Chapter 12
I watch as the cop who saved Sophia leads her away. Something about the way he's holding her hand makes my blood boil. Did he really need to grip her hand like that?
I can't explain why seeing them together irritates me so much, but it does. Whatever's brewing between them doesn't sit right with me.
Soft fingers curl around my clenched fist, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"You okay?" Isabella asks, her voice laced with concern.
I turn to face her, and her beauty grounds me.
She's the one I want. The one I've always wanted. I force myself to focus on her, pushing Sophia from my mind.
I don't want Sophia anymore, so why should I care if another man shows interest in her?
"Yeah, I'm fine," I reply, forcing a smile.
Isabella smiles back, and just like the first time, it captivates me. Transports me back to when we were together.
Minutes later, Sophia returns with the cop—Daniel, I think his name is. She's laughing at something he said, looking relaxed, happy even.
Something tightens in my chest, and the irritation I'd pushed down surges back tenfold. What the hell is wrong with me?
I never cared much for her, so why do I suddenly want to smash Daniel's face in?
"Aren't you going to say hi?" Nathan asks Sophia, setting his gun down and removing his earmuffs.
Sebastian does the same, moving to stand beside me. We're twins, but we look nothing alike. Side by side, no one would guess we were related.
Sophia gives her brother a cold look, all traces of warmth gone.
"No need," she says flatly.
"What do you mean, no need? We're family," Nathan snaps, irritation sharp in his tone.
"Since when?" Sophia's voice is icy. "Last I checked, you only had one sister. Ethan had one love. And Sebastian? He never wanted me as a sister-in-law. Since the woman you all actually wanted is standing right here, I don’t see why I should bother pretending."
Her expression is unreadable, leaving us all shifting uncomfortably. She’s right—we were never kind to her, even when she tried.
"You’re being a bitch," Isabella snaps. "Is it so wrong for your brother to want to talk to you?"
Sophia laughs—a sharp, mocking sound I’ve never heard from her before.
"Thanks for the compliment, Isabella. They all thought I was a bitch anyway, so I figured I might as well live up to their expectations. And honestly? It’s liberating."
Isabella opens her mouth to retort, but Sophia cuts her off.
"Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get away from all of you before your drama scares Daniel off."
With that, she takes Daniel’s hand and walks away without a backward glance.
Daniel. So that’s his name. I make a mental note to dig into his background. There’s something about him I don’t trust.
They settle into a booth, and Daniel starts explaining what looks like the same safety briefing we got earlier. I force myself to look away.
"What the hell just happened?" Nathan mutters, stunned.
Sebastian smirks. "Sophia finally grew a spine."
He looks amused, which is more than I can say for the rest of us.
"Let’s just finish up and get out of here," Isabella huffs, shooting Sophia a glare before taking my hand and turning me away.
Sebastian and I already have our gun licenses. I was here to support Isabella, and Sebastian tagged along because he hadn’t been shooting in a while and thought it’d be fun.
But I can’t focus.
Damn it. I should be paying attention to Isabella, but my eyes keep drifting back to my ex-wife. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop watching her—and that bastard.
Every little thing he does grates on me. The way his hands linger on her hips as he adjusts her stance. How close he stands behind her. How his lips brush her ear when he whispers something that makes her laugh.
"Ethan?"
I snap my head toward Sebastian. "What?"
This has never happened before. Sophia has never gotten under my skin like this, and I don’t understand why.
"You’re not okay. What’s going on?" he asks carefully.
"Nothing. Why would you think that?"
Damn it. Why does it look like he’s caressing her? And what the hell is she giggling about?
"You’re glaring at your ex-wife and her hero," he points out.
"He’s not a hero!"
"He is. Or did you forget he saved her? That makes him a hero in her eyes."
Sophia turns to Daniel with a look I’ve never seen her give anyone—soft, warm, affectionate. It makes my stomach twist.
"Shut the hell up, Sebastian," I growl.
He chuckles, clearly enjoying this.
"Get it together. You came here with Isabella, not to obsess over Sophia. She’s the one you want, remember? And she’s noticed you’re distracted."
That snaps me back. I glance at Isabella, who’s sitting with her hands in her lap, head bowed. Shit. Sebastian’s right. Isabella doesn’t deserve this. We’re supposed to be starting over, and here I am, fixated on Sophia—who’s clearly moved on.
I set my gun down and sit beside Isabella.
"I’m sorry. My head’s not in the right place today."
It’s not a lie. For some reason, Sophia’s got me twisted up inside, and I don’t know why.
Isabella takes my hand and kisses my cheek. "I get it. You were married to her for nine years. It’s natural you’d be protective, especially with a stranger around."
I exhale, nodding. She’s right. I’m just looking out for Sophia—she’s Liam’s mother, after all. That’s all this is.
Thirty minutes later, Sophia leaves the range alone—the first time Daniel hasn’t been glued to her side.
I wait a beat before excusing myself and following her into the ladies' room, locking the door behind me.
"What the hell, Ethan?" she hisses, spinning around.
I stalk toward her, my steps measured.
"What the hell was that out there?" I snarl.
"I have no idea what you’re talking about," she says, brows furrowed.
I’m not in the mood for games. "Cut the crap, Sophia. What’s going on between you and that bastard?"
She smirks, but her eyes stay cold. "Oh, that? None of your business. And his name is Daniel, by the way."
"I don’t give a damn what his name is. Answer the question."
She tilts her head, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. That’s what I’m doing."
Something inside me snaps.
Before I can stop myself, I pin her against the wall, caging her in.
"You’re sleeping with him?" I growl, the thought of another man touching her making me see red.
She glares up at me. "Whether I’m fucking him or not is none of your concern. We’re divorced, remember?"
She’s right. But I can’t stop myself. The need to erase his touch consumes me. My hands find her hips—familiar, right.
Her breath hitches, and for a second, I think she feels it too.
Then she shoves me away.
"What are you doing?" she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. "You can’t do this to me. Isabella’s back. If you want to kiss someone, kiss her. Stop playing games with me."
With that, she slips past me and slams the door behind her.
I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.
What the hell was that?
I punch the wall where I’d just had her pinned.
Sophia’s right. I finally have Isabella. So why the hell am I sabotaging it by almost kissing her sister?
Isabella is the one I’ve always wanted.
So why can’t I get my unwanted ex-wife out of my head?