by Toni Aleo
Her eyes throw daggers when she tears them away from Coach and on to me. “Yes, Jace, I wear makeup. I am a woman.”
“No, you don’t,” Lucy says.
“Like, ever,” Jayden adds, and his gaze cuts to Coach.
“This is weird.” Jude shakes his head.
“Agreed. I think I lost my appetite,” Lucy comments.
“What’s weird, and why?” Mom asks, glaring at all of us. “We are having dinner. As a family. Don’t be silly.”
“It is weird that you’re here, Dad,” Baylor says.
“I mean, did you want me to come or not?” he snaps back at her, and she glares.
“I want you here. But I’m just saying, I don’t think you are here for me,” she says. When he doesn’t say anything, everyone looks back at my mom.
“I mean, should I just say it?” Lucy asks, holding out her hands. But I don’t think any of us really wants this confirmed, because I’m already shaking my head along with Jude.
“No, just eat,” Jayden says, rubbing his temples as he starts to eat.
“Be adults, guys. Come on.” Claire shakes her head with a grin on her face.
“Shut up, Claire,” we four say at the same time.
“What in the world are you four talking about?” Mom asks, but I look away and start to eat.
The thought of my mom dating is gross.
And the fact that it could be my coach makes it even grosser.
Silence falls over the table as my stomach churns. I don’t know why, but somewhere deep inside of me, I thought maybe my parents would get back together one day. I know it’s probably insane to think. I mean, not only does my mom deserve someone a hell of a lot better than my cheating father, but also, my dad has moved on. I know my mom needs to do the same, but it’s weird.
I don’t want to watch my mom date.
Especially my coach.
Ew.
“Heels or no heels?”
Mekena looks over at me from where she is doing her makeup and she smiles. I bet I look goofy with one sky-high black heel and a Converse on the other foot, but this is really an important question. Either shoe could go with my rolled at the ankle, tight, skinny jeans and flowy black top that hangs off me in the sexiest way. The black bralette I have on underneath covers the parts that need to be covered, but it doesn’t cover a lot. And I know it shows just enough to get guys to notice.
Well, one guy.
Lame Line Larry.
Which, really…I don’t know why I care to get him to notice. But by the way he was checking me out and basically drooling, I doubt I’ll have to try hard. He wants me and that’s cool. I’m down. He is hot…but he is not part of the plan. My plan was to come here, then get an internship, do well in school, get some gigs, make some friends, and have fun. The end goal is to write a hit song and sing it for millions. That’s my plan. I guess I could put him in the fun category, but something about the way those green eyes of his held mine has me thinking he could be more than just fun.
No. That can’t and won’t happen.
Nowhere in that plan does it say get involved with a dude who has a great body and hot eyes.
Nope.
But then, sex is fun, right?
Yes.
So sex, yes.
Involved, no.
I’m a genius.
Easy peasy.
Letting out a breath at my internal struggle, I’m actually thankful for it. Before I came to Nashville, I didn’t care about anything but getting here. I had spent so long just trying to be okay with the fact no one wanted me, that when the opportunity to leave came, it became my only goal. I didn’t try to attract guys anymore; I didn’t consider sex with anyone. But that’s mostly because no one wanted me. Having a brother like Matty Haverbrooke really didn’t give me that option. One, everyone was obsessed with him, and two, no one wanted to even try to holler at me for fear of him killing them.
Little did they know Matty wouldn’t have noticed or cared because I’m not a hockey stick or a frozen biscuit.
Nope, just his twin sister.
Nothing special.
“What are we going for here?” Mekena’s head falls to the side as she takes me in. She looks adorable in a little sundress, her pale skin glowing from the shimmer powder she’s doused herself in. Her long, black hair is up in a puff thing that looks amazing on her but would look dumb on me since my hair is so thin. Hers is luscious and thick, and I’m jealous. I am. She’s also tiny, short and skinny and crazy smart. She’s kind of a threat but super quiet, so no one pays her any mind. I do, though, and I think she’s awesome. Must be because no one pays me any mind either, unless I have blood dripping from my wrists.
