Cover
Title Page
Aced
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Jennifer Lane
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Psyched Publishing
Copyright Information
Aced, Copyright © 2015 by Jennifer Lane
All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.
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Published by Psyched Publishing
First published, December 2015
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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
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Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
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Lane, Jennifer.
Aced / Jennifer Lane – 1st ed
1. Volleyball—Fiction. 2. New Adult Romance—Fiction. 3. Race—Fiction. 4. Psychology—Fiction. I. Title
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Book Design by Coreen Montagna
Dedication
To readers of all skin colors:
may we find common ground.
We all bleed the same.
Chapter One
“GO AWAY!” I HOLLERED. “I’m Netflixing.” The knock on my apartment door had drowned out the dialogue, and I paused the TV show on my laptop.
“Maddie?”
Oh no. It was Lucia outside, fierce on the volleyball court but such a sweetie. I glanced at my phone, partially hidden under balled-up tissues next to me on my ratty brown sofa. She had texted several times this week, but I hadn’t answered any messages from friends or family. I felt guilty for not responding—well, except for one person’s messages. I never wanted to speak to him again.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” I yelled, hoping she would leave. I hovered my finger over the play button, eager to see if Jasmine and Crosby would reunite.
A male voice floated through the door. “You okay, Ms. Brooks?”
Damn. I should’ve known Frank was with her. The first daughter—or whatever Lucia was called since her dad won the presidential election a couple months ago—couldn’t travel anywhere without Secret Service.
“I’m fine,” I called. Liar.
“Please, Maddie?” she called again. “I’m worried about you.”
The soft warble of her voice got to me. I sighed and crossed the room to open the door. Despite my moping, I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw her getup: a long, black Sherpa coat, furry boots, and a matching red, gold, and orange-striped hat and mittens. She looked adorable, and I bet her boyfriend Dane had thought so, too.
I stuck my head into the hallway; it was probably sixty-five degrees. “Aren’t you overdoing it a little with the arctic layers?”
“It’s, like, negative five outside! I don’t know how you Midwesterners handle this.” Her pink cheeks glowed.
I tilted my head in sympathy. Ramirez—Rez for short—was from Houston. “It’ll get better come March.”
“That’s too far away.” Her dimple creased as she pouted. “I thought December was bad up here, but January’s way worse.”
I shook my head as I opened the door wider and extended my arm. “You can come in too, Agent Vanderberg.”
“No need.” Frank clasped his hands behind his back and stood at parade rest next to my door.
As she entered, Lucia looked over her shoulder. “You sure, Frank? It’s cold out there.”
“I’ll manage, Lucy.” His soft smile surprised me.
“What was that?” I asked after I closed the door. “You forgave Frank for telling your dad about Dane?”
Her father had gone nuclear upon learning that his daughter was dating the son of Senator Monroe—a Democrat and his opponent in the presidential race—right before the final debate last October.
“That’s old news.” Her shrug was barely noticeable beneath her thick coat. “You would’ve known I forgave Frank if you hadn’t holed yourself up in here.”
“It’s only been a few days.”
Lucia’s chin dipped. “You’ve missed practice for a week, and you know how Coach gets without you there to chill him out.”
“Sorry.” This was the real-world stuff I’d been avoiding with Netflix: expectations, exercise, and ex-boyfriends. I cast a longing look at my laptop.
“Didn’t mean to guilt-trip you, amiga. I know you don’t have to go to practice anymore.” She clapped her mittens together. “I just miss you. We have lots to catch up on.”
Now that I’d exhausted my four years of college-volleyball eligibility, I didn’t have to attend off-season practice. But if I wanted to make the national team, I needed to practice. Selection camps for Team USA loomed, starting in April, and I couldn’t afford to let myself get out of shape. “I miss you too, Rez. But besides dragging my butt to a few classes, I’ve checked out of everything since Saturday night.”
Her brown eyes softened. “Have you heard from him?”
I flopped down on the cushion and reached for my phone, scrolling through the texts to find the ones from asshat. “How ’bout you take off your winterwear and have a seat, Texas?”
“I’m too cozy to take off my coat.” She rubbed her mittens up and down the fur as she beamed. “Dane gave it to me for Christmas.”
I smiled. No wonder she liked the coat so much. She folded her bundled self next to me on the dark brown thrift-store sofa I’d affectionately nicknamed “Shitty.”
“I can’t stay long, anyway,” she added. “I was hoping you’d go to Dane’s match with me?”
“Oh, right—the men’s team has a home match tonight.” I handed her my phone as I glanced at my crumpled sweatpants and flannel pajama top. I would not likely make it out of my apartment, even though I did want to see the men play in the new arena.
She slid off the tops of her mittens to reveal hobo gloves, and her uncovered fingertips scrolled down the face of my phone. After a few moments of silence, her head shot up. “He said that? His last name should be Heartless, not Hart.”
“Totally.” How could I have given so much of myself to Jaylon Hart? All six-foot-six, two-hundred-fifty-seven pounds of him. He was a heavyweight wrestler with corded muscle, a sexy grin, and chocolate skin. Remembering his warm gaze, my heart fluttered, then clenched. He wasn’t mine anymore.
