Beach Reads Box Set

by Madden-Mills, Ilsa

  I exhale. I don’t want to hang on to this any longer. “The truth is—”

  “Al!” It’s the quarterback coach at the door, and his eyes go from me to my coach. “Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting anything?”

  Coach Al moves off his desk, sticks out his hand, and hauls me up to my feet. “We done here?”

  “Uh…”

  He gives me a nod and a shove toward the door. “Get the hell out of here, get dressed, and hit the field. I want you out there shining today for the scouts—no matter what. You’ve told me everything I need to know right now. You got me?”

  His gaze brushes over me, dismissing me as he turns to talk to the quarterback coach, but there’s a question in his gaze. I realize he likely knows there may be some truth to what was reported to the AD, but he doesn’t want to know. If he knows, he’s culpable. If he doesn’t know, I can play today—and I have to play today.

  Maybe I’m reading too much into it.

  Maybe I’m just paranoid.

  Maybe I’m just fucked up.

  I picture what things would look like if I didn’t have football, and I want to run as far away from Coach as I can.

  I can’t tell him.

  I give him a brief nod and slide out the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Delaney

  Skye, Raven, and I weave our way through the crowd of people to get to the section of seats reserved for players’ family members. I told Maverick weeks ago I’d make sure Raven saw the game, and that’s what I’m doing.

  I think back to Maverick and swallow down the lump in my throat as I recall our conversation last night. I still feel like I can’t breathe. I’m worried about him, but I’m also angry.

  I force a smile, trying to put on a brave face.

  With a quick survey of the nearby seats, I find a collection of six men, all dressed in various forms of suits that look a bit too posh for rural Mississippi. They’re sitting on the front row at the fifty-yard line, and several of the coaches from Waylon are shaking their hands—must be the scouts. I send up a prayer that Maverick does well.

  Waylon’s team has been divided up into two separate teams, red and blue, and the winner gets bragging rights for a year plus a party tonight in their honor.

  Maverick and Ryker are both on the red team, and when Maverick’s name and stats are called, Raven jumps to her feet and claps furiously. I stand up with her and we root for the hometown boy.

  Even though my heart aches, my eyes can’t get enough of him as he takes the field.

  Skye rolls her eyes but stands anyway. “I really don’t see what all the fuss is about.” Her eyes drift over the players as they line up on the field, seeming to linger a little on Alex. “Guess I like a more trim look.”

  “Football…is…king,” says Raven, and I grin behind my popcorn.

  Skye laughs. “Well, aren’t you just the little spitfire?”

  Raven turns her head to Skye. “Spitting…is…gross.”

  “It means you’re sassy and smart,” I add.

  Raven grins, her big eyes finding mine.

  I nod.

  Raven leans over on her knees, propping her chin up, laser focused on the team as they line up. Maverick barks out encouragement and when the blue team snaps the ball, his team flows into motion and tackles the quarterback.

  Two more downs, and each time the red team stops the running game before blue can get the ten yards needed for a first down.

  “He’s…good,” Raven murmurs as she crams a handful of candy into her mouth.

  “The best,” I say, running my eyes over those sure, confident shoulders. He’s the focal point of every eye in the stands.

  “He…deserves…best,” she adds slowly, and I look at her with interest, noting the quiet tone of her voice.

  “Of course he does. You do too.”

  She squints up at the sun that’s beating down on us. April in Mississippi can either be humid or freezing, depending on God’s sense of humor, and today he must be happy because it’s a beautiful seventy degrees.

  “I…know…what…he’s…doing…is…wrong.” Her hands twist at the box of Skittles.

  I stop chewing my popcorn. Does Raven know something?

  “What’s he doing that’s wrong?”

  A pensive look crosses her face. “Heard…phone…call…at…my…house.”

  “About what?”

  “Fighting…football…players…in…casino.”

  Skye’s eyes have widened and she puts her phone down, a confused expression on her face. “No, a casino is where people go to gamble—”

  I clear my throat, cutting her off. I haven’t said a word to her about what I know. “There’s no casino here, and no fighting, I promise.” Skye nods then turns back to the game, and I grab Raven’s hand. “Don’t worry about Maverick, okay?”

  She nods, and I turn to watch him run off the field.

  I keep my eyes on the game, but my brain flies. I’m sure Raven will keep this to herself, but Martha-Muffin is going to be a problem. How much longer before she tells someone? How much longer before it all hits the fan?

  * * *

  The game is over and I wait near the team entrance to the locker room, just outside the tunnel at the end zone. Maverick comes running out, wearing a pair of slacks and a blue button-down shirt with the cuffs rolled up, obviously dressed up to see the scouts at the meet and greet, and then he’ll be off to the party at the AD’s house.

  He’s stopped at a couple of young boys wanting autographs who’ve been standing here with me for the past half hour. Skye and Raven have gone on ahead, and I don’t plan on being here long. I’ve made up my mind to say what needs to be said, and once it’s out, I’m done.

  “Congratulations on the win and a great game,” I say as he nears me, stopping within a few yards.

  He runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I played well.”

  I huff out a laugh at his honest assessment. There’s no pretense to Maverick when it comes to his abilities. He looks around for Raven.