You have to have a hockey stick and a dick to be important in the Haverbrooke household. Which really makes me wonder why I am trying to holler at this guy. He’s everything I don’t want or need right now. So why am I completely attracted to him and thinking about our interaction like mad?
Glutton for punishment, I guess.
But really, since the moment he walked away, I’ve been thinking about him. It’s weird. When I decided to come to school here, I didn’t want to be begging for attention from anyone. I’ve done it for too long, and I need to just do me now. But with him, I want to sing from the rooftops just so he will throw money at me. When I shot my video, the smile on my face was for him. He won’t ever see it because he doesn’t know my name, so what in the hell is wrong with me?
I don’t want to feel all gooey inside for a guy.
I don’t want to sing for him.
And I sure as hell don’t want to get involved with some dude who’s probably going to break my heart.
Dudes are trouble.
Especially hockey players.
And yet, as I glance at myself in the mirror, I want to be pretty.
Jesus, I’m an idiot.
Glancing at Mekena, I shrug. “I think I want to come off as available.”
She nods. “Then go with the heels. But really, you could do the Converses and still look hot.”
I smile as I kick off the heel. As much as I want to be sexy in those heels, my one foot already hurts. Putting on my other shoe, I tie it up as she asks, “Who you trying to be available for? You’ve only been here two weeks. Have you already met someone between making videos and classes?”
I chuckle as I glance over at her, my hair falling into my face. “I don’t know his name. He threw some money into my guitar case today and invited me.”
She smiles sweetly, her eyes glossing over. “Oh, sweet! What a story to tell the kids,” she teases with a cheeky smile.
“Whoa, kid, slow down,” I laugh as I stand up, pulling my shirt down a little and my pants up. “I’m looking at him as a lay.”
She grins at that as she nods. “Well, the Bullies’ house party is a good place to pursue that. But since he invited you, he must play.”
“Oh, yeah,” I agree, sitting down and opening my makeup box. “He’s a hockey player for sure.”
Her face twists in confusion. “Who is he?”
“I told you I don’t know. I dubbed him Lame Line Larry.”
She laughs. “That could be any of them.” Shaking her head, she lines her lips before asking, “What does he look like?”
“Sex,” I answer because it’s the only thing that comes to mind. “He’s, like, hot. Superhot. Green eyes to die for, tattoos up his arms and one huge one on his thigh. He obviously has money. He drives a blue BMW, and he was hanging with a big, beefy African American guy who was also very hot.”
She whips her head to me and grins. “Markus Reeves? And you think he plays hockey?”
“Yeah, for sure,” I agree and she nods.
“Then it had to be Jace Sinclair.”
Hm. Jace. I test the name, and a grin pulls at the side of my mouth. I like it. Good name.
Mekena doesn’t notice me trying his name on my lips, though, and keeps talking. “Who is über hot, and boy, his brothers are a
lso gifts from God. Jesus. The oldest one, Jude, total manwhore. Like he was the manwhore of Bellevue until his wife came along and crushed all the dreams of every girl on this campus.”
“Oh, the tragedy,” I comment offhandedly, but I’m listening. For some reason, I want to know everything before I see him again. Maybe give me a little leverage.
I feel I may need it.
“It was. But then Jayden, the middle brother, holy hot, emotional guy… He is so sweet and oh so hot but not sleazy. When he talks to you, he looks you right in your eyes. Gah, he’s so dreamy. But then Baylor Moore, the first girl ever to play on the Bullies, came along and Jayden was a goner. Married her as soon as they got drafted, like, that day.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, so then, that leaves Jace. He’s cool, hot, of course, but he’s kinda sleazy like Jude. Or at least, that’s the rumor. Not sure if it’s true.”
