“You’ve been lost,” Maverick says, his gaze swinging from me to the fridge as he opens it. I hate that we ever hooked up at all because of exactly this.
“Yeah, so have you. What’s up with Friday?” I ask.
“Game is canceled. Some idiot on the other team got sick and got everyone else sick, so now they can’t travel.”
“Damn, that sucks.” I look at the back of Maverick’s head, or rather, his muscular back. “At least your parents won’t have to be so tired for Charlotte the next morning.”
“Right. Well, they want to go Friday afternoon now because of this. Can you still go or are you busy?”
“Is this your way of hoping I cancel?”
“Why would I want you to cancel, Rocky?” He shuts the door of the fridge and looks at me again. There’s no light in his eyes, no excitement, if anything he looks bothered that I’m still standing here. I put away the blender, wash the blade, and pick up the cup I’m drinking from.
“I’ll call your mother and let her know I can’t come,” I say on my way out of the kitchen. I head to my room, shut the door, and lock it for good measure.
Fuck him.
After drinking my smoothie, I shower, put my pajamas on, and go straight to sleep. I hear music playing in the house but I’m too tired to care where it’s coming from or what the reason is. If Mav is hooking up with some girl, that’s fine by me. It hurts, but it’s fine. I can’t sit around waiting for a zebra to change its stripes. In the morning, I text Milly to let her know I can no longer make it on the trip.
Milly: You okay? We don’t mind waiting and going Saturday as planned
Me: I’m good. I don’t know if Mavy told you, but I’m trying out for the NWSL and I’ve been training all week
My phone starts buzzing in my hand and I smile when I see Milly’s face on the screen. It’s an old picture of the three of us—Milly, Mav, and me when we were getting ready to go to my prom. I’ve always loved those pictures, but now they kind of break my heart. I take a breath before answering.
“Hey.”
“Congratulations, Miss Thing. I am so proud of you, baby!”
“Thank you.” I smile wide.
“Your mother told me she had exciting news, but I thought she was talking about herself."
“I mean, she might have more exciting news.” I laugh lightly. “It’s just a try-out.”
“They are going to sign you the first day!”
I laugh. “That’s what Mav said.”
“That kid talks my ear off and he didn’t even mention this to me. I can’t believe him.”
“Well, he has a lot going on. I’m sure it slipped his mind.”
“Now we have to wait until Saturday to leave. We have to celebrate this in Charlotte!”
“I would hate for you to wait for me.” I bite my lip. “I should be done Friday at noon.”
“So, we can still leave Friday. It’s only a two-and-a-half-hour trip!”
“Okay.”
“Do you not want to go?” she asks. “Because that’s fine too, but if this is about Mav, don’t you worry about him. Mitch is coming, Misty is coming, Jo will be there, obviously, I’ll be there, Rob will be there. The last person you’ll have to hang out with is Mav.”
“It would be kind of weird if I go on a trip with you guys and ignore him.” I laugh lightly again because this is such an awkward conversation to be having with his mother.
“I assume you’re fighting, but I don’t want to pry. He’s sounded off the entire week. Not that it’s any consolation.”
“It’s not,” I say. “I don’t like knowing he’s going through things and feels like he can’t talk to me about them.”
“This is what it’s like. We push the people we love most away all the time because we think we’re shielding them from the pain, but all we’re doing is creating more of it.”
I swallow. “It sucks.”
“I know, love. So, Friday night is a yes, right? Rob is renting a party bus.”
“I’ll be there.” I laugh. “I can’t miss a party bus!”
“Right? That’s what I’m saying.”
“Thanks, Milly. Talking to you always helps.”
“I’m always here. Mav is my son and I love him, but even if he wasn’t in the picture, I’d be here for you. I hope you know that.”
“I do.”
“Okay. See you soon! Love you.”
“Love you.”
When we hang up, I start to cry. This extended family that I adore so much is another thing I’m going to lose if I lose my friendship with Mav. I know Milly means it when she says she’ll always be there for me, but it’ll be different.
It’s always different.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
We all pile into the party bus after saying our hellos to one another. Milly grabs my hand and Misty’s and announces we’re sitting in the back and tells the guys to be in charge of the playlist for the first hour of the trip. We’ll be in charge the second hour. It’s just as well. I wouldn’t know what to play and I’d end up playing whatever Maverick listens to since he’s practically in charge of the playlist at the house anyway. As the three of us head to the back, I glance over at Misty, who looks at me at the same time and shoots me a “this will be interesting” look. I smile. We sit down—Misty, Milly, and me—in the back row of the bus.
“Well, if you’ve ever wanted to try out stripping,” I say, looking at the pole in front of us.
“Been there, done that. It’s actually a really good workout,” Milly says.
I laugh. “Oh my God.”
“I saw the funniest video about a guy saying that if we want to learn to strip we should go to the strip club and have an actual stripper teach us,” Misty says. “I thought about it until I remembered that the only time I’ve ever been to a strip club was with these idiots and I wanted to die.” She looks at us. “With the baseball team, I mean.”
“You couldn’t pay me enough to go to any kind of club with the baseball team,” Milly says.
