by Cotton, L A
“Now now, Prince, no one likes a show off.” He laughed, but I saw the tightness around his jaw. “We missed you Friday night.”
“I was busy.” I shirked out of his hold and stood cross-armed, vaguely aware of everyone around us starting to take notice.
“Too busy to hang with your new team?” He stared me dead in the eye. “It’s got me wondering, what was so important?”
“My girl,” I said without hesitation.
“You chose your girl over the game? Ouch.” He rubbed his cheek with the pad of his thumb.
“No.” I pulled to my full height, aware that he was drawing me in. Baiting me. “I chose my last night with my girl over some frat party.”
“Some frat party?” He swung out his arms making a spectacle of his reply. “Some frat party? Delta Pi isn’t just some frat party. It’s life. What is it?” He bellowed.
“LIFE.” The word echoed around the room as most of the guys began to chant ‘Delta Pi, Delta Pi.’
Zac ushered the crowd into silence and settled his narrowed gaze on me once more. “Delta Pi isn’t just some frat, Prince. It’s the frat, and if you want to play on my team, pledge or no pledge, it’ll be your frat too. You feel me?”
“Not going to happen. I came here to play basketball; that’s all.”
His eyes blazed fury, and I readied myself for his comeback, but Vinnie stepped up close and whispered something in his ear. Zac nodded and then addressed the room. “Enjoy the rest of the party, I have shit to take care of.” He started to leave but paused as he reached me. “And Prince... my team, my rules.” As he shouldered past me, I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to stay put.
With Zac gone, everyone went back to what they were doing before. But Jamie came up beside me and blew out a breath. “Whoa, that was intense. But I gotta ask, why’d you go up against him like that?”
“Are you kidding me? The guy is a dick. I’m here to play basketball. Nothing else.”
“But he’s Zac Lowell. Captain of the Steinbeck Scorpions and heir to the Lowell fortune.”
“And?” I went to a cooler and helped myself to a beer.
“You’re not like most guys, Prince.”
“That a good thing or a bad thing?”
Jamie regarded me then cracked a wide grin. “I haven’t decided yet, but watch your back with Zac. He’s not the kind of enemy you want or need.” But his warning was wasted on me because I had a feeling Zac Lowell had already marked my number. Which meant Coach Callahan was right about everything.
My year just got a whole lot harder.
“So, what’s your story?” I asked Jamie. I still hadn’t decided about him, but he knew things. About Zac Lowell and the hierarchy in the Scorpions. I figured until he gave me a reason not to trust him, he was someone worth knowing.
We were teammates after all.
From a quick glance around the room, it appeared everyone else was more interested in get wasted and getting laid than making a good impression.
“I hail from Arizona.”
“You’re a long way from home.”
He shrugged. “Couldn’t wait to get away. My old man wasn’t too happy I chose basketball over law school.”
“I know the feeling,” I grumbled at the memories. My piece-of-shit father. A man I would never talk to again.
A man who wanted to blackmail his own son into a future he didn’t want.
“Hey, man, you okay?” Jamie’s voice cut through the red mist descending over me and I nodded tightly.
“So why aren’t you over there?” I flicked my head to the group of guys taking shots from between a girl’s tits.
“It’s not really my scene. Besides, I have a girl back home.”
“Oh yeah?”
His face lit up. “Jenna. We’ve been dating for three years.”
“Childhood sweethearts, nice.”
“Something like that.” He stared off into the distance, lost to his own memories, and silence settled between us. “She’s great but she’s small-town. Didn’t want to leave her parents.”
“And yet, here you are.”
“SU is my shot at playing college basketball. And I needed out of that damn town.” Jamie raked a hand over his head and let out a shaky breath. But then his smile slid back into place and he said, “It’s a story for another day. Hey, now Zac has gone, do you want to get out of here?”
My brows pinched, and he laughed. “It sounded a lot worse than I intended. There’s a coffee shop on campus that stays open late. If you’re in?”
I scanned the room again. Everyone was half cut, laughing and joking. Guys pawed over half-naked girls. “Let’s go.”
I didn’t even like coffee, but it was a damn sight more appealing than staying here.
WAKING UP WITHOUT LO beside me sucked ass. But waking up without Lo beside me and knowing we weren’t on good terms, made me want to beat the shit out of something. I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, curling and uncurling my fist. Pre-Lo, I’d have gone straight to the warehouse and taken my frustrations out on some faceless meathead. But I wasn’t that guy now. I didn’t use my fists to solve my problems. So it was ironic the reason I quit all that was the reason I woke up ready to kill.
Kicking back the cover, I swung my legs over the bed and sat up and checked my cell. Nothing. No text. No missed calls. Lo was ignoring me. I didn’t blame her. I would have lost my shit if I’d have called her up to find out she was at some party without telling me. It wasn’t about not trusting her. I trusted her. I just didn’t trust drunken idiots to keep their hands to themselves. I knew drunken idiots—hell, I’d been one before now. So yeah, Lo’s silent treatment was justified. It just didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
I snatched my cell up and sent her another text.
