Rising Summers (Pucking Unbelievable Book 1)

by Garnet Davenport

  “I never thought I’d see the day a girl brought the Great Phoenix Drayden to his knees.” She taunted.

  “B.”

  “Nix, seriously, I didn’t think you were really in love with her.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Please just call her.”

  “All right.” With a few presses on her phone, she brought it up to her ear. I heard it ring. Then it rang again.

  “B, I miss you.” I heard Chloe’s voice through the speaker, and I scooted closer to Brooklyn to put my ear up to her phone.

  “I miss you more,” Brooklyn said. “How are you doing?”

  She sighed, “I can’t stop thinking about Nix.” I felt a smile from ear to ear on my face. “I had to go to Remington Academy today for my interview.”

  “That’s where your mom wanted you to go? Right?” Brooklyn asked.

  “Yeah. But all I could do was think about Nix. I miss him.”

  God, I missed her. I wanted to grab the phone and tell her everything. If I had to beg I would. I knew I would. I wasn’t sure when I turned into that guy, but it happened. I got out my phone and started a text. I showed it to Brooklyn.

  Me: Tell her I miss her.

  She widened her eyes as if to say, “are you serious right now?”

  I shook my phone in her face with emphasis. She groaned.

  “Chloe, I know Nix misses you.”

  “Does he?” I heard her say.

  “Yes. He’s pretty pitiful.”

  I heard Chloe sigh, “I saw the game.” That shocked me. I figured she wouldn’t ever want to see me again. For her to watch me on the ice, even if I skated like shit, must mean she’s not ready to walk away from me.

  They start talking like any normal conversation, and I find out she’s got a private room at the boarding school. With us just being a couple weeks away from her eighteenth birthday. I couldn’t wait until that day. I could publicly get her back instead of hiding what had been growing between us.

  I started to type out another text for Brooklyn.

  Me: Does she want to talk to me?

  Brooklyn looked at me and rolled her eyes. “He’s home ya know.” Dead silence. “Chloe?”

  “He’s right there? Isn’t he?” Chloe snapped.

  Brooklyn sighed, “he’s worried about you.”

  “Damnit, Brooklyn.”

  I grabbed Brooklyn’s phone out of her hand and jumped over the back of the couch and sprinted out of the room. Panting I said into the phone, “please don’t hang up.” Her small growl went straight to my groin. “Chloe, I’m so sorry.” I slammed my bedroom door shut and locked it. I knew my sister would be just behind me and I was only going to get one shot at it. “Chloe—”

  “Damnit Nix! That’s my phone and my best friend.” She banged her fists on my door and tried to rattle the knob.

  “I don’t care. I’m in love with her.”

  Silence. My heart had never beat so loud in my ears before. I looked to make sure she hadn’t hung up the phone. I was still connected.

  “Chloe, baby, I’m so in love with you that I don’t know what to do with it.” Silence. “Say something please.”

  “What did you say?” She stuttered.

  “I’m in love with you. I don’t know when it happened, but I know it’s been happening for a while.”

  “What is it you want me to say?” She whispered the words like she didn’t know how to respond. My heart sank. She might not feel the same way.

  “I want you to say you’re mine. That I didn’t fuck this up. That I will get a chance to fix us.”

  She sighed, “Nix,” The pause between her words was longer than I could take, “I don’t want to make your life harder than I’ve already made it.”

  “You haven’t. You won’t.” I quickly said.

  “What about what you said to the press?” She said it like a demand.

  “I fucked up. I’m sorry I thought I was doing what was best, but you’re what is best. I can’t concentrate on anything but you. I was so wrong. You aren’t what’s going to hurt my career—I am.”

  “So, you got Brooklyn to call me so you could talk to me?”

  I could just imagine her getting all huffy. She doesn’t like to be lied to or tricked. “No, I wanted to know you were all right. But after I heard your voice, I had to talk to you.”

  “Oh.”

  “Chloe, please say I haven’t fucked things up?”

