by L A Cotton
“Mom, I don’t have allergies.”
“Because we raised you in a pet free environment.”
“I’m not sure it works that way.”
“It seems like an awful waste of your time when you could be getting real hands on experience in the workplace.”
She didn’t get it. She never had. Which is why I’d never veered from the plan. Their plan.
It was just easier that way. But now I’d considered a different plan, I couldn’t just switch it off. If my brief time with Jason had taught me anything, it was to go after what you wanted.
“I think it’ll be good for me,” I said defiantly, feeling something stir in my chest.
“I’m not sure I agree, sweetheart. And I can only imagine what your father will say; but if it’s something you really want to do,” she gave a resigned sigh, “then I suppose it would be okay, as long as we’ve checked out they have up to date health and safety policies.”
“Really?”
“You’ve worked hard for the last three years, Felicity. You deserve some downtime.”
It wasn’t exactly a gleaming endorsement, but I’d take it.
“Thanks, Mom, it means a lot to have your support.” Whether or not she’d feel the same if she knew the truth was another matter.
“Sweetheart, all I want is for you to be happy,” she reached over the counter, “you know that, right?”
I nodded over the lump in my throat. She wanted me to be happy... doing what had made her so happy. But I wanted more. I realized that now. I wanted to chase my own dreams even when they led me down the wrong path. I wanted to make mistakes and learn from them. I didn’t want to settle for average anymore; not when I could have amazing.
There was still one fatal flaw in my new plan—I wasn’t sure I would ever be brave enough to tell my parents.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jason
“Let’s go number one, you’re slacking,” one of the assistant coaches yelled across the field. I cussed under my breath, pumping my legs harder, pushing through the wall of pain closing in around me.
I was fucking tired.
Thanks to Thatcher and the shit with Felicity, I was barely sleeping. My muscles ached and my head pounded but it was practice and I had a job to do. Giving anything less than one-hundred and ten percent was not an option.
“That’s it, QB, keep it up.”
I felt eyes on me as I ran the drill again. Looking around, I found Asher glaring at me. The little shit was still pissed over our last conversation about Felicity and it sucked that I couldn’t tell him the truth. But he’d get over it. He always did.
“Hey,” Cam said, jogging over to me. “You okay?”
“I’m good. Ready to kick some Brennington ass Friday.” It was our last game and we were playing at their place. Then we had a rest week before the first round of the play-offs.
“You and your dad figure things out?”
We’d barely spoken since Seniors Night but that was nothing new.
“Not really.”
“I know you’re angry at him for everything but maybe—”
“I appreciate the advice, I do.” I grunted as my hands closed around the pass from Grady. “But I’d rather not do this. You’re with Hailee now, save it for her.”
“I can be here for both of you. Besides, Hailee and her mom are patching things up.”
My brow arched. “Guess we’re not so similar after all.” Because I could barely look at my old man for his indiscretions, let alone try to smooth things over.
I guess it was different for me, though. I’d known for years who my father really was. Long before Denise and Hailee came on the scene. She was just the final straw where my mom was concerned.
So no, I wasn’t in a hurry to forgive the man who had ruined our family. But I was in a hurry to get the hell out of this town. A clean break. That’s what I wanted. To escape out from under the shadow of Kent Ford and forge my own legacy.
“Heard anything more from Thatcher? I was thinking perhaps we should have told Coach—”
“You think he doesn’t know exactly what happened with the art project? He’s not an idiot. But he can’t afford Finnigan sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“Has he said anything to you?”
“No, but he’s hinted at it.”
“So what are you going to do? Thatcher won’t—”
“If Thatcher knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay across the river until after the play-offs.”
“You really think he’ll do that, after everything?”
I didn’t, but there was no use telling Cam that. Not when he wanted to run off and tattle to Coach.
“I don’t know how many times I have to say it,” I ground out, “I can handle Thatcher.”
Cameron didn’t look convinced, but I was done arguing over something that I couldn’t change. Thatcher wouldn’t stop coming until he got what he wanted.
Me.
So it was my plan to lie low and stay out of trouble at least until we were crowned State champs.
“Jase, get over here, Son.” Coach beckoned me over with his usual crooked finger.
“He doesn’t look too happy.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I grunted, ripping off my helmet and shouldering past Cam to head for where Coach and one of the assistant coaches were talking.
“What’s up, Coach?”
The assistant coach excused himself and left us to it. Coach Hasson gripped my shoulder. “Walk with me.”
We looped around the guys and walked to the other end of the field. The air was frigid, the first signs of winter evident in the dewy grass. “Talk to me about what happened with Miss Raine’s art project.”
“We told you, Coach. It was an accident. We were moving the—”
“I know what you told me, Jase, but I’m asking for the truth.” He gave me a pointed look. “There are rumors circulating that the Eagles had something to do with it. Wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”
“Not me, Coach.” I jammed my hands into the waistband of my pants and kept my expression neutral.