I smirk. “I’m good with sleazy, Kena. It isn’t like this is forever. One and done.”
“Yeah, that’s how my sister does life. I want forever, though.”
“Good luck with that,” I say, and then I pause when I realize she knows way too much about the Sinclair brothers. “How do you know all this? You don’t, like, want a chance with Jace, do you? ’Cause I’ll back off.”
She shakes her head, laughter bubbling from her throat. “I’m not Jace Sinclair’s type for one, and for two, Jayden used to date my sister. Well, not date, screw, until they decided to part ways. And that’s how I got all the info.”
“Not Jace, though?”
“No. I don’t know anyone who has actually been with him or dated him here. This is only his second year. And last year, he was kinda dating some chick from out of state.
That confuses me. “I pegged him as a player.”
She shrugs as she nods. “Maybe, but you can really trust the rumor mill around here. According to anyone you talk to, everyone sleeps with everyone around here.”
“True,” I agree. “But that’s cool. Maybe he isn’t a full-out player so I won’t have to go get tested in a month.”
She laughs. “I didn’t peg you as a player.”
“I’m not, but maybe I’ll become one.” I’m not one hundred percent committed to the idea, but I can’t hate on it. Get pleasure and never depend on anyone to love you? Sounds like the life I want. It gets tiring begging for love, and I refuse to do it any longer.
But Mekena doesn’t agree. “No, you don’t want to be a ho. You’re too gorgeous to be a ho.”
I wave her off bashfully. I’m not ugly by any means, but gorgeous? Come on.
But then I think back to the way Jace looked at me, and yeah, I felt gorgeous.
For the first time ever, I felt special.
Which is insane. I mean, come on, we were in front of each other maybe five minutes. But in that time, it just was intense. I felt something. A connection.
A horny one.
“Whatever. I haven’t decided,” I say, standing up and smacking my thighs as a way to say I’m done with this conversation. But apparently Mekena isn’t.
“But you’ve decided to inspect the length of Jace Sinclair’s stick?”
I laugh. “Clever, Ms. Preston.” I applaud her. “And yes. I am invested in that task. I will report on the girth, length, and curve.”
“Good, I expect an extensive report.”
“I will be very thorough in my investigations,” I say with a wink and I try not to smile. But soon, I can’t hold it in and we both dissolve in laughter. When I lie back on the bed, my body shakes with my giggles and I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard. Mekena is great. I really like her and she is making coming to Nashville worth it. I have a feeling we are going to be good friends, and I’ve always needed that. I never had a hard time making friends; it’s just keeping them that was an issue. Coming from a serious hockey family, one where my brothers were bred to be in the NHL, the friends I had didn’t stick around long because their families were jealous of mine.
We are the Kennedys of hockey in New Jersey.
But I don’t want to think about that. I want to be thankful for the friend I have made. Glancing over at Mekena, I smile. But before either of us can say anything now that we’ve stopped laughing, my phone dings with a text message. Bringing it out of my pocket, I see that it’s from Matty, and that surprises me. I haven’t heard from him since I left. Hell, I haven’t heard from any of my brothers.
Opening the message, I roll my eyes.
Matty: I miss you, fuckface.
Me: Usually when you tell someone you miss them, you leave off the fuckface.
Matty: Whatever, come home. Stop being dumb.
That’s what my whole family, minus my mom, thinks. That I’m being dumb, chasing after something that won’t ever happen.
Me: No way. I love it here.
Matty: You won’t for long. It’s just all shiny and new. You’ll change your mind and then everyone will have to stop their lives to come and get you.
He can be such a dick.
Me: Don’t worry, I won’t call you.
Matty: Yeah, you will. And you’ll also ignore that I’m being a dick because you love me and I love you. I just don’t like being apart.
That makes me wrinkle my face in confusion. I want to think he is being sincere, but that isn’t Matty. He’s an asshole to almost everyone. He’s cocky, he knows he’s the best, and he is, but you would think since I shared a womb with him for nine months, he would be nice to me. Nope, I’m an inconvenience more than a sister, and I’m coping with that.
