by Dawn Klehr
“Yes, that could be true. Or maybe he just made a mistake.”
“People don’t make those kinds of mistakes.”
“Oh honey, we make all kinds of mistakes. Sometimes you just need to give people a break. And sometimes, love is awfully inconvenient.”
“I’m not sure I can do that, Dad.”
“Well, you’re going to need to figure it out pretty quickly,” he said. “Because Justice is waiting for you downstairs.”
“Dad, what the he—”
“Language,” he scolded before yelling, “Come on up, Justice.”
Oh you will pay dearly for this one, Dad.
Rebel quickly checked herself out in the mirror on the wall. Why? She hadn’t a clue. She swore she didn’t care what he thought about her anymore.
Except…she did.
Her reflection wasn’t what she was expecting though. She’d changed. Softer in some ways, but still strong and confident. Funny, she thought that Justice had taken her down but she looked far from defeated.
If it hadn’t been clear before, it was clear now. This was not the same sort of break-up she went through with Ryan. When she thought of him, it was with disdain. But when Justice appeared in her doorway, her chest flooded with something else entirely. She would never hate him.
What a freaking pity.
“You’re sweaty,” she blurted without thinking…well, because of the tight T-shirt and glistening skin. She bit her lip, trying to prevent any other random thoughts from escaping.
He smiled that gorgeous toothpaste smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes the way it used to.
“Yeah, I know, sorry,” he said. “I needed to talk to you though, and I’m running out of time.”
“Time for what?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re here. I’ve been trying to call and text.”
“I couldn’t pick up,” she said, and something in his expression made her sorry about that.
He raked his hands through his hair, and her heart ached. She remembered what it felt like when she did the same. She remembered how it felt to be so close to him, and that made the distance uncomfortable now.
“I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for what I said to Gray that day at camp. But you have to know I didn’t mean it, Rebel.”
“How could I know that?” she asked, harsher than she meant to. She didn’t want him to know how hurt she’d been, but she needed to get this out in the open if things were to be bearable at school. “I gave you a chance to fix it. That day, even after what I heard, I gave you the chance, and you didn’t.”
“I know.” He took a step closer to her, but she took a step back. It was a survival mechanism. “I was afraid of all the rumors and talk starting up again, and in that moment, I panicked. I was only thinking of myself—my own survival—and not about you or us, and I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
Don’t ask him why!
“Why?” she asked, as a crazy person would. “You did what you had to do.”
“No.” He swallowed. “What I had to do was defend the person I loved in that situation.”
“I’m sure your dad would understand.”
“Rebel.” He reached out and touched her arm before she had the thought to move away. “I’m not talking about my dad. I’m talking about you.”
“I, uhhh,” she stuttered and shifted her weight from foot to foot, unable to stand still. Justice tightened his grip on her arm, in what seemed to be an effort to help steady her, but his touch only made it worse. He loved her?
“I want to try again,” he said. “To show you how I really am, how we really could be together. I just want another chance. That’s all I’m asking for right now. Can you do that?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly as her eyes watered.
“Here.” He placed an envelope in her hands. “Just think about it, and if there is even a remote chance that you’re willing to try, come to my game on Friday night. I will do whatever it takes to prove myself to you. I want to earn your trust back, Rebel.”
He squeezed her hand again. This time, it seemed as if he was the unsteady one. “Just one more chance, Hart. Please.”
It was hard to deny him that simple request when he seemed so sincere, so desperate. And when she wanted nothing more. But giving him another chance would mean risking her shattered heart again, and really, how much more could that poor thing take? Why would she take such a risk?
Sometimes love is inconvenient, Dad had told her. Man, he had no idea.
Chapter Thirty
Justice
The room buzzed with excitement, nerves…and so much testosterone he could practically choke on it. This game was huge for them—season opener and their nemesis all in the same night. He’d been in that locker room so many times, before so many games, but it never felt quite like this. He stood up from his spot on the bench and slipped his jersey over his head, the #5 proudly displayed on his back and chest. It was always the last thing to go on before his helmet.
The scents of sweat, gym socks, and Icy Hot swam in his head. It immediately made him think of Rebel and her stupid pranks at camp. Not that he hadn’t been thinking of her all day anyway. Tonight was the moment of truth, and it had his poor heart swelling and aching all at once. He was putting it all out there on the line in this one last effort—his Hail Mary pass. It was tonight, and if she didn’t catch it, well, what more could he do? Because the only play he had was to be real and true. To be brave. That’s all he could give. The rest was up to her.
“Hey y’all,” Coach said as the team gathered at the door. They all took a knee, ready for him to kick off this football season at home. The final season for Justice. The season that could determine where he’d spend the next four years, if he was lucky enough to secure a scholarship.