  “Don’t worry, they’re waiting for me. We’re going to get pizza.”

  He nods. “Thank you for today. She really wanted to come, and my dad…well, you know how that goes.”

  “Yeah. I’ll make sure she gets home okay.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  I nod, my emotions tugging at me, clogging up my throat. I swallow. “I also wanted to tell you that I…I don’t think we should see each other for a while. You’re not being truthful with me, and you haven’t been for weeks. Also, I’m not even sure how you feel about me, and if you can’t talk to me or tell me what’s going on with you, something isn’t right.” I take a big breath. “We need a break.” There, I’ve said the hard words, and I turn to leave before the tears that are brimming in my eyes fall.

  “Delaney, wait!” he calls out as I walk hurriedly across the field. He catches my hand and turns me around. “I’m sorry,” he says softly. “For putting you through this, for Muffin hounding you, for lying about the bruises…”

  I bite my lip, not able to stop the admission. “For making me fall in love with you?”

  “Delaney?” His voice is torn and he swallows. “Is that true?”

  God, yes. I do love him. Maybe I have since the moment he admitted he was He-Man. Maverick is in my blood, my skin, my bones. He’s the light, the sun I want to orbit.

  But, I make mistakes when it comes to love—every damn time.

  This time, it hurts way more than it did when Alex cheated on me.

  If Maverick cared about me, he’d have told me he loves me back by now instead of just standing there with an uncertain look on his face.

  “I always fall for the impossible guy.” I clench my hands, trying to keep it together.

  He scrubs his face. “Delaney, I’m sorry.”

  He’s sorry?

  I close my eyes at the words he’s not saying, at the way he isn’t committing to us.

  “I hear
everything you’re not saying, Maverick—everything.”

  “Just let me take care of this thing with Raven, and then I’ll be back for you.”

  I sigh. I want to believe him, but still, it isn’t enough. “Whatever you’re doing—this fighting—you need to stop. It’s wrong.” I shake my head. “When people care about each other, life has a way of working out. We can figure out Raven’s situation together.”

  A male voice calls Maverick’s name from the tunnel, and I shift my gaze to see one of the scouts waving for him to come over.

  “Look, I have to head out. Can I come by your place later?”

  I shuffle my feet, and his eyes watch me with a desperate look, but I’m not sure he actually feels that way. I just don’t know if I’m worth it to him…not like he is to me.

  “I’m driving down to Panama City tonight with Skye for spring break.”

  “That didn’t take long,” he says, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “You’re just going to leave me here.”

  “You wanted space, and now you have it,” is my reply, recalling words he said last night.

  “Delaney…”

  But I don’t want to hear anything else. I flip around and stalk off, feeling his eyes on me the entire way.

  Before I get far, he calls out, “We aren’t over, Delaney, not by a long shot. I’m going to make you proud of me.”

  I clench my hands into fists and keep walking, because if I don’t, I’m going to turn right back around and run straight into his arms and tell him I’ll stick by his side. I want to tell him that no matter how many times he pushes me away, I’ll always be there.

  But I don’t.

  Chapter Thirty

  Maverick

  Watching her walk away from me nearly makes my knees buckle. It feels like she isn’t coming back.

  She loves me.

  She loves me, even though I lied to her.

  I’ve wanted her to say it so many times, yet I’m the one who can’t admit what’s going on inside me.

  “Maverick? You coming?” It’s one of the scouts, and I give him a nod and head that way.

  Something’s got to give. I hate this feeling, like I’m torn apart and in shambles.

  I pull out my phone and type a quick text to Delaney.

  Don’t go to the beach. Please, don’t leave me. Just wait.

  But, I delete it before I hit send. Shit.

  What am I going to do?

  I think about Raven and how much she loves Pineview, the expression on her face when I told her I got her in.

  There are only two options: admit I’ve been taking money for fighting and lose everything, or just keep my head down, keep on trucking, and pray to God Muffin shuts up.

  My head tells me to keep trucking, to maintain the status quo.

  But…

  I rub at my chest, a nagging, aching feeling tugging at me, telling me I’m going to lose everything.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Delaney

  Even though I told Maverick I was leaving that night, I still half-expected him to show up to catch me before I left. He didn’t. I checked and re-checked my phone, hoping to get a text from him, but nothing.

  Skye and I made the drive to the beach in five hours. There were other people from Waylon on their way, all of them taking flights or driving, several of them staying in the same area of hotels on the beach.

  Two days in and I’m lying out on the sand, wearing a yellow bikini, still a little burned from yesterday’s time in the sun, but I really don’t care. I’m nursing a bit of a hangover from the shots of Fireball Skye made me take last night. Okay, she didn’t make me, but she did strongly encourage me, and I didn’t need too much urging after still not hearing anything from Maverick.

  A shadow drops down next to me, and I glance up from the book I’m reading, expecting to see Skye, who ran in to grab me a water and get a margarita for herself.

  My eyes widen as I take Alex in. I’m not too shocked to see him here since it’s the same place we come every year, but I haven’t thought of him in so long that, well, I’m taken back.