Me: Waking up alone sucks
When she didn’t reply, I pulled on my shorts and padded into the bathroom. She couldn’t ignore me forever. Lo needed me the way I needed her. Like I needed oxygen. Maybe it was unhealthy, the way we’d become so dependent on one another over the summer, but we were a product of our pasts. The secrets and lies and pain we harbored.
Splashing water over my face, I stared back at myself. Last night, after the party, I’d gone to the campus coffee shop with Jamie and we’d talked some more about Lo and Jenna, about our lives back home. The more I knew about him, the more I liked him. Plus something told me, with Zac gunning for me, I needed allies. Friends, even. My cell vibrated but when I jogged inside to grab it hoping it was Lo, I was disappointed to see my stepbrother’s name flash across the screen.
“What?”
“Is that any way to greet your brother?”
“Stepbrother.” I reminded him.
“Ah, you say po-tate-o, I say po-tart-o.”
“Did you call for a reason?”
“Someone got up on the wrong side of bed. How’s college life?” He sounded far too chirpy for eight-forty on a Tuesday morning.
“I’ve been here for three days. It’s hardly enough time to make a qualified opinion.”
“True, but I heard there was a party.”
“She told you?” Not that I was surprised. Lo and Kyle were tight.
“I was there when she called you. Dick move not telling her, dude.”
“It wasn’t like that.” I dragged a hand down my face. “Zac Lowell—”
“The guy Coach Callahan warned you about?” All the humor disappeared from Kyle’s voice.
“Yeah. He’s on some power trip. Jamie, a guy from the team who's staying in my dorm mentioned some hazing bullshit.”
“No shit. What will you do?”
“I haven’t figured it out yet, but I don’t want to give Zac a reason to come after me. Not any more than he already has.”
“Watch your back, Rick. We all know jealousy is a powerful motivator, and you’re the best player the Scorpions have now.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I said flatly, and he scoffed.
/> “Don’t I?”
“Anyway, what’s happening back home? Is she...” I swallowed. “Okay?”
“Lo’s Lo. You know how she gets. But things are rough at the house. She hasn’t said much but I can tell it’s killing her having Stella and Beth there.”
“Yeah, I thought it would.” We all did. Deep down, even Uncle Rob knew what it would do to his daughter, but Stella and Beth were going to end up homeless thanks to her piece-of-shit ex. It wasn’t like he really had a choice. But Lo didn’t quite see it that way. Not when things were still so raw.
Silence echoed over the line. Kyle cared for Lo almost as much as I did and we both knew her new living arrangements could tip her over the edge.
“You’ll look out for her?”
“As if you even have to ask. If things get too much, she can stay with Laurie or at the pool house.”
“She won’t. Not while I’m not there.” I’d already asked her.
“Don’t be so sure.”
I didn’t like Kyle’s tone. I didn’t like anything about this situation but there wasn’t much I could do when I was here, and she was there. Changing the subject, I said, “Did she tell you anything about the job she was going to apply for?”
“Oh come on, Rick. Don’t do that. Don’t put me in the middle.” He sounded panicked. Too fucking panicked.
“Stone, start talking.”
“You should speak to Lo first.”
“I would if she’d fucking answer my messages. But you’re here now and you know something, I know you do.”
“It would be better coming from Lo.”
“Stone, if you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, I swear to God, I’ll get in my car, drive home and beat the living shit out of you.”
“Geez, keep your panties on, Prince. I’ll tell you... on one condition.”
“What?”
“You don’t do anything stupid.”
“Fine.”
“Promise me. I need you to promise, Rick.” His voice was dead serious, and I grumbled.
“I promise.”
“Shit, she’s going to kill me if she finds—”
“Stone,” I growled.
“Fine. She got a job at that sports bar on Sunset Drive.”
“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I don’t think I heard you correctly because it sounded like you said my girlfriend’s going to be working in a sports bar.”
“They serve food.”
“And that’s supposed to make it better? What the fuck is she thinking?”
“She’s desperate, Rick. You left. Me and Laurie have major plans for after graduation. Stella and Beth are a reality now. Her life is imploding. A job gives her some stability. An escape. It’s a good thing.”
When he put it like that... but, a sports bar?
“She couldn’t have just gotten a job in a coffee shop?” I mumbled under my breath and Kyle chuckled.
“If it’s any consolation she tried like three places before calling Hitters.”
“I really don’t like this, Stone,” I admitted.
“Yeah, I don’t either. But we don’t have to like it, we just have to live with it.”
Easy for him to say. It wasn’t his girl working there.
“Thanks, for telling me.”
“Just go easy on her, okay? She doesn’t need you going all possessive unhinged boyfriend on her.”
“I am not possessive.”
“Whatever you say, Prince. Listen, I have to go. Keep your cool, okay? And don’t let that douche canoe Lowell get to you. You can’t afford to screw things up. SU is your ticket to the NBA.”
“Good chat, Coach,” I mocked. “I’ll text you later.”
“Yeah, okay.” He paused a beat. “And Rick?”