“This game will set the tone for our season, for your year,” Coach continued. “This is a new start, so I want you to forget everything about last year, the year before, and go out there tonight like it’s the first time and do what you do best. You have your family here tonight, on the field and off. Let’s give them both the respect they deserve, and leave it all on the field tonight.” He raised a hand, signaling them to stand.
“You think you can do that?” he said, louder now.
“Yes,” the team chanted.
“You think you can do that?” he asked again.
“Yes!” The word bounced off the walls.
Coach led them through the doors, out onto the field, behind the banner that they would run through. Justice was right behind him, trying to control his nerves. It wasn’t the game that worried him, though. They were prepared and ready to play. It was the best team he’d ever been on, and they were as strong mentally as they were physically.
It was the next ten minutes that had his hands shaking in fear. During the first game of the year, it was tradition for the players to introduce themselves and their families to the crowd, and then walk the field together before kickoff.
“Okay, captain,” Coach said to Justice, “lead your team onto the field.”
“Welcome, Eastview fans,” the announcer began, and Justice ripped his way through the paper banner to the sound of ringing cheers. It felt damn good. They ran to the fifty-yard line where a microphone was set up for them.
The families were all waiting near the bench, ready to make their way onto the field. Justice immediately scanned all the faces as the rest of the team ran onto the field. Once he saw his mom and April, and his dad and Trevor, his heart sank.
She hadn’t shown.
…
Rebel
She sat in the parking lot, chewing on her thumbnail as her heart threatened to jump right out of her chest. She still hadn’t decided what to do.
“So what’ll it be?” her dad had asked her from his bedroom just thirty minutes earlier, as he slipped into his Eastview Panthers sweatshirt. It was strange because he seemed so…nervous. And Trevor Hart didn’t get nervous.
; It couldn’t have been because of her decision, could it?
Ugh, the pressure only made this more hellish.
“You go on, Dad,” she had told him as she paced the hallway. “I want to think on it. But I can drive myself. That way, I won’t ruin anyone’s night.”
His eyebrows knit together. “Okay, Rebby. But tonight is going to be packed, so if you decide to go, don’t be late.”
So here she was, seconds away from game time. It was now or never.
Could she give Justice that remote chance? Even more importantly, could she not give it to him?
…
Justice
“Welcome Eastview, fans.” he said in an upbeat voice, even though his heart was breaking all over again. After all he’d planned and said and done, it wasn’t enough. “I’m Justice Brody, Senior and QB, and I’d like to introduce you to my family.”
He met his mom’s eyes just then. She was beaming, and it was the balm his heart needed to get through the introductions. She seemed so much better now than she did at the beginning of summer. She’d gained a few pounds and hadn’t done a sage burning to get rid of the bad juju in the house since he’d been back. It was such a weight off his shoulders, that it made his plan for tonight so much easier.
He introduced his mom first, and she joined him on the field, followed by April.
Then came the tricky part. Dad and Trevor had become a legit thing. More serious than before the breakup. He spent a lot of time with them over the past few weeks, and he could see the change.
It was hard to admit sometimes, but their relationship was nothing like his dad had with his mother. This was…real love. And he owed it to them to honor that, so he invited Trevor to be part of the event as well.
There was also a ticket for Rebel, but he couldn’t think about that now.
“I’d also like to introduce my father, Stephen, and his partner, Trevor.” They walked on, and Dad wrapped his arm around him. He could see some of the other parents whispering and giving them strange looks, but so many others smiled and clapped and cheered.
It was really something. Even if Rebel missed it. Because he realized in that moment, he didn’t just do it for her. He did it for all of them.
Once he finished, he passed the mic to Gray, who wiggled his brows at him. Dude was seriously weird sometimes. When Justice didn’t catch on, he said under his breath, “She’s here.”
Justice searched the crowd of families one more time, and Gray was not shitting him. Rebel was there. She was really there, standing on the sidelines. But he wasn’t sure if it was for the right reasons.
There was only one way to find out.
He ran off the field and went to her, feeling all eyes on him. She was so beautiful it was killing him. She wore that red flannel shirt that he loved but paired it with a skirt and sandals. He wanted to skip the game and pick her up and fling her over his shoulder.
“So?” he said, searching those green eyes of hers for her answer.
“So,” she mimicked.
“Does this mean you’re giving me a second chance?” He held his breath after he said it, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“Well, I’m not parading around in front of all these people for my health.” She grinned.
“Then come out to the field with me,” he reached for her hand, but she snatched it way.
“I’d like another option please.”
He nudged her with his hip, and she laughed that familiar laugh that cut right through his chest.
“Fine.” He agreed and wrapped her up in his arms. And then he couldn’t help it, but there on the flipping sidelines, in front of his family, the team, Coach, and the entire damn school, he kissed her.
He kissed her good. It was definitely a better option.
