Rocking Kin (The Lucy & Harris Novella Series Book 3)

by Terri Anne Browning

  “Thanks, Caro. This is beautiful.”

  She gave me a warm smile. “I’m glad you like it. I thought it would be perfect for your new room.”

  Excitement eased away some of the ache in my chest for my friends. It was my birthday. My promise to my mother was officially over and I could leave Scott Montez’s house without a single regret. I already had an apartment ready and waiting on me, thanks to Carter.

  “You’re going to come visit me, right?” I demanded as I settled back against the pillows beside her.

  She rolled her eyes. “Duh. I plan on spending more time at your place than home. Trust me, I don’t like it here any more than you do.”

  I grimaced. “I wish I could take you with me.” While Carolina and I had gotten closer, I had realized that she was just as much a prisoner in that house as I was. Her mother and sister used her, embarrassed her, and made her life twice as hellish as they did my own. My warden was my promise to my mother, but hers was her age. She was only fifteen. She was stuck with her mom for a few more years at least.

  “I’m going to miss you,” I told her honestly as I leaned my head back. “I’ve kind of gotten used to you.”

  “I’m going to miss you, too.”

  I reached for her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “I’m only a phone call away.”

  “Thanks, Kin.”

  We sat there, talking for a little longer until Carolina had to get ready for school. I should have been getting ready too, but I was going to skip school that day and get my apartment ready. I rushed around, putting the last of my stuff in my suitcases.

  I’d thought about asking Jace to pick me up, but I knew he would be busy at First Bass. He was helping Harris more and more and spent more time at the club than at home unless I was with him. So I zipped up the last case and carried them downstairs, figuring I would just call a cab.

  As I opened the front door, I expected Jillian to come out of the kitchen to snip at me, but she didn’t appear and I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped out onto the front step. Putting the cases on the walkway, I closed the door.

  A car honking had me jerking around. My eyes landed on a brand new Range Rover and the blond girl sitting behind the wheel. My heart melted when Angie opened the driver’s door and got out. Caleb stepped out of the passenger side and I nearly cried at the sight of them both. I knew they were coming out to California for my birthday, but I hadn’t expected them until later in the day.

  “Hey there, sugar bug.” Angie wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me hard. “Happy birthday!”

  I laughed through my happy tears as I hugged her back. “This is the best surprise ever,” I told them as I got squished in a step-sandwich between my brother and sister.

  Angie was the first to pull away. She lifted a set of keys and wiggled them at me. “This is for you. I picked it out. What do you think?”

  I glanced from the keys now in my hand to the white Range Rover. “For me?”

  “Of course for you, silly. Who else would it be for?” Caleb teased as he draped an around my shoulders and lifted one of my cases in his free hand.

  “Let’s give this bad boy a test drive,” Angie urged as she opened the back so that Caleb could put my case inside before he went back for the others. She jumped into the passenger seat and I slid behind the wheel.

  Laughing happily, I waited until Caleb was in the back seat before pulling out of the driveway. On the drive over to my new apartment, I asked the twins about their trip. They kept me entertained with their flight until I pulled into the garage of my new apartment building. It was just a few blocks from school so I could have walked if I’d needed to, but with my new Range Rover I wouldn’t have to.

  Caleb carried my cases up to the top floor of the apartment building and I used my keys to unlock the door. The super was supposed to let in the movers the day before, who were bringing the furniture I’d picked out with Jace the weekend before. Carter had given me a nice little budget to play with for the odds and ends I needed and I’d found some great items.

  “Happy birthday!”

  I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard the voices yell from the kitchen. Why was everyone trying to give me a heart attack? I turned to find Carter and Jace both standing in the kitchen with a cake on the small island counter between them. At the sight of Jace my heart did that crazy little somersault that it always did and I was assaulted with a wave of love for him that left me breathless.

  It took me a few seconds to tear my eyes away from him and turn them on Carter. He was standing there with a broad grin on his still-handsome face. “Happy birthday, Kin,” he repeated and stepped forward to hug me close.

  Happy tears blinded me and I tried to blink them away but a few escaped anyway. “It really is now.” I hugged him tight, breathing in the familiar scents that I’d always associated with love and happy memories. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “So, how do you like our apartment?” Angie asked as she moved across the kitchen to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

  How long had they been there? I hadn’t stocked the fridge yet. Then what she had said registered.

  “Our apartment?” My heart was racing with the possibilities.

  Angie closed the fridge door, a grin splitting her beautiful face. “Yep, ours.” She opened the water in her hands as if she hadn’t just rocked my world. “Mine and yours.”

  “But… what about school?”

  “I’m taking the semester off and starting UCLA in the fall,” she told me as if she were telling me she had ordered pizza and not just uprooted her life to be closer to me.

  I couldn’t stop the tears as they rushed forward. “Angie…”

  “No tears,” Carter interceded. “Today is going to be a happy day, and by God I will make sure it stays happy.”

  An emotion-filled laugh bubbled out of me. “I’m happy,” I croaked out in a hoarse voice. “Any happier and you’ll kill me.”