  Wearing a pair of salmon-colored Ralph Lauren swim trunks, he’s tan with a hint of a slight sunburn on his shoulders. He’s sitting on the beach lounger next to me, the ones only hotel guests are allowed to sit in, looking quite comfortable as he looks at me.

  “Alex? What are you doing here?”

  He smiles. “Hey. I texted Skye and she told me where you guys were staying.”

  Interesting. He and Skye had lunch together a few times last week.

  I sit up and ease my sunglasses off, propping them on my head where my hair is tied up in a messy bun. I’m without makeup and my eyes are puffy from crying into my pillow last night.

  He tilts his head down toward the north end of the beach. “A couple of guys from the team are staying in a house a few resorts up.”

  “Cool.” I really don’t have much to say; I’m too depressed and just blah.

  “Skye says you and Maverick are having problems?” He squints at me.

  “Maybe.”

  His eyebrows go sky high. “Well, you are at the beach without him.”

  I nod, feeling the pressure of the headache I’ve been nursing since I woke up this morning. I slip my sunglasses back down. “He broke my heart. Happy?”

  He frowns. “Of course not, but it does explain his bad mood after the scrimmage.”

  I stiffen, worried. “Did something happen?”

  “Yeah. He and the AD exchanged words, and then Maverick left the party.”

  “He left? Why?” My heart is in my throat. Did he tell them about the fighting?

  Alex looks up at me. “I don’t know, but there are rumors going around the team. Nothing concrete, but I’ve heard gambling tossed around.”

  I stand up. “He has never gambled! It’s your friend Muffin who’s stirring this pot.” I’m glaring at him. “You really know how to pick ’em, Alex. She’s a liar and a lunatic.”

  He holds his hands out in a placating manner. “Look, Muffin is nothing to me, and I’m just telling you the rumor, that’s all.” He stares at me. “I only want the best for you, and if Maverick is what you want, then I want you to be together—I really do.”

  I sigh and sit back down. “She hates Maverick…and me, and…” I let my voice drift off. It’s not my story to share, and the less that’s said about the fighting, the better. “You can’t trust her.”

  “I know.”

  Skye appears with a sardonic expression as she juggles a cooler and a margarita. Her red hair is a riot of curls around her face, and a sheen of sweat covers her forehead.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Mr. Silver Spoon.”

  Alex grunts. “If it isn’t Miss I Only Date Baseball Players.” He goes to help her with the cooler.

  Skye watches him critically as he situates it between the two loungers, underneath the two umbrellas so it doesn’t get hot.

  “Nice job, Cheater.”

  “You’re welcome, Home Run.”

  Skye snorts. “You’re such a douchebag. You wish you could get a home run.”

  Alex brushes at a patch of nonexistent sand on his chest. “You wish I’d try.”

  Oh. My. God.

  I forget my own melancholy as I watch their bantering like I’m at a tennis match.

  Skye and Alex? I blink. Wow. My best friend and my ex might actually have some chemistry.

  I look at Alex. “So you wanna hang with us girls today or do you have a hot babe to get back to at your beach house?”

  “I’m free.”

  Skye smiles and bumps him out of the way with her hips as she grabs me a water out of the cooler. “Here, sweetie, for your headache.”

  Impulsively, I grab her and give her a big hug. She’s been waiting on me hand and foot and giving me pep talks for the past few days.

  Alex is watching us as I set her down. “Nothing like seeing two chicks rubbing up on each other at the beach.”

&nb
sp; Skye darts over and tackles him, and I laugh.

  Maverick’s face comes to mind, and I bite my lip, hoping wherever he is, everything is okay.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Delaney

  “Let’s watch a movie!” Skye calls out as we walk in the door of our hotel room.

  “It’s two in the morning!” is my reply.

  She shrugs and bats her lashes at me. She looks at Alex, who’s clearly had too much to drink judging by the way he’s weaving.

  I blow out a breath. Ugh. I’m not even buzzing, yet somehow she and Alex are like the Energizer Bunny, still ready to party.

  They’ve worn me out dancing, and all I want to do is crash. It’s the only way I can turn my head off and stop thinking about Maverick.

  They follow me into the room and I head to the mini fridge to grab water.

  “Get me a glass of wine, will ya?” Skye requests as she points herself in the direction of the bathroom. Her face is flushed and lined with sweat from dancing. Knowing her and her penchant for cleanliness, she’s headed in there to spritz on more deodorant and powder her nose.

  “Red or white?” I ask, looking at the two boxes of wine we bought at the liquor store.

  “White.”

  I give her a nod as she stumbles into the restroom, already fluffing her red hair as she walks in.

  “Alex? You want anything?” I ask.

  He turns his gaze from watching Skye to me, and I bite back a smirk. Maybe a normal person would be jealous about their ex sending lingering looks their best friend’s way, but I’m not. He made a mistake with Muffin, but maybe he learned from it.

  “Um, I’ll take a wine too,” he says. He flops down on the bed spread-eagled, his hand over his face. I’m beginning to wonder how he’s going to make it back to his house.

  After chugging half the bottle of water, I get to work on making their drinks. Once I have them ready, Skye still isn’t out of the bathroom, and I make a mental note to check on her.