  “I don’t know if I can. I just want to get through the end of the year and graduate without having some sort of breakdown.”

  Breakdown? Did I cause a breakdown?

  “I don’t want you to ever to feel overwhelmed. Just say you’re mine and you’ll pick up the phone when I call.”

  “I’ll pick up when you call.” She said in a meek voice.

  “Say you’re mine,” I whispered.

  When she spoke, it came out as barely a whisper. “Yours.”

  Chapter 31

  He Pucking Loves Me?

  Chloe

  Holy mother of all that is good and evil—he loves me. When he said, he loves me I just about jumped up and down screaming like a little girl that just got a puppy. He told me he fucked up and he was sorry. I still couldn’t stop smiling even after we had said goodbye and he gave Brooklyn back her phone. Then she continued to interrogate me for another hour about everything. When we were done talking I had about nine percent battery life left in my phone before I plugged it in to charge and went to sleep.

  My nerves had finally calmed enough for me actually to get a restful sleep. I talked to Nix about everything from the interview to finding out about my father. He said I should find out for sure if James is my father. It would give me peace of mind. Which would mean a lot to me. Especially now, when things are kind of up in the air. Nix said he wanted me to come home for my birthday. He said he had plans for us. Which only made my cheeks heat up and for a giggle to come out. I wasn’t sure, but I was almost certain he was playing with himself during our conversation. His voice got deeper and husky. But then when he started to breathe differently I really wanted to ask him, but I was too much of a chicken to do it.

  Of course, when I got on the phone with Nix, Brooklyn wanted to know everything. She had heard him profess his love for me. Actually, she was the first one he told. Even if I was on the phone with him, he affirmed it all shouting it through his door at Brooklyn. She gave me shit about how I turned her brother into a romantic pansy. I just laughed and said he’s still very much an alpha with his demanding ways.

  I talked with Nix on and off over the next week all about Remington Academy and the professors. I didn’t like my Literature professor, Mrs. Snipit, her name definitely fit her personality. Nix laughed when I explained how short she is with people. She always cuts people off when they are talking to her. It’s pointless to try to explain anything to her.

  We had late night phone calls and early morning good mornings. He made every day feel like time was flashing by even if it wasn’t. We were just a little under four weeks out from my eighteenth birthday and the weekend where Nix and I would have our first official date. I was giddy with excitement. Nix was pretty happy too. He kept telling me he had the whole evening planned and it would be a surprise.

  I had moved into the dorms and had everything arranged perfectly. The room wasn’t huge; had the basics of twin-sized bed, desk, and dresser. Everything a young student would need to succeed at learning. I left most of my personal things at the Drayden’s. All my books, trinkets, and most of my clothing. Not like my mother would approve of my everyday wardrobe. Not that a school-girl outfit is much better. It’s like Brittany Spears circa Hit Me Baby One More Time. Although we aren’t allowed to make the white dress shirt into a midriff, it’s still an overly sexualized outfit. One I’m not eager to show off.

  My cell rang as I was getting ready for class and I looked over to see a FaceTime chat from Brooklyn.

  Answering it, I said, “What’s up buttercup?”
/>   “Whoa, what are you wearing?” She said, snickering.

  “It’s from the Brittany Spears Collection. You like?” I backed up and did a little twirl so she could see the full effect.

  “Holy fuck!” A deep raspy voice boomed through the speaker as I turned to face the screen again.

  I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, my eyes met Nix’s standing behind Brooklyn. I couldn’t say anything.

  “Give me your phone,” Nix demanded.

  “No. I’m trying to talk to my best friend.”

  “I want to talk to my girlfriend.” Nix groaned, reaching for the phone. The video shifted around the room in the struggle.

  “Guys? I’ve got to finish getting ready for class.” I said.

