Zack and I sit down slowly on the couch. “You’re saying you played us?” Zack asks.
His mom perches on the arm of the adjacent couch. “I’m saying I gave you both the push you needed to get to where you wanted to be. Or was I wrong?”
Was she? If we hadn’t pretended to be dating the whole time we were here, if we hadn’t shared a room, would we be here right now? I’d like to think we would, but there’s always that kernel of doubt.
“Maybe you were right,” Zack says, giving in.
“She’s always right,” Mr. Hayes adds. “Emma’s a good one. When you find one, you gotta do all you can to keep her.” Stephen pulls Margaret toward him, kissing her on the forehead. “That’s what I did with your mom.”
ZACK
I pull onto the highway, settling in for the two-hour drive back to school. Taking this trip has changed everything for us—I guess the trip and my mom. She played me, but I can’t ignore the fact that I’ve got her to thank for sticking me in a room with Emma, for making us both realize we couldn’t ignore the feelings we had for one another.
“What are you thinking?” Emma asks from the passenger seat.
“I’m thinking about the last time we did this.”
“That was a fun car ride,” she says and I flick my eyes over to her. She’s not wearing her glasses. She barely does anymore, opting to wear contacts instead.
“It started off really awkward though,” I tell her with a chuckle.
“Why the heck would you invite me over to your house for Christmas?”
“I panicked.”
“What made you panic?”
“You said you had no plans. I felt like inviting you. The urge came out of nowhere. I didn’t know how to feel about it so I was going to take it back, but then I didn’t know how to. And I didn’t really want to.”
“I was going to say no.”
“Why didn’t you?” I’m glad she didn’t. This trip is the reason the two of us are together.
“Because I didn’t know how to turn down your offer… And I also didn’t want to.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” I tell her, trying my hardest to keep my eyes on the road and off the girl who’s had me wrapped around her finger since the first email. Scratch that, since the celebration party where I saw her let her hair down and be herself. Unapologetic—a combination of beauty and brains that reeled me in.
“What are you thinking now?” Emma asks.
“I’m lucky to have you.”
“You sure are,” she says, laughing at her own words.
“Alright, alright. Calm down,” I joke.
“I’m glad I have you too,” she says, finally getting her laughter under control.
“Tell me something,” I start, hesitating for a moment.
She sits up straighter on her seat. “What?”
I’ve thought about this a lot, about what her answer could be. “Are you still afraid it’s going to end, that we’re going to end?”
Every moment I spend with Emma, every conversation we have, makes me love her more. I don’t want us to end.
“I’m still afraid.”
Her words take the air out of my lungs, my fingers tightening on the steering wheel. The silence only makes her words echo more loudly in my head.
“But,” she begins. “for a different reason.”
Her answer piques my interest. “What’s the new reason?”
“I don’t want it to end. I don’t care about the fact that we’re very different. It’s clear seeing your parents together, and Mia and Colton, that when two people love each other, they can stay together.”
“So why are you afraid that it’ll end?” I need to figure out how to make her fear go away.
“It’s a good fear. It reminds me that we’re lucky to have this—us. The fear of losing you will make every day we spend together that much better.”
“So it’s a fear that’ll keep us on our toes?” I ask, relief taking over as I begin to understand.
“Exactly. It’ll make sure we don’t do anything to screw it up.”
When you get one chance with a girl like Emma, you make it count. “I’ve screwed up a lot in life, but I wouldn’t dare mess this up.”
“Are you sure we can withstand what’ll happen next?”
I frown. “What’s next?”
“Well, you played an amazing game last week. You’re getting ready for the draft. You’ll likely be chosen by a team that’s not nearby.”
I hadn’t given this much thought, but Emma still has a year left. We’ll have to do long-distance. Even if a team nearby picks me, we’ll be traveling for games and such. It’ll take a lot of work, but I’m willing to put in as much work as it takes.
“And?” I ask, seeing where she goes with this new concern.
“You’ll be far away and I’ll be at Bragan.”
It’ll suck for a while, but it’ll be worth it if at the end of the day she’s the prize. She’s the one I get to come home to, the one I get to keep.
“Then you’ll graduate and we’ll figure it out.” I hope she can hear the confidence in my voice.
“We’ll figure it out?”
I ask her, “Do you want this to end?”
She doesn’t even hesitate. “No.”
I smile at her response. “Then we won’t let it.”
“It’s that easy?”
“It’s not, but neither has anything that’s been worthwhile in my life. I’m no stranger to putting in the work necessary to get what I want.”
“And what do you want?”
Threading our fingers together, I press a kiss to the back of her hand. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
I smile when I realize something.
“What’s that smile about?” she asks.