“Yeah. Lesson learned.” Misty crosses her arms, then looks over at me. “So, professional soccer, huh?”
“It’s just a try-out. I don’t want to get my hopes up.” I bite my lip.
“They’re going to sign you,” Milly says.
“Yeah, you can’t think like that. Manifest that shit, girl,” Misty adds. “You’re going to get a badass contract and travel everywhere. How exciting.” She smiles wide. “What does Mavy think about losing his best friend?”
I know Misty and I know it’s a genuine question, but the words are all wrong right now and I feel a punch in the gut from it. My eyes well up without warning and I wipe them quickly, letting out a breath.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that in a bad way at all,” Misty leans over and sets a hand on mine. “I think it’s safe to say you guys have an unbreakable friendship.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Milly asks. “You guys losing your friendship when you join the real world? You know that won’t happen.”
“It’s a lot of things.” I wipe my face. “I guess I just don’t like change as much as I thought I did. The unknown is scary.”
“Terrifying.” Misty squeezes my hand. “But the one thing I know you’ll always be able to count on is having Mav in your life and us. I know we don’t hang out much aside from random run-ins at parties, but I always got your back. I hope you know that.”
“Thanks.” I smile and take another deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“Oh, honey.” Milly wraps an arm around me and hugs me to her side. “You’ve always been such a good girl.”
“Maybe that’s the problem,” I say with a laugh.
“Hey, it may be. You need to do something rebellious this weekend,” Milly says. “But not too rebellious. I don’t want Ms. Bev and Mike knocking on my door.”
I laugh loudly. “Oh, God. They would.”
“You know they would.” Milly laughs.
“She’ll be so happy to hear that,” I say. “She always talks about Milly’s mangú. We’ve tried to make it, but it just doesn’t turn out the same.”
“According to Mavy you’ve got it on lock,” Milly says.
“Yeah, well, Mavy would eat a truck and call it gourmet.”
We all laugh. The rest of the trip is spent talking about other things—like Misty’s senior project, which is an article on college athletes, and Milly trying to convince her to go work for their magazine when she graduates. Then, we talk about fashion and scroll social media for clothes. It’s the most relaxing, fun time I’ve had in a long time.
When we get to Charlotte, we get off the highway and go up winding roads lined with beautiful magnolia trees. Every so often, I spot a huge gate that I’m sure leads to a mansion. At the end of the road, we stop in front of one and Roberto lowers his window, types in a code, and the gates open. It’s another long road before we reach the mansion. Once we’re parked, we all get out of the bus. Mitchell and Maverick are bickering back and forth about basketball. Neither of them plays basketball, but I swear they’re obsessed with the NBA nonetheless. Roberto is checking a tire. Misty is on her phone. Milly is going through her purse. I’m just trying hard not to freak the hell out because this is the biggest house I’ve ever seen in my life. The Cruzes are very well off, they have multiple properties in New York, one in LA, one in Miami, a couple in the Dominican Republic. But none of their properties are like this. This is a legitimate estate. The kind of stuff none of the brown people I know would ever have the opportunity to own. Yet, Jagger and Josephine own it. The thought fills me with pride.
“This is insane,” I say when I can pick my jaw up off the floor.
“Ridiculous,” Misty adds. “Wait till you see my sister’s closet. It’s a dream.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Milly says with a smile. “But, hey, good for them.”
“I mean, it’s beautiful, but all I can think about is the upkeep.”
“I wouldn’t be able to do it,” Milly says. “And I live in a penthouse in New York, which is not cheap, but this is another level of responsibility. Jo hasn’t even been able to do anything for herself yet because she’s been so caught up in housework.”
“She likes it though,” Misty responds with a shrug. “My sister’s weird. She’s all about her career, but deep down she wants to be a housewife.”
“You think so?” Milly laughs.
“I mean, she’d never admit it.” Misty smiles as we walk up to the giant doors.
The right side opens fully and Jo and Jagger appear, all smiles, to greet us.
“You made it,” Jo says, and we all exchange hugs and kisses. “Excuse me, Keke, I heard you’re going pro. I’m going to need you to sign something for me before you get all big.”
“It’s a try-out,” I say, then correct myself when I find Misty and Milly shooting me a look, “but yes, I’m going pro and I’m going to play for the United States Women’s National Soccer League and become famous, so I’ll sign something for you now.”
“Daaamn,” Jagger and Mitchell both say, “this calls for a celebration!”
“Come here, little sis.” Jagger throws his arms around me. “I’m proud of you. Do you have an agent? I can hook you up—”
“Jag. I haven’t even given her a tour of the house and you’re already all business?” Jo says, raising her eyebrow. “Chill, dude.”
“Sorry, dude.” Jagger kisses his fiancée on the lips, a loud, long peck that makes me smile.