“Long past time to end this. You and me goin’ in different directions, you know it,” Lucia read, then looked up at me. “But he makes no sense. You’re both seniors, set to graduate in May. And you both dream about making the Olympics.”
“I know.” I’d been replaying these facts in my mind for six days now.
She resumed reading. “Why you upset? You never loved me. I’m doing you a favor ending it.” Her lips parted. “He dares to call breaking up with you a favor? Wow, Maddie, that sucks. You guys were together a long time, right?”
I swallowed, and the words almost got caught in my throat. “Three years.”
“And you didn’t see this coming?”
“He’s been sort of…distant, I guess. But I chalked it up to his wrestling season starting. He’s under a lot of pressure to defend his national championship.”
Lucia frowned. “Sorry we couldn’t give you a national championship for your senior year.”
I nudged her shoulder. “Finishing third in the country ain’t bad, Rez. And I still can’t believe the number of blocks you had in our last game.”
“You’re the team MVP.” Her shy blush morphed into lines of worry on her face. “How’ll we compete next year without you?” She chewed on a fingernail. “
Don’t you miss volleyball?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I kind of do.”
“Come with me to the match, then. It’ll be a good distraction. Jaylon won’t be there, right?”
“The wrestling team’s in Iowa this weekend.” I looked down. “I still know his schedule by heart.” In memory of him, my heart thudded a longing beat. “I sound like a stalker, huh?”
Lucia patted my arm. “Not at all. It makes sense you’re reeling after three years of being together. I only hope Dane and I can last that long.”
“Have you seen the way he looks at you?”
The blush coloring her cheeks now matched the red stripe in her winter hat. She seemed extra embarrassed tonight—what’s that about? If I wasn’t going to get to finish my TV romance binge, at least the sizzling glances between Lucia and her boo could entertain me.
“Okay, Rez.” Time for me to leave my cocoon and face the real world. “Give me a minute to get ready?”
“Yay!” She bounced on Shitty.
I headed to my bedroom and the shower. Though I hummed “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair,” I didn’t really believe it. Jaylon had embedded himself inside me, and a whole vat of shampoo wouldn’t exorcise him. His lame explanation about growing apart didn’t cut it, and how the hell could he believe I didn’t love him? Sure, we’d had arguments, but so did every couple I knew, including Dane and Lucia. The unfinished feeling that had gnawed at me all week started in again.
I sighed as I swept my wet, curly hair up into a short ponytail. I stared at myself in the mirror, clad only in bra and panties. My abdominal muscles were my favorite body part, but I frowned when I noticed their grooves had lost some definition. Time to return to the gym. I also noticed my ashy skin, which I rectified with my favorite lotion. Breathing in eucalyptus and spearmint calmed me. But staring at my closet deflated me again. Most of my outfits held reminders of nights out with Jaylon.
“You’re watching Parenthood?” Lucia asked from the other room.
I winced. That show made me cry every single episode, and I choked up just thinking about Crosby kissing Jasmine. Yeah, I wanted them back together. Breakups sucked.
When I didn’t answer, Lucia snorted. “What are you, a middle-aged housewife?”
“Said by the nineteen year old whose favorite artist is Neil Diamond.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Good point.”
I grinned as I tugged on some black jeans. “Your dad’s the one who got you into Neil Diamond, right? Will he invite him for a private concert at the White House?”
She gasped. “What an incredible idea! Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Might as well get something good out of him winning the election, right?” I yanked a form-fitting black shirt over my head and added a furry tiger-print vest. “Now that you’re hounded by the media and stuck with Secret Service for the rest of college.”
She harrumphed. “And Dane doesn’t have to be protected anymore.”
“Except when he’s with you and your agents.” I selected a necklace with black stones and small gold feathers that my father had given me.
“Yeah, he said I’m lucky he likes me so much or he’d never tolerate Secret Service following our every move.”
I smirked. Sounds like Dane. My long, black boots—my brother, Braxton, referred to them as my “bitch boots”—completed the ensemble.
“But at least he doesn’t have to deal with China anymore,” she added. “Those two are aceite y agua.”
As I exited my bedroom, I thought about Latin class and nodded. “Oil and water, sí. Where did China and Brad get reassigned?”
Lucia giggled. “To my brother Alejandro.” Her giggles grew into guffaws.
“Why’s that funny?”
“You think Dane’s pigheaded? You haven’t met Alex. He takes conflict with China to a whole new level. He’s so overprotective of me—it’s great to see him deal with being protected.”
I shrugged. He couldn’t be worse than my overprotective brother. I grabbed my phone and noticed again the unanswered voice mails, some of them from him. “Let’s do this.”
I just about drooled over Dane’s quick-set to Josh. With the ball hovering perfectly at the top of the net just waiting to be slammed, of course he made a kill. Point, Highbanks. Raucous cheers echoed through the arena, and I couldn’t help but smile at Lucia. “Thanks for bringing me here, Rez.”