Me: Matty, why the hell does it matter if we are apart?
Matty: I guess I never noticed until you were gone. There is no one to hold my sticks and shit. It’s annoying.
He’s lucky we aren’t near each other. I would have punched him in the throat.
Me: I doubt you’ll have problems finding someone to hold your sticks.
Matty: I don’t want to tho, but whatever. Dad said he got you to fly home next month.
Closing my eyes, I shake my head. Didn’t I tell him I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come home? Opening my eyes, I look at the screen as I type back quickly.
Me: I don’t know if I’m coming.
Matty: You are. It’s opening night. Seth and Laurence will be home.
Me: Yeah, I don’t know.
Matty: Don’t be dumb. You can put your life on hold to be with your family.
Because they’ve ever put their lives on hold for me, at any point.
Neither of my parents flew down here with me. They put me on a plane, had a car service take me to the dealership to get my new car, and when I got to Bellevue, my things were already here and set up. Some people would kill for that, but not me. I wanted my mom and dad here. I wanted the tears and the “I’m gonna miss yous.” Instead of doing it all with me, my dad had everything done by someone else. I got no welcome, no speech about making good decisions, and no don’t get pregnant talk. I was thrown off on my own, and really, I’m used to it. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember, but it still hurts.
Especially since the reason I got for why they couldn’t come with me was because Laurence and Matty needed my parents to go with them to do paperwork they had forgotten to do. Being at the bottom of the totem pole sucks ass.
Very angrily, I type back.
Me: I’ll get right on that.
Matty: Nice talk.
Me: Best ever.
Ugh, I don’t like him much.
“You okay?”
I look over at Mekena as my phone comes to rest on my chest. “Yeah, just my brother sucks.”
“Which one?”
“Matty.”
“Your twin? Aren’t you two supposed to be best friends?”
I shrug. “Apparently he missed that memo when we were in the womb.”
“That sucks.”
I couldn’t agree more, but as I watch her finish her makeup, I decide I have to let this go. I left for a reaso
n. That reason was to be on my own, to pave my own road and live the life I want. If Matty wants to be a dick to me, that’s fine. I’ve always been an afterthought to him, so now he’ll be the afterthought to me. I have too much to be excited about. Too much to be happy about. I’m not going to let him ruin that.
I just won’t.
No matter how much it hurts.
No matter how much I want his love.
“You don’t talk about your family much.”
Glancing up at the ceiling, I shrug. “Not much to discuss. I’m the one no one thinks about. They all have better things to do than worry about me. They all hate that I left, even though no one ever had time for me. Kinda doesn’t make sense, if you ask me.”
“Yeah, that blows,” she says, and I know she cares by the way she is looking at me. But I don’t want her sympathy.
“Doesn’t matter, though. I’m gonna do me. I refuse to be something that’s shelved until they need me.”
As soon as I say that, though, I feel like a jerk. As I shake my head, tears sting my eyes, but I won’t let them fall. My throat thick with emotion, I say, “But my mom isn’t too bad. She’s good to me when she has time to be. She’s sorta weak, goes with what my dad and brothers say. I guess because they monopolized her a lot of the time.”
Makena doesn’t say anything for a long while until I glance over at her. “It’s really no big deal.”
“Still, I’m sorry. That blows.”
“Yeah. Oh, well. New beginnings.”
“Amen to that!” she hoots before hopping up. “Well, I’m ready. Do you still wanna go? You seem bummed.”
Shooting up and out of bed, I nod. “No, I’m good. I’m excited for my first college party.”
And I am.
But I’m pretty sure the root of my excitement is knowing that soon, Jace Sinclair will be looking at me with those naughty, sex-filled eyes. And even though everything inside me is telling me it’s a bad idea…I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.
“So, we have news.”