It’s wild to see them together like this considering I never in a million years saw it coming. I guess now when I look back at the times we all hung out together, I can say I saw some signs of attraction there, but this is next level. They have a house together, they’re getting married soon, and they are obviously super in love. They’re really living the dream. I love it. I’ve tried my best not to look in Maverick’s direction for the last three hours, but as we continue walking into the house, I glance over and catch him looking at me. Butterflies swarm my core immediately. I wish I could push them down and make them go away, but I know it’s unlikely. I spent the entirety of the week trying to stay away from him, but I’m starting to think that no amount of time can pacify these feelings.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Maverick
We’re in Jagger’s massive game room, playing darts—myself, Jagger, Mitchell, and Dad—while the girls are marveling over Jo’s closet, if I had to guess. There’s a laundry room downstairs that’s easily the size of at least three one-bedroom New York apartments dedicated to all of Josephine’s clothes. She can’t even fill it, that’s how big it is, but I guess with my brother’s new contract, she’ll have no trouble filling it soon, if she wanted to.
“What’s up with you?” Dad asks, standing beside me as he prepares to shoot darts next.
“With what?”
“How do you feel about Rocky potentially, most likely, getting a professional contract?”
“I feel great about it, obviously.” I frown as I look over at him. “Why?”
“I don’t know. It’ll change things. She’ll be gone a lot.” Dad throws a dart and hits the outside corner of the board. I’m kind of glad he’s not great at something for once.
“I’ll be going pro soon, too. I’m signing as a free agent the minute the season is over. Maybe before then.”
“You decided?” Dad turns to me. He’s a huge man, but not bigger than me, not anymore anyway. When I was little I used to think of him as a bear, muscular and warm. I still think of him like that, but now I’m also a full-grown bear, and being beside him like this always reminds me of that.
“I did. If I do the accelerated program that I was accepted into, I can be done with classes by the summer, so I’ll get the degree you guys want me to get that I’ll probably never use, and I’ll hopefully get a decent contract.”
“Decent?” Dad chuckles, then turns to my brothers, who are examining Jagger’s liquor collection, which he probably hasn’t even touched yet. “Guys, your brother thinks he may have a chance at a decent contract in the NHL.”
“Decent?” Jagger laughs.
“Bro, shut the hell up. You’ll be able to buy this mansion twice,” Mitch says with a laugh, then looks at Jag. “Not that there’s anything wrong with this mansion.”
“You think I’m going to take offense to that?” Jagger shakes his head with a smile. “Imagine Grandpa’s face if he were alive to see this. I think about that a lot, you know? Our grandparents didn’t have money to afford shoes, and look at us. It’s borderline exorbitant.”
“It’s not borderline exorbitant, Jag. It is exorbitant,” Dad says.
“Damn, we’re blessed,” Mitch adds with the shake of his head.
“We are, and don’t you ever forget it,” Dad says. “So, what does Drew say about the free agency thing? Do I need to speak to him?”
“No, Dad. I’m an adult.” I shoot the dart and hit the middle target. Drew is Jagger’s agent, and will be mine the minute I can sign.
“Right, but do I need to speak to him?” Dad raises his eyebrow.
“I guess you can.” I roll my eyes.
My dad’s never going to let me sign anything without looking at it first, so there’s no point in pretending that would ever be the case. It’s a good thing, though. I’m fortunate to have people who know sports contracts beside me.
“Do you know where you’ll sign? You had a few teams interested,” Mitch says.
“Not yet.”
“Tell me you’re waiting for the girl you’re in love with to sign to a city first, without telling me you’re waiting for the girl you’re in love with to sign. I’ll go first,” Jagger says, smirking.
“Fuck you. I’m not waiting for that.” I s
hoot him a glare.
“But you are in love with her.” Mitch looks way too pleased that he caught me in that one.
“I’m not going to deny it.” I shrug a shoulder.
“What?” Dad nearly shouts, then laughs. “When did this happen? Is that why she’s avoiding you like the plague?”
“Something like that.”
“Damn, dude. Don’t fuck this up. Keke is like your soul mate,” Jag says.
“He’s not wrong,” Mitch adds, still looking at the alcohol in front of him. “This looks expensive.”
“Did you tell her you’re in love with her?” Dad asks.
“No. I just . . . I don’t know. We sort of hooked up and then I told her she should date other people.”
“What?” Dad looks bewildered. “Who the fuck does that?”
“And why?” Mitchell adds, looking equally as bewildered.
“You are so weird,” Jagger says.
“You’re one to talk, Mister Let’s-hook-up-casually-and-not-fall-in-love.” I shoot him a look.
“Well, it worked out for me. I’m engaged.”
“And you, Mister I’m-going-to-date-this-girl-and-fall-in-love-with-her-and-then-break-up-with-her-and-pine-after-her-forever.” I shoot Mitchell a look.
“I was seventeen,” Mitchell says as if that’s any excuse for what he did. “I didn’t know any better.”
“I don’t know how or where our parenting went wrong, but the three of y’all are a mess,” Dad says, shaking his head. “And here I thought your mother and I having a normal, stable relationship was enough.”
“You kind of set the bar pretty high,” I say.
My brothers mutter their agreement behind me.
“Well, I’m sorry for marrying my best friend and love of my life and having a good relationship with her.”
“I don’t know how you married your best friend,” I say quietly. “It seems impossible.”
“Yet here we are, thirty years later, still happy,” Dad says. “Not to say we haven’t had our share of trials and tribulations, but still, we truly are happy together.”
The Rulebreaker Page 12