by L A Cotton
My chest constricted with the weight of the truth and I cleared my throat. “But I knew. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t a lie. I don’t know how, but I did. I think it was that it sounded exactly like the kind of thing you’d do. Because that’s what this family does. It lies and keeps secrets all in the name of protecting ours. So while I didn’t want to believe it and it hurt so much knowing you lied, I understood because we’re Stone-Princes and that’s what we do.”
“Kyle, I—” The color had drained from his face.
“No, Dad, I need to say this. You owe me that much.” I ran a hand over my face. “I didn’t want to know the woman who abandoned me. I didn’t care if she was dead or alive. But that was when she was nothing more than a story to me. A myth. Now she’s real and I can’t just pretend she doesn’t exist. I have to know her. To hear her story. Even if it’s a terrible mistake letting her in, I have to know her.
“They’re not like us, Dad. They don’t have money and nice things and fancy cars. But they’re my family and I can’t just turn my back on that. So I’m sorry if it’s going to ruin things for you, or your business, or our family, but this isn’t about any of those things. It’s about me. About my life. And it’s just something I have to do.”
Dad didn’t speak as he got up and came around the island to me, pulling me into his arms. “I am so proud of you, Son. And I will never forgive myself for keeping her away from you. I know you won’t believe me, but everything I did, I did it for you. For your future. I was so scared Maria would come back into your life and hurt you the way she hurt me, and I didn’t want that for you.”
“I know, Dad, I know.” I clung onto him, onto the man who had given me everything, and yet taken it all away with a lie he’d kept for so long. I didn’t forgive him, not completely, not yet, but I did understand.
I’d done the same thing with Laurie—lied to protect her from the truth. But I was misguided. I thought some secrets were better left buried, but they weren’t. Because in the end, the truth always came out. And when it did, you could let it ruin you or you could own your mistakes and move forward.
And I wanted to look to the future. To college and football and life with Laurie. I didn’t want to stay shackled to the past.
“Whatever you decide, I’m here, Son. I will always be here. And I will do whatever I need to do to earn your trust again.” Dad’s hold on me tightened and I felt the shudder of emotion in his voice.
“I know,” I whispered. And I did.
The road ahead wouldn’t be smooth and there was still a lot to figure out. But I knew we’d work it out. Because we were family.
And family could survive anything.
“HEY.” LAURIE PEEKED her head inside my room and I sat up. “Rebecca said I could come up.”
“She did?” My brows quirked up. That was new although not unwelcome, and I patted the space beside me on the bed. “You’d better get over here then before she realizes what a terrible mistake she’s made,” I said around a smirk.
Laurie made quick work of kicking off her sandals and joining me. “So, how did it go?”
“Okay, I think. I got everything off my chest.”
“And how’d that feel?”
“Good.” I didn’t need to think about that one. “It felt... good.”
I felt lighter. Like a weight had been lifted and I could finally breathe.
“I’m so proud of you.” Laurie slipped my arm around her shoulder and nestled into my side. “Did you talk to him about your mom?”
“Yeah. I told him I want to meet her. Is that crazy?”
“It’s not crazy, Kyle,” she said. “She’s your mom. Just because she didn’t raise you doesn’t make her any less your mother. And if you meet her and decide you don’t want to pursue a relationship with her, that’s fine too. I don’t think there are any rules when it comes to something like this, you just have to go with your heart.”
Turning into Laurie, I shifted us until we were eye-to-eye. “And what’s your heart telling you?”
“That you deserve to know her. To know her story.”
“And?” I lowered my mouth to hers, hovering, teasing.
“And it’s telling me that it loves you very much,” she whispered around a smile, and I closed the distance, slanting my mouth over hers, slow and unhurried. Our tongues tangled together, exploring, healing.
If it wasn’t for the fact I knew she’d have my balls—or worse—I would’ve gotten down on one knee right then. But Laurie was right. We were young. And we had our whole lives ahead of us. So for now, getting naked and kissing her until I couldn’t breathe would have to do.
“Kyle,” she gasped. “Your dad and Rebecca are right downstairs.”
“And? We’re not doing anything... yet.”
Her hands pressed against my chest, strong and resistant. I stuck out my bottom lip, pouting, and she fought back another smile. “We can make out, but that’s it.”
My fingers dipped under her t-shirt, tracing over her ribs until I found the swell of her cotton bra. I glided my hand between the valley of her chest, dragging my thumbs over the pebbled buds.
“Kyle,” it was breathy this time.
“What were you saying about only making out?” I whispered against the corner of her mouth glancing to the door to make sure it was closed.
“Second base, we can go to second base but that’s it.”
I chuckled. “You give in far too easily.”
“It’s not my fault I lose my mind around you.” She flashed me a pointed look. “You kind of drive me crazy.”
My hand hooked over her leg, dragging her closer, pressing us together like two pieces of a puzzle. We were clothed, and I wasn’t going to disrespect Laurie, or Rebecca and Dad’s rules, but I still intended on driving her wild. Because while I might have driven her crazy, it was nothing compared to the way she owned me.
Inside and out.
Heart and soul.