  Strong arms wrapped around my waist and I leaned into Jace’s heat. “In that case, I shouldn’t tell you that I’ve been talking to Emmie, huh?” he murmured in my ear.

  Something in his voice had me turning in his arms so I could see his face. “What were you talking to her about?” He talked to Emmie every day it seemed now that his contract with First Bass was getting closer to being over. She had plans for Tainted Knights. I knew with her as their manager they were going to skyrocket into the rock world.

  “Oh, nothing really.” He brushed a kiss over the tip of my nose. “Just that I really like your music and wondered if she would be interested in us recording a demo for the record labels to listen to one of your songs. She liked the idea.”

  My stomach clenched with excitement. “You did? She did?” I was already bouncing up and down. “Oh, my God. You…She…I can’t even talk right now.”

  He chuckled and kissed me again. “Happy birthday, baby. I love you.”

  I wrapped my arms around him, knowing I would never let him go. “I love you, Jace. So much.”

  Next from Terri Anne Browning

  Un-Shattering Lucy

  Defying her Mafioso (Book 1 of The Vitucci Mafiosos Series)

  Tainted Kiss (Book 1 of the Tainted Knights Rocker Series)

  Angel’s Halo MC (Book 5 Title to be announced)

  Turn the page for a sneak peak into

  CRIMSON CATCH

  GAME TIME SERIES

  BY

  S.M. DONALDSON

  CRIMSON CATCH

  All rights reserved. This Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher.

  Thank you for respecting the work of this Author.

  Crimson Catch is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book are either from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, with exce
ption to brand names, Artists named, and their song lyrics, and direct quotes from movies whose titles have been named. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2016, SM Donaldson

  Cover by: IndieVention Designs

  Cover Image: Shutterstock

  Editing by Chelly Peeler

  INTRODUCTION

  Welcome to the time where memories are made and hearts get broken.

  Collin Atwood is a sophomore at Everly High School and the all-American boy in an all-American family. It's his first year on the varsity team and the pressure is on, from his dad and the town. For the first time in over twenty years his hometown could be in line for a state championship title and he’s their ticket to get there.

  That is if he can get his grades up enough to play.

  Enter the daughter of the last guy that held the town's hopes and dreams of state titles, who turned into a drunk after he blew it all. Paired up with Joelle Prescott as his tutor, these two are far from being in the same social circle. She's an honor student and a badass on the drum line. In her family full of athletes, she feels invisible. Which is good sometimes...makes it easier to keep her secrets. Will he keep her secrets? Will she help him make the grade?

  WARNING: This book is a Mature YA book. It is intended for people 15+, it is not suitable for those younger.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  This series is very special to me. For a long time I wanted to try my hand at Young Adult, now my hometown has inspired me to do it.

  The small town I grew up in had two schools, an elementary school for Pre-K – 5th and a high school for 6th-12th. All of the surrounding towns are pretty much the same way. Growing up in a place like this is special. Every Friday night during the fall you can hear the noise and see the lights from the football stadium and once you get close enough, you can smell the boiled peanuts and grilled hamburgers from the concession stand. During the winter and early spring, the high school gym is packed out a few nights a week with the smell of popcorn wafting out the door. Spring time brings baseball and softball to life. With parents somewhere between the school fields and the recreational fields, many nights of supper are eaten from the concession stands.

  Our school wasn’t your typical high school with cliques. We didn’t have enough people, so we were like one big clique. I graduated with just under one hundred people. That doesn’t mean that we didn’t have the couple of small groups of snarky people who thought they were better than everyone, but our school just wasn’t segregated that way. Most of the kids in our school were on multi teams. They may cheer, but they could also be marching with band at half-time. At the end of football season a player may be leaving that practice to go straight to basketball practice. I had a great principal who thought the students shouldn’t have to choose. The adults had to learn to work with the students and each other on scheduling.

  So this book I hope brings a little bit of the small town world to life for you. The town where your parents know what you did before you got home from thinking you got away with doing it. You can’t go anywhere without someone knowing your parents, the words “do I need to call your (insert…parents, Mama, Daddy, Grandma)” are scarier than the idea of getting a paddling or any other punishment and most of the time, also, the cops are just going to give you a ride home.

  So here’s that glimpse. I hope you enjoy it.

  XOXO

  S.M. Donaldson

  DEDICATION

  To my band director, Marty Clark, for telling me my eighth grade year that I was trying out for color guard and not accepting the answer that I was trying out for cheerleading. LOL Some of my best memories come from those four years I was in marching band, even if I didn’t play an instrument. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. So much of the discipline in my life comes from then. And last, I’m not sure how many innocent bull horns and cordless microphones lost their lives during those years, but it was so worth it.

  To my English I and English III teacher, Tammy Jones. Thank you for always being open to see things the way I did. Thanks for not trying to commit me to the state hospital when I said that Romeo and Juliet were stupid to kill themselves over a petty teenage romance. Also the fact that I thought Van Gogh, though misguided, was a lot more romantic because he was a real person who had to walk around with a messed up ear from his declaration of love.