“I’m just glad you finally realized that the football player and the bookworm can, and do, end up together in real life.”
Better With You, Always
Better With You, Always
Bragan University Series (Book Four)
Copyright © 2019 Gianna Gabriela
First edition, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-0762710-4-4
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, or by any other means, without written permission from the author. The only time passages may be used is for teasers, blog posts, articles, or reviews, so long as the work isn’t being wrongfully used.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, events, and incidents portrayed are solely from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, people, events, or other incidents is coincidental or are used fictitiously.
Cover design by Sly Fox Cover Designs
Edited by Lauren Dawes
Proofread by Landers Editorial
To My Readers,
Mia & Colton were my first and I owe their success to you. Thank you for continuing to fuel me.
Love,
Gianna Gabriela
Prologue
Colton Hunter
“Why did you need me to come over again?” Kaitlyn asks as she walks through the door of our house. Not the Football House, but our house—our home.
“Stop asking questions and come here!” I tell her from where I sit in the living room.
Kaitlyn removes her coat, setting it on the hanger at the door, and plops down beside me. “Okay, bro, what’s up?”
I shut off the TV and turn to face her. “I need your help.”
She rolls her eyes. “Clearly, otherwise I wouldn’t have had to drive home so early.”
“Weren’t you coming for dinner?” We eat together as a family every Sunday. Nick, Kaitlyn, Dad, Mia and me. Sometimes a few of the guys crash it too. It’s a new tradition in the Hunter household. It’s been really nice to spend time with Dad and have conversations that are real. Meaningful. Ones that no longer tip-toe around my mom’s web of lies.
“Yes, but that’s way later.”
“It’s in three hours.”
“Exactly, so why do I have to be here now?”
“I need your help.”
“So you keep saying. Will you tell me what you need already?”
“I am one hundred percent in!” Kaitlyn says with a smile after I finish explaining everything to her.
“Do you think it’s lame?”
“Absolutely not! She’ll love it.”
I scratch the back of my head, the nerves getting the better of me. Mia makes me nervous. Always has. Even though we’ve been dating for almost two years, I still can’t help wanting to surprise her, to be the best version of me I can be.
“I don’t know…”
Kaitlyn looks at me and smiles. “She really did make a good guy out of you.”
“I’ve always been a good guy!” I can’t even say it with a straight face because I know it’s a lie.
“I don’t know about that. All I know is the Colton I grew up with wouldn’t be thinking of ways to surprise his girlfriend by planning the best anniversary ever.”
“I just hope it works.”
“It will.” Kaitlyn says the words with the certainty I’m lacking. At least someone thinks it’s a good idea.
“What do you think we’ll need?” I ask, my mind working in overdrive.
“We’ll need everyone to be a part of it.”
“What do you mean, everyone?”
“I mean, the whole squad—especially Emma. She’s the romance-reader, so she’ll have some ideas on how to make this all amazing.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked Kaitlyn to help me with this. Maybe I shouldn’t be asking anyone. But the idea is already in my mind, and hers, and the Hunters don’t give up—it’s not in our nature.
1
MIA COLLINS
Eight Days Later
Yesterday was weird. I mean, seriously weird. Usually, dinner at Colton’s house is full of laughter and stories, but this past Sunday, things seemed different. Kaitlyn and Colton shared looks all night. Something’s going on; I just don’t know what.
I get up from my bed, glancing at the empty space beside me. I’m so used to Colton spending every night here that I miss him when he doesn’t stay over. I especially miss the weight of his arms as he holds me close.
Kaitlyn and I drove home together after dinner, but Colton stayed at his dad’s house because they were both heading out of state for a meeting. He didn’t really give me much information, just that it was something football related. He did, however, apologize a million times for missing our anniversary today.
Maybe that’s why I feel like something’s wrong.
I check my phone and find no messages from him.
It’s interesting how used to a person one can get. I’ve gotten into a routine with Colton, seeing him every day, even if it’s only at night when he comes back exhausted from practice. When he’s not here, I feel like part of me is missing. I’d never admit this though, especially not to him.
I brush my teeth, shower and change into jeans, boots and a shirt. I’m preparing breakfast when Kaitlyn walks out of her room, yawning.
“Hey,” I say, a cup of coffee in my hand.
“You’re up early,” she notes. “Is it because Colton isn’t here?”
I shrug. “I wake up early sometimes.”
“Do you now?” Kaitlyn replies with a knowing smile. I don’t wake up early. I hate it actually. Always have.
I laugh. “Nope. Want some coffee?” I ask, pouring some into a mug. I know what her answer’s going to be.
“Do I ever say no to that?”
“Nope,” I say, passing it to her.