She smiled back. “Bet you wish you had a setter like that, huh?”
“You read my mind. He’s amazing.” My shoulder bumped hers. “I bet you’re glad you do have a setter like that.”
She sighed. “He is amazing.”
I wanted to celebrate her happiness, but her look of bliss crushed me inside. I used to feel that way watching Jaylon wrestle—his impressive speed, glistening muscles, and steely determination filled me with pride every time. Now I’d never feel that way again.
Frank tapped Lucia’s shoulder. “I’m grabbing some coffee for Allison.” He gestured toward his blond Secret Service partner, who sat a couple of rows behind us. “Would you or Madison like anything?”
“I’m good.” Lucia looked at me with questioning eyes.
“I’m good, too.” He turned to leave but swiveled when I blurted, “Would you bring my boyfriend back?”
Frank’s eyes widened, and he shifted from one foot to another. “Um…”
“Relax, Frank,” I said. “Just making a joke.”
“Right.” He nodded. “Well, if he was stupid enough to leave, he doesn’t deserve you.” He turned toward the concession stand.
I shared a disbelieving look with Lucia. “Where did that come from?” I asked. “He’s so cool now. What happened?”
“Frank and I came to an understanding. Dad’s way too busy to worry about my love life, so Frank agreed to keep him in the dark about me and Dane.”
I was glad nothing would interfere with their romance now. Lucia couldn’t help it if her father was so Republican, and Dane was so Democrat. Things worked between her and Dane, and that’s what mattered.
The men’s coach, Phil, called a time out, and Dane looked up to wink at Lucia on his way to the huddle. His gaze floated to her left, and when his grin vanished, I turned to look. Was that China entering the arena?
Lucia must also have followed his gaze because she gasped. “Alex!”
Sure enough, Lucia’s older brother walked behind the brown-haired female agent. And another agent, Brad, lumbered behind them both.
I’d only seen Alejandro on TV, but his presence seemed magnified in real life. He was Jaylon’s height but probably weighed thirty pounds less. He moved like a panther, sleek and long in a black suit “dressed down” with no tie. His short black hair shone in the arena lights, and he appeared freshly shaven. Hot damn! He sure looked more suave than any college boy I’d encountered. Was that the typical dress for medical school at Johns Hopkins? Probably not. Something told me Alex did things his own way.
The agents veered off to say hello to Allison. As Alejandro approached, Lucia stood to hug him, shaking her head. “Hey, what’re you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
He smiled. “Hola, chica. Could we go somewhere to talk?”
She glanced at me. “I don’t want to leave Maddie. I dragged her here, so it’d be rude to abandon her.”
“So this is the famous Maddie.” When Alejandro reached across to shake my hand, his dark eyes burned into me. “I’ve seen you play, but it’s good to finally meet. I’ve heard great things about you.” His handshake was firm, but his hand was soft and warm, zinging a surprising thrill right through me. I realized that for at least a few moments, I hadn’t thought about Jaylon. He let go all too quickly.
His expression sobered as he looked back at Lucia. “I want to talk to you about something in private.”
She folded her arms across her chest as they both sat. “I already said no, thank you. I can’t right now.”
He frowned and squar
ed his shoulders. Then he leaned in to Lucia’s ear and spoke to her in Spanish. She bristled next to me.
“How dare you?” she hissed.
I leaned back. What had just changed my sweet Rez into a pissy hellcat?
“Told you I wanted to discuss this in private,” Alejandro said.
“You want to keep my sex life private?” Lucia railed.
Alejandro’s eyes widened and darted around the stands.
“Then you should butt the hell out of it!” Lucia had lowered her voice, but her tone was still vehement. “You’re my brother, not my dad.” She squeaked as her hand flew to her mouth. “Dad doesn’t know about me and Dane, does he?”
“Not yet.” Alex seemed nervous when he glanced at me. “And I won’t tell him, if you promise to stop immediately.”
She and I gasped at the same time. “This is none of your business! You can’t blackmail me.” Lucia’s voice shook, and I could tell she was close to tears. I scooped her hand in mine for support.
Alejandro blew out a breath, seeming to look for the right words. “I thought I knew you better than this, Lucy.”
I squirmed. Alex might be hot, but I wanted no part of this sibling squabble. “How ’bout I leave?”
“Please stay,” Lucia begged. “You’re the only one who understands.” She squeezed my hand and turned back to her brother. “Thought you knew me how, exactly?”
“I thought you’d follow the teachings of our parents and the church.”
“I do, but I also think for myself. This decision was a big deal, and I didn’t make it lightly.” She gulped and dipped her head, seeming mired in guilt. But then she sat up. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m an adult now.”
“Then act like it,” he said.
“I am, but you’re too busy judging me to see that. This is precisely why Matty and I don’t tell you anything, Alex. You’re such a pendejo.”
Alejandro maintained his stoic expression, but I could see the comment stung.
“I love you, Lucy,” he said, his voice strained. “I’m here to help.”
Aced (Blocked Book 2) Page 1