“Jase, level with me. If it comes out Thatcher and his band of idiots from across the river were responsible, I won’t be able to protect you from Principal Finnigan and we both know he’s just waiting for an excuse to pull you from the team.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Coach.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I gave him a half-smile.
“This rivalry will be the death of me.” He shook his head with frustration. “I’m going to miss the hell out of you next year, but I can’t say I’ll miss you and this Thatcher kid going at it every time I turn my back.”
“I’m so—”
“Listen to me and listen to me good, Jason. Four more games. That’s all that’s standing between you and the championship. It would be a damn shame if you ruined what has been a near perfect season because you didn’t know when to quit it. Keep your head on straight, you hear me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I mean it, Son. If I find out you’re planning a retaliation on the Eagles, you won’t have to worry about Finnigan because I’ll be the one making you sit out. I’ve turned a blind eye for too long where the two of you are concerned. Stupid high school pranks are one thing, but when it starts affecting the people around you, that’s when it’s time to call it a day.”
If he wanted to make me feel guiltier than I already did, he’d succeeded. It slithered through my gut, twisting and tightening.
“You’re a good kid, Jason. I meant every word I said at Seniors Night, but sometimes you’re blinded to the game and that makes you your own worst enemy. From someone who remembers what it’s like to want it so bad you can’t see anything else, it’s a big old world out there, and there is room for more than just football. It doesn’t feel like it now, when you’re on the precipice of greatness, but trust me when I say, it’s true.” He gripped my shoulder again. “Now get out of h
ere. I don’t want to see you again until we’re boarding the buses for Friday’s game, okay?”
“But, Coach, that’s still two days away.”
“I’m giving you all some well-deserved downtime. I’m not worried about Friday and neither should you be. It’s what comes after that matters. You’ve worked hard this season Jason, try being an eighteen-year-old kid for once; you never know, it might suit you.” Coach winked at me, before straightening his ball cap and strolling off toward the gym.
Downtime?
It didn’t figure into the equation. There was always something to be working toward, training for. Even when the season was over, I was in the gym working out, or working with the guys on drills. Perfecting the play, strengthening any weak links in the chain.
“Well?” Cam strolled over to me. “What’s the verdict?”
“He wants us to take some downtime.”
“Downtime? Sounds good to me.” He grinned.
It was in that split second, I realized how much we’d changed. Maybe it was Hailee or his mom being sick or the looming future, but football was no longer the most important thing in Cam’s life anymore.
Maybe it never had been.
I didn’t ever think anything would come in between us, our plans, but it had. Yet, I couldn’t blame him. I’d never seen him as happy as he was with my step-sister.
It had never been in my plan to meet someone, to let someone in. To distract me.
Then she came along.
Felicity Giles.
Fuck, had she taken me by surprise. A dark-haired angel with no filter and crazy fashion sense. She was everything I didn’t want or need, and yet, she’d infiltrated my steel exterior before I even had time to realize what was happening.
“You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?” Cam’s voice burst my daydream.
“Who, Hailee?” I quipped.
“You know exactly who I mean.” He smirked.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“You keep saying that...”
“Because it’s true. We’re done.” We had to be.
“If you say so.”
I did.
Even if it was the biggest lie of all.
“And that’s how it’s done, ladies,” Coach yanked off his ball cap and thrust it in the air. “A damn near perfect season.” If we hadn’t have blown our last game.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it didn’t matter. We were in the play-offs. One step closer to the end goal.
“Get showered and get changed. I want to get out of here and back home stat.”
A chorus of ‘Yes, Coach’ rang out around me, the buzz of the win still crackling in the air.
“Hey, Cap, check it out,” Grady flashed me his cell.
@ThatcherQB1: Raiders might have made the play-offs but Ford is going down #youredone #watchyourback
“He’s just pissed the Eagles are out and we’re in,” I said, feeling my stomach knot. “Let him talk shit, we all know who’s the better team.”
“I still think we should go across the river and show him who’s boss.” Ash slung his towel over his shoulder.
“You over your tantrum?” My tone was cool.
He shrugged as we hit the showers. “I figured if anyone’s going to show to the party later, I need to make the peace.”
“Oh, so it’s like that, huh?”
Asher’s mouth curved. “What can I say, gotta give the people what they want.”
“Fucker,” I muttered under my breath.
After a quick shower, we got dressed and gathered by the buses where Hailee and some other fans hung around to congratulate us. “Great game,” she said to Cam and Asher, completely ignoring me. I edged away, hitching my bag over my shoulder. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask where Felicity was, but that would suggest I cared.
“Hey, Jase, we’re going to ride back with Hailee. You want a ride?”
My eyes slid to hers in question, and she gave a dismissive shrug.
“I’ll ride with—”
“Just get in the damn car, Jason,” she sighed.