“This is family night, Brody,” Gray said teasingly into the mic before continuing with the introductions. Justice was so happy, he couldn’t even get mad at the guy.
“Just don’t get hit.” Rebel winced as the families finally exited the field.
“Please.” He rolled his eyes. “The only person that can hurt me is you, Hart.”
And once all the hoopla had calmed down and Justice and the team were back in the huddle, Coach said once again. “Remember guys, I want you to leave it all on the field tonight.”
The guys whooped it up, but Justice could only smile, because that’s exactly what he just did.
Epilogue
Justice took Rebel’s hand as they walked through the doors.
“Are you ready?” she asked, no trace of fear in her expression. It made him smile…that was his girl. And her confidence was contagious. Thank God. Because he could feel dozens of eyes on them as they made their way through the halls.
Apparently their moment on the football field was recorded, and they went viral.
“Ready?” he repeated. “Yes, I’m ready. This is what I’ve been trying to tell you,” he teased, once again addressing the elephant in the room—aka his V-card. They’d been talking about it a lot lately. “I’ve been ready since I had you in bed at camp.”
“Oh, really?” She nudged him. “When I was duct-taping your bed and putting your hand in warm water?”
“What can I say, it was hot.” He flashed her a grin.
“Whatever you say big guy. But I’m not talking about losing your virtue. I’m talking about being back at school.”
“As long as you’re with me, I’m ready for anything,” he said, and actually meant it. He didn’t even think about the things that used to bother him and no longer had trouble controlling his temper. Well, with the exception of Gray. Yeah, he loved to goad him every chance he got, and Justice could admit that it felt good to take him down on the field from time to time.
They walked through the atrium and past the rows and rows of lockers, and people stared and whispered. But there was no boiling blood rising to the surface.
He realized that this was the worst that could happen. People could stare and talk and give them shit. But how he dealt with it, was the key. He could let them break him and make his life miserable. Worse? He could let them get between this awesome thing he had going with Rebel. Instead, he chose to embrace it.
Yeah, Justice Brody was the biggest freak show in school. Maybe in high school sports. He was still a virgin, his dad was gay, and he was dating his dad’s boyfriend’s daughter.
But…he was also being scouted by four of his top college picks, and his girlfriend was not only the hottest girl in school, she was the sweetest, coolest, most amazing person he’d ever met.
It was true, things were awkward on occasion, but he was getting used to it. Plus, Rebel assured him that it was something nobody’s ever died from.
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Acknowledgments
As far as I know, nobody has ever died from writing a book—even though it can sometimes feel as if death is imminent during the process. So I do understand Rebel’s obsession throughout this story…and I have to say she was a joy to write. Funny, smart, sweet, brave, and true to her convictions, she taught me a lot over this last year we spent together. And swooning over Justice Brody was no chore, either.
I’d like to thank Stacy Cantor Abrams and Alycia Tornetta for coming up with the idea for this fun, romantic camp continuity and inviting me to take part in it! I want to live at Camp Pine Ridge! I have to thank Alycia, especially, for helping me along as I penned my very first YA novel with a true Happily Ever After and characters who weren’t completely demented. It wasn’t easy. And to the rest of the Entangled team, you are some of the hardest-working people in publishing, and I so appreciate you!
Lots of gratitude to my extraordinary agent, Laura Bradford, who told me that I can absolutely write edgy love stories AND disturbing thrillers. Her knowledge of the business and work ethic blows me away. I’m convinced she doesn’t sl
eep!
Big hugs to the other authors in this series: Monica Murphy, Samantha Bohrman, and Sarah Nicholas. Thrilled to be part of this project with all of you.
To the lovely Sara Biren, who killed it with her debut novel this year, thanks for always being there and helping me sort out those first 30 pages—every damn time!
As always, everything I do is for, and because of, my amazing family. Thank you for supporting and loving me and being awesome! I really mean it. I couldn’t do it without you.
This book is about love and family and survival…and in memory of a man who embodied all of that and more, my father-in-law Jim Klehr. We all miss you. Every. Single. Day.
About the Author
Dawn Klehr is the author of the young adult romantic thrillers, The Cutting Room Floor and If You Wrong Us. Her debut was a Junior Library Guild Selection, and Kirkus Reviews called her sophomore novel, “An intricate psychological page-turner that reads like Gone Girl through a teen lens.” That review thrilled her to no end because… OMG, GONE GIRL!
In her previous career in TV news, Dawn spent time on both sides of the camera, but she prefers to stay behind the lens. Mostly, she loves to get lost in stories—in film, the theater, or on the page—and she is a sucker for both the sinister and the sappy. Her new edgy YA romance, Taming the Rebel, is published by Entangled and available now.
Dawn lives in the Twin Cities with her funny husband, adorable son, and naughty dog. Though those descriptions change daily!
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