  Both of you shaped so much during that period of my life and I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.

  Not to mention the stories from you guys being neighbors was hilarious.

  Ms. Jones. Attack of the rain frogs. Screaming like someone was murdering her, to the point Mr. Clark runs out of his house and the VP who lived on the other side comes running out also. LMBO.

  CHAPTER 1

  Collin-

  “You wanted to see me, Coach?” I nervously ask as I enter his office.

  “Take a seat, Atwood,” he says, motioning to the black chair on the other side of his desk. Clasping his hands together, he rests on his elbows. “Son, you are aware that with you starting as our quarterback this year that we have a real shot at State?” I nod as he continues. “Don’t you think this school, hell, this town deserves the chance to host that honor?” I nod again. “Well, how are we going to manage to do that if I have to bench you for grades?” I shrug my shoulders forward. “Well, the answer is we won’t. I know a great group moved up to Varsity with you this year and that’s the reason we could be great, but you’re their leader. I know Prescott is the Captain, but mainly because he’s the only senior. He’s a great player, but it’s not the same level of playing. You are calling the plays and taking the snaps, so it’s your job to lead this team. Now, the only teacher that has come to me so far is your Geometry teacher. Any others I should be expecting?”

  I sigh. “Mrs. Jones, my English teacher,” I say, looking at my lap.

  He nods. “All right, here is what we are going to do.” He stands up. “Prescott! Come in here!”

  James Prescott sticks his head in the doorway. “Yeah, Coach?”

  “You have a player here who needs a tutor for Geometry and English II. I’m counting on you as a leader to help him find one. NOT one to do it for him, one to help him,” Coach Fagan says sternly.

  James nods. “Got it, Coach. I’ll see what I can find.”

  He points across the desk with two fingers at me. “Go get a damn shower, then first thing tomorrow you get up with Prescott and see what he’s figured out.”

  I stand and nod. “Yes, Coach.” As I make my way through the crimson and gray locker room, I get several fist bumps from the guys. I really hope James is able to find someone to help. It’d be great if she’s hot.

  Standing in the cream colored tile shower, I look around at the random spouts sticking out of the wall and cringe at the mildew growing in the corners. I start scrubbing the day’s practice off of me. My friend, Dallas Kent, steps up to the shower next to me. “So what did Coach want?”

  I sigh. “My fucking grades suck in Geometry and English. If I don’t do something about them, he’s gonna have to bench me. So I have to get a tutor.”

  He barks out a laugh. “Man, that sucks. But hey, you could find some little hottie and get her to do it for you. A little tutoring with some extra fun on the side, if you get what I mean.”

  I shake my head. “Yeah, I get it. But Coach is making Prescott find my tutor so he knows I’m not scamming the system.”

  Dallas turns to me. “Dude, that’s fucking harsh.”

  I put my hand up and turn the other direction. “Dude, don’t fucking point your junk at me.” I take that second to look around and all of the other spaces are empty. “Why did you have to get in the shower right next to me when all the others are open?”

  He shrugs. “I wanted to talk to you.”

  I finish rinsing off and grab my towel. “It couldn’t wait?”

  He laughs. “Man,
I just wanted to get close to you all soapy, wet and naked. It’s my dream, you know.” I flip him off as I go back out into the dressing room.

  Prescott is finishing getting dressed. Slamming his locker, he looks up at me. “Get up with me in the a.m. I think I know someone, I just gotta see how persuasive I can be. You have Ag first thing, right?”

  I nod, grinning. “Thanks, man. I hate you’re stuck doing this.” I wonder who he has to be persuasive to.

  He shrugs. “No big deal. Just make me a promise that if I help you with this, you bust your ass to get us to State. I want that once before I graduate. The guy taking the snaps the past three years was a total d-bag. I know when I leave here I’m going into the family business. I want that one moment, okay?” He holds his fist out for me to bump.

  “Okay, man. You got it. I’ll bust my ass,” I say, tipping my head before I dry off quickly and snatch my clothes on.

  Stepping out of the locker room, I see the group of girls we refer to here as the “Queen Bs” leaning against the wall. Two girls in the tenth grade with me, Ciara Mitchell, Head B., and Karmen Pope, B. #2, and their new recruit, Karmen’s little sister Addison Pope, freshman. I’ve gone to school with these girls all of my life. In the small town of Everly, Alabama, you pretty much know everyone. We have two schools, an elementary and a high school. I know you’re saying where’s the middle school? The answer is right here at the high school, a yellow line painted on the sidewalks divides middle school and high school. The only reason they didn’t move me up to Varsity last year was because my dad felt like it was smarter for me to develop my skills with the guys who would be with me for the next three years than to move up to a group that was mostly graduating. We’re a pretty young team. Prescott is the only senior and Booker Daffin is the only junior. The rest of us are sophomores, that’s the reason Coach is right, I gotta step up and be a leader. Ciara flashes me a smile and starts walking toward me. Her boobs bounce as she walks, sucking on a lollipop.