“You heard the woman, Jason, get in the damn car.” Ash winked, and I flipped him off. He was so smug I wanted to tell him to fuck off. But I didn’t. Instead, I gritted my teeth behind my lips and got in the car.
Wondering when I became such a pussy.
Two hours later, everyone who was anyone was crammed into Asher’s house.
“Okay fuckers, quiet down.” He jumped up on the breakfast counter and thrust his beer in the air. “Now I know Coach said it all last week at Seniors Night, but this is my house and I want to say a few words.”
A couple of the guys cheered while Grady balled up a napkin and launched it at him. “Get on with it,” he yelled.
“This won’t take long,” Ash grinned at him, waggling his brows, “just like Mackey in the sack.” Another round of hoots and hollers broke out around me.
“Last year should have been ours; we should have been in that championship game, bringing home the crown. But this year… this year it’s ours. I love you guys and I don’t know what I’m going to do when the season’s over. So raise your drink in the air and let me hear y’all. Who are we?”
“Raiders.”
“And what are we going to do?”
“Win!”
“Damn right we are. Now let’s celebrate like the winners we are and get fucked up.” He chugged his drink down and thumped his chest like Tarzan. Cam laughed beside me, but I barely smiled. Because celebration or not, something was missing.
I followed Cam outside to our usual seats where Hailee joined us. “Everything okay?” Cam asked her as she slid onto his lap.
“Yeah, fine.”
“They’re not coming?”
She shook her head, her eyes finding mine. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe it’s for the best,” Cam said quietly as I focused on my beer, scratching off the label with my thumbnail.
“Yeah.” Hailee’s eyes burned into the top of my head.
“Shots,” Asher appeared with a tray of Jell-O shots.
“Nah, man,” I grumbled, not in the mood.
“Aw come on, man, we made it. A near perfect season and State in our sights.” He thrust a cup at me, waiting for Cameron and Hailee to take theirs.
“I can’t believe this is almost the end.” Ash’s expression fell as he raised his cup in the air. “It’s been the best four years of my life. To good friends, football, and the future, whatever it may hold.” Something flashed over his face, but it was quickly gone as he downed his shot.
“Pittsburg won’t know what hit them,” Cam said, tossing his empty cup on the tray.
“Yeah,” Ash shrugged, “but it won’t be the same will it?”
A good friend would have reassured him, would have promised things wouldn’t change.
But he was right.
Come graduation nothing would be the same anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Felicity
“You must be Felicity. I’m George, welcome to A Brand New Tail.”
“Hi,” I smiled at the man. He was younger than I expected; with sandy blond hair and a bright smile. He couldn’t be a day older than twenty-five.
“Thank you so much for this.”
“No problem. Regina said you’re thinking of applying to study animal science at college?”
“It’s a possibility but I know it’s super competitive and some hands-on experience would really help my application.”
“Can I ask why now? Most of our volunteers from high school start with us in junior year.”
“I’ve always loved animals and vet school is something I’ve always had in the back of my mind, but my parents... well, they have a different idea where my future is concerned.”
“Ah,” he smiled. “Say no more. My parents wanted a doctor and got a vet tech instead.”
“How’d they take it?”
“It was a shock at first, but they came arou
nd to the idea. In the end, I think all our parents really want is for us to be happy. Shall we get started?”
“I’d love that.”
For the first time since Mya talked me into this whole thing, I felt a seed of hope blossom in my chest. George got it. He’d been where I was now and come out the other side without too many bumps and scrapes if his senior position here was anything to go by.
“First things first. This is Serena, our front of house manager.” He motioned to the pixie-haired woman manning the desk. “Serena, meet Felicity. I’m giving her the grand tour.”
“Hey, doll,” she smiled warmly. “High school junior?”
“Senior, actually,” George corrected. “She’s a bit of a late starter.”
“No time like the present. Don’t let him scare you off, Felicity, was it?” I nodded. “George is all bark and no bite. Excuse the dog pun, you get a lot of those around here.” She gave me a wink and went back to whatever had her attention behind the desk.
“Don’t mind her,” George said, leading me through a door into a long hall. “So out there was what we call, ‘the floor’. And everything beyond this door is what we refer to as ‘the back’.”
“Got it.”
“I figured we’d start with the fun stuff and work backwards.”
“Sounds good to me.” The place had a very distinct smell. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was there.
“We have a permanent staff of four. Me, Serena, Joseph, and Maggie, and a team of five volunteers who help us out on a week-to-week basis depending on how busy we are.” George kept walking, leading me to the far end of the hall. “Serena handles front of house, all customer enquiries, and adoptions. Maggie and I deal with new arrivals; we run full check overs, update vaccination boosters, administer medication and treatment in any cases requiring it. And Joseph is our resident animal whisperer.”
“Animal whisperer?”
“It’s what we like to call him. It’s his job to look after the animals day-to-day, but the guy has a rare gift with them, even the most severe cases we see. In my five years being here, I haven’t seen a case he hasn’t been able to crack.”