“You’re the best roommate ever,” she says the moment she takes a sip.
“You gotta thank Kiya for that. She taught me a few tricks before leaving.” I miss Kiya. I saw her a few times during the summer, but not enough. Never enough. I miss talking to her every day, seeing her every morning and listening to her stories. She tells me she’s doing well though. She and Blake are still together—still good. She’s happy, so I’m happy for her.
“I’ll make sure to thank her the next time I see her.” Kaitlyn drums her fingers on the kitchen counter. “So, what are you doing today?”
“I don’t have any plans.”
“Do you miss my brother so much already?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Only a little.”
Leaning my hip against the counter, I say, “He seemed so nervous yesterday. He didn’t tell me much about the meeting he’s going to today. He also hasn’t texted.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. You know how tough Colton is.”
I nod. But he usually tells me everything, so how can I not worry?
“Do you know anything?” I pry.
She shakes her head.
“I just wish he’d told me more about this meeting. I feel like it’s important to him…”
“You know what? I won’t let you stay here torturing yourself. Let me hit the shower and then we’ll spend the day together.”
“You don’t have to take pity on me. Today’s a holiday, so you should do something fun.”
“Spending the day with you is fun, Mia. We don’t get to do it often, so don’t ditch me.”
I laugh. “I never ditch you.”
“Hmm, that’s arguable. Anyway, give me twenty minutes and we’ll go.”
“Alright,” I tell an already retreating Kaitlyn.
2
MIA
“Are you ready?” Kaitlyn asks, walking into the living room where I’m binge watching my new go-to show. It’s about undercover female officers who have infiltrated the cartels. I’m definitely a fan of kickass women.
“Of course. I just sat down and started watching this because I assumed you were going to take at least an hour to get ready. You usually do.”
She shakes her head. “I can get ready quickly if I need to.”
“I can see that.”
“Okay, shut the T.V. off and let’s go.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, getting up from the couch and walking to her.
“Nope. You’re at my mercy today.”
“Your next victim?”
“What do you mean next victim?”
“I feel like the last person who was ‘at your mercy’ was Emma and look what you did to her.”
“What did I do to her?” she demands, her hands on her hips.
“Zack.”
Kaitlyn laughs. “They’re adorable together!”
I can’t deny that. “They are. Who would’ve thought?”
“Who would’ve thought you and my brother would be a thing?”
“Definitely not me.” I laugh, remembering how much I disliked him in the beginning.
I throw on my jacket and follow Kaitlyn out the door. “Nothing too crazy, please. It’s Monday morning.”
“Stop complaining and just get in the car already,” she says, shutting the door behind her. I walk over to her car and get in the passenger side.
Five minutes later, Kaitlyn brings the car to a stop in the student lot. “Why are we here?” I ask when I see a mostly deserted campus. Long weekends usually mean people go away. No one wants to be in school when they don’t have to be.
“I have to grab something really quickly and then we can go.”
“You brought me along to do errands?”
“Stop your whining woman, and get out of the car,” she orders.
“You remind me of your brother.”
“It’s the Hunter trait.”
I roll my eyes.
We both get out of the car and walk in the direction of the building where I had the humanities class with Zack and Colton. Gosh, it brings back memories.
I didn’t think Kaitlyn took classes in this building.
“What do you need from here?”
“Just follow me,” she says, walking inside.
&nbs
p; “Fine,” I relent. I trail behind her, wishing I’d chosen to stay home instead. It’s chilly, and the T.V. series I was watching was just getting interesting.
“We’re here,” Kaitlyn says. We’re standing right outside the door of my humanities class. I look through the small window and see that it’s empty.
“And what do you need from here?” I ask when she just stands there.
“This,” she says, searching through her bag. She grabs a white envelope and passes it over to me.
Humanities Class. That’s what it says on the front of the envelope.
“Are you dropping that off?” I ask, still confused.
“It’s for you.”
“You made me come to the humanities building to give me an envelope? I thought you said you needed to pick something up.”
“You ask a lot of questions,” she says, dramatically rolling her eyes at me. “Just open it.”
I look down at the envelope once again then flip it around to tear it open. Inside, I find a card.
Mia
I know I’m missing our anniversary, but I promise I’ll make it up to you. Kaitlyn’s set up a few things for you since I can’t be there. I know she’s a pain in the ass, but don’t give her too much shit—I mean crap. (I know we talked about me swearing less.) Anyway, she’s actually helping me.
I had her bring you here today because this is the place I first laid eyes on you. You looked at me so fiercely when you ran in to me. I knew in that moment, looking in your big brown eyes, that I had to get to know you better. I can’t explain it, but this is where you started to take over my mind and heart.
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