  “No!” Nix snapped. “B, give me the phone.” He pushed her face away from him, and finally, she relented. Nix ran, the background hitting the ceiling and the stairs. He had to be going to his bedroom. I heard a door shut and then Nix adjusted himself back into the frame. “Sweet Jesus.” He said as his eyes scanned the screen of Brooklyn’s phone. “Please tell me this isn’t what you wear in front of those horny-premature-ejaculation teenage boys.”

  I giggled, “Every day. Do you like it?”

  “I want to fuck you while you wear it. Can we pretend you’re the student and I’m the teacher?”

  I burst out laughing. “Why is this every man’s wet dream? It doesn’t seem sexy to me.”

  “I repeat teacher-student fantasy. It’s fucking amazing.”

  He looked like he was drooling. “Down boy.” I giggled.

  “Woof woof.”

  I laughed.

  “Wait, hold on. Stay right there.”

  “What? Why?” My phone notified me of a photo taken. “Did you just take a photo of me?” The notification went off again. “Nix?” And again. “Okay, I get it. You can stop now.” The notification went off one last time before I started to do it myself. “Lift your shirt. I want to get a picture of your abs.”

  “Yeah?” He said, lifting his shirt and angling the phone down. I got my own hot photos. I giggled as he moved the phone around and modeled for me. He was a goober when he let himself be.

  “Perfect,” I said.

  “Just what I was thinking,” Nix said back. “You’re gorgeous.”

  “I’m wearing my school uniform,” I replied, thinking I looked stupid considering Nix was a NHL player. I felt so juvenile. Still in high school and a noticeable age difference between us. He was out in the world with a career, and I was trying to make sure I kept up with my new high school classes. I felt ridiculous.

  “Exactly.” He looked me up and down again. “Are you going to be wearing that when I come pick you up for your birthday?”

  “I hadn’t planned on it. I wanted to get back to my dorm room and shower before I saw you.”

  “I think you should stay dirty. Yeah, and keep the uniform on.” He said, licking his lips. I saw the heat in his eyes. He wanted me.

  I giggled, “I’ve got to get ready, or I’ll be late.”

  “You’re going to leave me with a hard-on?” He said, looking like a sad puppy with a pouty lip.

  “I have no choice. But I’ll be back in my room after seven tonight. Besides, it’s kind of weird talking to you on Brooklyn’s phone like that.” I scrunched up my nose like I smelled something rotten.

  He chuckled and said, “you have me there.” He smiled his heartbreaking smile and said, “have a great day.”

  “You too.”

  “Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  I hung up with Nix and finished putting a little bit of makeup on. Stepping into my shoes, I was able to grab my messenger bag and I headed out the door. Suzette met me outside of my first class. She had been getting to be a close friend while I’d been at Remington Academy.

  “How was your class?” I asked as we walked toward our next class together.

  “Bore-ing. Mr. Jacobs thinks that my paper was and I quote, ‘a complete waste of his time to read’—end quote.” She made appropriate air quotations and rolled her eyes.

  “Can you contest the grade?”

  “Unfortunately not. But he is going to give me forty-eight hours to redo. I’ll prove I can wow him.” She said with determination. “How’s the man doing?”

  She knows I don’t talk about Nix, but she keeps asking. I try to avoid it and come up with the least amount of information to satisfy her curiosity. “He’s good. We’re making plans for my birthday. He wants to see me.”

  She squealed, “O-M-G! How fantastic! Is he doing something special? Ooo, like booking you two a hotel suite? Or a get-a-way vacation?”

  “I doubt either,” I said thinking about the fact that Nix will be right at the end of his season and busting his ass to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. “I think we’re just going to go out to eat. Nothing special.”

  “But Chloe… it’s your birthday. Your eighteenth. He needs to do something special.” She whined her way through every word she spoke.

  “It’s not like that. I don’t like making a big deal about my birthday. I definitely don’t want him to.”

  “Fine. But we should do something special for you here. You know besides the normal.”

  “Normal?” I asked, feeling out of the loop from everyone else that has been going to Remington since middle school.