“What?” she nudged my cheek with her nose. “What are you thinking?”
“I can’t believe I almost lost you. This.”
“Ssh, it’s behind us. We’re fine.” Laurie pressed a lingering kiss to my lips. “Everything is going to be fine.”
And this time I believed her.
Chapter 30
LAURIE
“I’ll get it, Mom,” I yelled as I applied more lip gloss. Checking my hair one last time, I grabbed my purse and left my room. I’d told Kyle to text me when he was here. Damn him. Now we’d have to do the awkward goodbye thing with my mom. True to her word, she was ‘trying’. Which had so far amounted to a lot of hovering and questions. So. Many. Questions.
It was weird. Telling her about my day. About Kyle. About us. But I humored her. I figured eventually she would get bored and give up. But when I turned the corner and hit the top of the stairs, my hopes were dashed.
The sound of laughter floated up to me. Mom’s laughter. Slowly, I made my way down. Disbelief and confusion swirled in my chest as I realized what was happening. Kyle was standing just inside the door with a bouquet of roses in his hand, talking to my mom.
Only they weren’t just talking. They were laughing. She was laughing. With my boyfriend.
The same boyfriend who less than a week ago, she had wanted me to trade in for Nate Teason, or a Ralph-Lauren wearing, pre-law studying equivalent.
“Laurie, darling, there you are. I was just telling Kyle you were still getting ready. You look so pretty.” She beamed, and I frowned.
“Hmm, what’s going on?” I widened my eyes, glancing between them.
“Mrs. D was just asking me what we had planned, but I told her it’s top secret.” Kyle tapped the side of his nose.
“Isn’t that exciting?” Mom shoulders shook with glee.
“It’s something, alright.” I couldn’t disguise the grimace pinching my face.
“And he brought you flowers; aren’t they beautiful?”
Kyle thrust the bouquet at me, and I took them,
admiring the vivid pinks.
“Here.” Mom came up beside me. “I can take them and put them in some water, if you’d like?” She gazed at me expectantly and I handed them to her, still reeling from her sudden transformation.
“I’m ready,” I said to Kyle, hoping he’d read between the lines.
“Cool. Bye Mrs. D.” He flashed her a parent-worthy smile. “It was nice to see you again.”
“You too, Kyle. Don’t be a stranger.”
Don’t be a stranger?
What the hell was happening right now?
“Have fun, darling. I’ll see you later, or will you be late?”
“I, hmm, Mom, can I have a word, please? Kyle, I’ll meet you in the Jeep.”
“Okay.” He offered my mom a small salute and disappeared outside.
“Is everything okay?” Mom tilted her head to the side as if she really didn’t get it.
“What is this?”
“Laurie?”
“This? Playing nice with Kyle, the 'don’t be a stranger' stuff?”
“I...” Her shoulders sagged, and she let out a heavy sigh. “I came on too strong, didn’t I?”
“Just a little, Mom. I appreciate you trying, really I do. But it needs to be a gradual thing. We can’t just go from zero to sixty.”
“I just want you to know I meant what I said, Laurie. I’m trying.”
“I know.”
She looked so dejected, guilt coiled around my heart. Taking her hand in mine, I squeezed gently. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I really do appreciate it and I know Kyle is probably high-fiving himself right now. But dial it down a little, maybe?”
“Okay.” She nodded. “I can do that. I can dial it down.”
I’d unleashed a beast. That was all I could think as I gave her a one-armed hug and said goodbye.
Kyle was waiting outside his Jeep. His lips quirked up as I reached him, but I held out a finger. “Don’t say a word.”
He hands went up. “Wasn’t going to say a thing.” Kyle opened the door for me and I climbed inside, murmuring, “Hmm,” as he tried to stifle his laughter.
But I should have known he couldn’t help himself. The second he got inside and closed the door, he exploded with laughter.
“Kyle, it’s not funny.”
“It is a little bit funny.”
“It is not. She’s going to drive me insane.” I buried my face in my hands. I could picture it now. She was going to turn into Susie Homemaker.
“Babe, she cares. It’s her way of showing you that deep down, she cares.” He pried my hands away and lifted my face to his. “Don’t waste any more time. You have a year. One year and then we’re off to college and she’ll lose you forever.”
I smashed my lips together. He was right. Of course he was right. But it was weird. She’d never been like that before. She was always so aloof. So emotionally distant.
“Laurie, you know I’m right,” he added.
“Ugh. I know. It’s just I think I preferred the old version.”
He chuckled. “No, you don’t. This is a good thing. Her taking interest is a good thing.”
“And when she wants to invite you over for a family dinner?”
“For your information, I am great at family dinners.” He waggled his eyebrows. “It’ll be fine, I promise. Once she gets it out of her system, it’ll be awesome. Hey.” Mischief flashed in his eyes. “Maybe we can get her on our side for a little sleepover action.”
“Kyle, seriously. You think that’s ever going to happen?”
“I don’t know.” He fired up the Jeep. “I think I could win her around. No more sneaking in after dark.”
“Of course that’s all you’d care about.” I threw myself back into the seat, folding my arms over my chest.
