold after. He can’t help but retreat, but then I got a random text to meet him for brunch.

Which is where I’m off to now.

The location is in a neighboring town. It’s far enough away that no one in our inner circle will see us, but still not far enough away that it won’t be a problem if recognized.

I guess it’s a good thing I work for the team because at least we can pretend that this is just business. At least, that’s what I tell myself as we walk out of the diner.

I hate that I’m the coach’s daughter.

I hate that he’s like a son to my father.

I hate that I can’t grab his hand and declare to the world that he’s mine.

This is how it has to be.

I know in my heart that Dane’s standing on the team would be jeopardized if my father found out about us.

But somewhere deep inside me, a part I don’t want Dane to see, I wish he would own it. I wish he would fight for me. Come out and say he’s with me, but what can I expect?

Of course, he will put his career first.

Is it wrong to just want someone, anyone, to fight for me?

Together, we walk farther into the restaurant. Our bodies are close together, fingers hovering near each other, but neither of us crosses the distance. We can’t.

I stop my movements.

“Hellfire?” His gaze is locked on me as he waits for me to say or do something.

I study his face, sad that he’s not smiling. Instead, small lines accent his forehead.

I wish we could laugh together. The small glimpses of happiness I’ve seen from him are apparently only allowed in the closed-off space of his house.

Maybe one day.

“Let’s sit here.” I point to a free table at the back before sliding into the booth, and Dane sits across from me.

After a second, he leans back in the booth, lifting the menu to his face to read. I do the same, settling on what I’ll eat only a second before the server approaches.

“Hi, welcome to Barlow’s. I’m Maryanne, and I’ll be your server today. Would you like something to drink before I take your order?”

Dane lowers his menu and looks up at Maryanne. “I think we’re ready to order. Josephine, are you ready?”

“I am.”

Dane gestures for me to go. “I’ll have the buttermilk pancakes and a coffee.”

“What would you like with your coffee? Milk, cream?”

“Cream and two sugars, please.”

She nods and then turns her attention to Dane, who orders three eggs and an array of veggies. When she leaves, Dane leans forward, placing his elbows on the table.

By the way he’s looking at me, I can tell he wants to ask me something, but I’m not entirely sure I want him to.

“How did you end up here?” he finally asks, and I lift my brow in confusion.

“You asked me to meet you.”

His lips twist up. It’s not a full smile, but I can tell he wants to. “Not here, here, but in Redville.”

Shit. I knew this moment would come up sooner or later, but I’m not sure I even want to tell him. If this isn’t going to be anything serious, why bother?

His jaw is soft, and his eyes glisten at me with compassion. I guess I can tell him a little bit. The truth is, I barely speak to my father, so telling him much is out of the question anyway since I don’t know anything.

My fingers twirl together in my lap. “My mom sent me.” I try my best to disguise the annoyance in my voice, but I don’t do a very good job, and by the way Dane’s brows shoot up his forehead, he doesn’t miss that fact.

“Well, that sounds like a long, complicated story.”

Yep, just as I thought. I’m not good at schooling my features, after all.

I laugh. “Oh, it is, and we really don’t have time.”

Dane leans forward in his seat. “And you don’t want to tell me anyway.”

“Pot meet kettle.”

He raises his hand in mock surrender. “You got me.”

“I do. And I can ask you the same question.”

“How I got here? Well, the short story is I never left.” Dane rubs his hands together before placing one on the table.

“Exactly. How come? You were born and raised in Redville. Never left. And now play for the Redville Saints. You have this huge career. Have you ever considered moving somewhere else? There must’ve been offers.”

“Not really.” His fingers start to tap rhythmically. He’s avoiding the question, and I’m going to call him out on that. Two can play this game.

“You aren’t going to give me anything?”

“I couldn’t leave.”

A crumb. That’s progress.

I lift my brow. “Why?”

“Sometimes I forget that I haven’t known you for long. It feels like I’ve known you forever.” Warmth spreads through my limbs at his words. It feels that way for me too, but at the same time, it feels like we’re just scratching the surface. “Molly. I couldn’t leave because of Molly. It’s just us in this world, and she needed me.”

It’s a funny feeling when you can feel someone’s pain as if it’s your own. It radiates through every single layer of your soul, and all you want to do is reach out and comfort them. I don’t need to know the story to know he didn’t want to stay here. He did it for her. Still does it for her.

My heart breaks for him.

While I have no home, he’s all the home she knows.

“When you’re ready to talk about it, I’m here.” He nods but doesn’t meet my gaze. If I had to harbor a guess, he’s lost in his own thoughts.

“Thanks, Hellfire.”