  “Yes, if you let the dining staff know they will make you a cake. Design it however you want, and you get to invite whomever you want to a private dinner on your actual birthday.”

  “That’s pretty cool of them,” I said, thinking about all the kids that have to be at school on their birthdays. “Luckily, I get a long weekend. I’m going to go home for the three days and spend some time with the family.”

  “Home? I thought the great Senator and his wife live less than an hour away.”

  “They do. I’m talking about my best friend Brooklyn and her family. I’ve known them all my life, and they’re more like family to me than my own family most of the time.” I explained, reminiscing over the time I spent with the Drayden’s.

  “They sound like a cool bunch. I’m glad they were there for you. But it’s got to be pretty awesome to be the daughter to a senator.”

  “Not really. I’ve always had just a little more security, and I’ve never been able to have the same experiences that normal kids get to have. Like going to an ice skating rink with their family or having a birthday party that wasn’t high society and filled with politicians. When I moved in with Brooklyn things changed. We had family dinners, went out to movies, and I was invited to my first birthday party last year.”

  “What?” Suzette questioned, jaw slackened.

  “Yep. I’ve always had to have security wherever I get invited. There might be a risk not only to me but my father’s political campaign. Can’t do anything that might hurt my father’s plans. So when I moved in with Brooklyn, we started just hanging out, and finally, we were able to go places without a SWAT team covertly tailing me.” I laughed about them being a SWAT team, but it wouldn’t have surprised me to learn they had been Seals or something.

  “That’s cray-cray.” She said.

  I giggled, “yeah, but I’m just used to it. Although, it’s been nice over the last year not dealing with the strain the security puts on my social life.”

  “Which means… you get to have a social life.” Suzette giggled. “Tell me more about your man.”

  “There’s not much to say. He’s been my ideal man for most of my life. He hadn’t really noticed me until last summer and then it was like a lightbulb went off and suddenly he realized there was something between us.”

  “How’d it happen?”

  I chuckled, “Actually, I had been in the process of being asked out by this guy in my high school, and he got mad.”

  “You mean he got jealous?”

  “Yeah, I guess. Either way, it showed him what he would be letting slip from his grasp.”

  “He must not like to lose.”
She hadn’t said it as a question, but a fact. And to tell the truth, she wasn’t wrong. Nix hated to lose at anything. She eyed me, probably trying to get a read on what I was thinking.

  “He does like to win. He gets this expression on his face…” I said, smiling.

  “That must be fun,” she said, sarcastically, “he sounds like he’s kind of intense. Has he ever pushed you into anything?”

  “God, no. He’s so sweet. He always has checked in with me about everything. If he wants to go do something, then he makes sure I want to do it too. I think I’m in love with him.” The omission surprised me.

  We both got to our next classes before the bell rang. I found my seat and tried to pay attention to Mrs. Dickson, but it was challenging. My daydreams kept going back to Nix and my upcoming birthday. I knew he already had something planned and I had been getting excited. He was trying to keep everything a surprise, but I had a secret weapon—Brooklyn.

  Chapter 32

  Deal With The Pucking Devil

  (AKA My Sister)

  Nix

  Being just days away from Chloe’s birthday is killing me. I literally have nerves on the edge. I’m jumpy and excited. She’s coming home—to me—for her birthday. It’s almost like I get the present instead of her. I had something special planned for her. Even though Brooklyn had been sniffing around, I figured out exactly how to cut that spy off.

  I was sitting on the couch with my computer, making plans and organizing everything I had for Chloe’s surprise. I caught Brooklyn walking behind the couch back and forth a few times.

  “Brooklyn,” I growled.

  She froze in her tracks and said, “What? I’m not doing anything.”

  I laughed and eyed her. “I’ll make you a deal—”

  “Mmm?” She said, interested.

  “I’ll tell you every single detail of my plans as long as you keep them from Chloe. Deal?” I said, eyebrow raised.

  She thought for a moment while I waited. “Are you actually expecting me to keep it a secret from my best friend?”