“You’re so cute when you pout.”
“I am not pouting.”
“Babe, you’re pouting.” He pulled out onto the road.
“Am not.” I argued but this time I couldn’t bite back the smirk tugging at my mouth. “Anyway, where are you taking me?”
But all I got back was, “You’ll see.”
THIRTY-MINUTES LATER, I was staring out at the University of Southern California. “Kyle,” I whispered, my heart fluttering wildly in my chest. “What’s going on?”
“Come on.” He climbed out and came around to open my door.
“What did you do?”
“Why do you automatically assume I did anything? I wanted us to come here, together.”
“Student tours aren’t until fall.”
“Which is why I wanted to bring you out here now. Come on.” Slipping his hand into mine, Kyle pulled me toward the cluster of buildings. My eyes soaked in every detail, from the palm tree lined sidewalks to the perfectly sculpted privet hedges. The beautiful Doheny Library stood proud in front of us and in the far distance was the Coliseum Stadium.
“It’s so beautiful,” I sighed, tucking my head onto Kyle’s shoulder as he led us deeper into the campus grounds. “Are we supposed to be here?”
It was pretty deserted.
“I may know a guy who knows a guy.”
“Shut up.” I yanked his arm. “You do not.”
“It’s fine. Students are already arriving for the start of semester. We’ll blend.”
“Blend, right.”
We walked hand-in-hand down Trousdale Parkway until we reached the iconic entrance to the Coliseum. It was so big and imposing, I froze, paralyzed to the spot. “Kyle, we can’t go in there.” Even though it was lit up and people were milling around, I was pretty sure we were trespassing.
“It’s cool, I promise. Come on.”
He led me underneath the huge stone arches and up into the bleachers. When we were secreted away in an empty row, he tugged me down into a seat. “I have dreamed about this place since I was just a boy,” he said resting our joined hands on his thigh. “Of strolling out of that tunnel wearing red and gold.” He pointed far off into the distance. “And hearing the crowd scream my name. The crackle of anticipation in the air. The roar of ninety-thousand fans. I was born to play football, Laurie.”
“I know.”
Everyone did.
Kyle wasn’t just good, he was great. And senior year would be his year to shine.
“But I wasn’t only born to play football, you know.” He focused on our hands, running his thumb over the curve of my skin.
“Kyle, what is all of this?”
Bringing me here?
Telling me this?
He lifted his eyes, gazing up at me through his hair. “I was born to play football, but I was also born to love you.”
I swallowed over the lump in my throat, but he wasn’t done. “I know you have doubts about USC, I know you think you’re following me here. But you’re not. Laurie, I want you here with me. I need you here. I want football more than the air I breathe. But I also want you, Laurie Davison. It's not an either-or scenario for me. It’s a package deal.”
“Kyle, I—”
“You don’t need to say anything. I don’t need you to say anything. I just needed you to know that it’s always been both for me. I know you went against your parents for me, I know they wanted something else for you, but I’m here telling you—promising you—that I won’t let you down.”
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes and I buried my face into the crook of his neck, breathing him in. Absorbing what he’d just said. I’d spent so long worrying about what the future held, if I could play second string to football, that his words meant more than he would ever understand. Or maybe he knew. Maybe he saw it in my eyes when he looked at me. Felt it in my kiss every time my lips touched his.
Maybe he knew all along that part of me was ready to lose him to football.
To his destined future.
Kyle’s arms went around my shoulders, hugging me closer. “You and me,” he whispered. “One day, I’ll walk out of that tunnel and they’ll scream my name but it’s you I’ll look for you in
the crowd. You, babe.”
Oh, all the things he could have said to me, it was the one thing I needed to hear.
I eased back and smiled at him. “You and me,” I repeated, and a different future flashed before my eyes. One where I was in the crowd, cheering him on. By his side at the after parties. Wearing his jersey around campus.
And that was the future I was going to focus on.
The future I wanted.
More than anything.
Chapter 31
KYLE
“Are you ready?” Laurie squeezed my hand as we stood on the doorstep of the small house.
“As I’ll ever be,” I whispered, rocking on the balls of my feet, trying to ignore the giant knot in my stomach.
The door swung open and Kiera’s eyebrow shot up to her hairline with surprise. As if she hadn’t actually expected me to show. Clearly, I needed to remind her that when I made a promise, I kept it. She stepped aside, pulling the door wider, and I looked inside.
“Kyle, it’s... it’s you,” the woman before me gasped, reaching out for me even though I was standing in the doorway and she was seated on the couch. “You came, you really came.”
Kiera shifted awkwardly, motioning for us to go inside. When I didn’t move, Laurie held my hand tightly, pulling me with her. “Hi, Ms. Lessinger. It’s really nice to meet you. I’m Laurie, Kyle’s girlfriend.”
She beamed. Maria—my mom—actually beamed. “It’s so lovely to meet you. Kiera’s told me all about you.”
My eyes snapped over to my sister’s and she ducked her head avoiding my assessing gaze. Something told me she hadn’t been entirely upfront with her mom about everything. But I wasn’t here to cause issues.