“Yeah?”
“You promised, no crazy.”
“You should know better than to trust a Prince,” I said, and hung up before Kyle could get another word in. We both knew remaining calm wasn’t my strong suit. And when you thought about it, any stupid decisions I was about to make, were his fault for telling me the truth. Kyle knew better.
But then, so did I.
The difference was, I just didn’t give a shit.
Chapter 6
Lo
“SO I PUT THE ORDERS over there?” I flicked my head to the service counter and Gus nodded.
“You got it. Open orders go here.” He pointed to the row of tickets. “Once you collect an order, tickets go on that pile.”
“Got it. And I have tables one thru five?”
“That’s right. Once you’ve found your feet, you’ll get a bigger section, but I don’t want to scare you off on your first proper shift.”
I smiled, running my hands down my black and red trim apron. It was only waiting tables, but I felt oddly excited at spending the next four hours on my feet. Hopefully it would be busy enough to keep my mind off other things. Like Dad and Stella... and Maverick.
He’d tried to call me this morning, but I’d ignored him. Part of me didn’t want to hear all about his first college party and the other part didn’t want to fess up about my new job. Kyle was going to kill me when he found out I still hadn’t told Maverick. I would do it eventually, but for now I was just a regular eighteen-year-old enjoying her first shift at work.
“It’s usually slow until about five and then we get a rush, but Sarah will show you the ropes. She should be here any minute. And Liam works the bar for me most nights. Ah, speak of the devil.”
The door marked private swung open and a guy carrying a crate entered the room.
“Liam, put those down and get over here to meet our new server.”
He gave Gus a little nod, his eyes passing right over me.
“Today, Liam, not tomorrow or next week.”
“Chill, old man, I’m coming.” He stalked over to us, raking a hand through dark brown hair. “Hey, I’m Liam.”
“I already told her that. This is Lo. She’s going to be working a couple of evenings for us.”
“And a weekend,” the guy said flatly.
“And a weekend,” Gus confirmed. “You know everyone takes their turn.”
“Some more than others.” He grumbled, dragging his thumb over his mouth. “Well, this has been a hoot and all, but I have shit to do. Lo, you need anything just holler, okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.” I watched him go back to the bar and start unpacking the crate. I don’t know if it was his height, or his dark hair and bright blue eyes, but Liam reminded me of my brother, Elliot. Not enough to freak me out or send me into a tailspin but enough to make my heart flutter at both the loss and the memories.
“All set then?” Gus’s gravelly voice was like a bucket of ice water.
“Hmm, yeah. I think so.” How hard could it be taking orders and delivering plates of burgers and fries to people?
“Great, you’re going to do fine. Just remember, take the order, pin it to the service hatch, and ring it through at the end.”
“Got it.”
“Good because Sarah’s late and your first table just walked in.” He pointed toward the door with a reassuring grin plastered over his face. “Knock ‘em dead, Lo.”
I UNTIED MY APRON AND folded it into a neat little square. “All done.” I approached Sarah.
“You did good tonight.” She smiled as she wiped down a table. “You’re a natural with the customers and you didn’t miss a beat with the orders.”
“Thanks.” I ducked my head feeling a warm glow at her kind words. It hadn’t quite been the walk in the park I expected. Once the place filled up, I was covering five tables. But I managed to keep on top of things, and Sarah had been on hand when things got too confusing.
“Are you okay getting home?”
“I’ll be fine.” It was only a twenty-minute walk back to the house and it was still light out.
She nodded. “I think Gus has you on the rota for Thursday.”
“Yes, I’ll see you then?”
�
�Sure thing. Now go, get out of here.”
Sarah flung her towel at me and I caught it, dropping it onto the table next to me. “Bye.”
I gave Liam a little wave, and he saluted before going back to whatever it was he was doing behind the bar. Looping my bag over my neck, I left Hitters with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.
“Maverick?” I gasped at the sight of my boyfriend leaning against the hood of his car. “What are you—”
He stalked toward me, buried his hands in my hair, and kissed me. Deep and slow and full of unspoken promises. Our tongues tangled together as he guided me against the side of his car, pressing into me, showing me just how much he’d missed me.
“Maverick,” I murmured, curling my hands into his t-shirt.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he breathed between kisses.
When he finally pulled away and stared down at me with those dark intense eyes of his, my mind cleared. “Why are you here?” I arched a brow. Although I wanted to believe it was because he missed me and just had to see me, there was something else glittering behind his heavy stare.
“I missed you,” he repeated.
“Maverick...”
His walls slammed up and he narrowed his eyes. I let out a weary sigh, able to see straight through him. “Kyle told you, didn’t he?”
“It should have come from you.” He gave me a pointed look I felt all the way down to the pit of my stomach.
“That’s not fair.” I stepped back, running a hand through my hair. “I called last night to tell you and you were—”
“Shit, I know.” He tilted his face skyward and let out a long sigh. “This, me being away, it’s harder than I thought it would be.” When his eyes met mine again, my shoulders relaxed, the annoyance ebbing away.
“I know. We both need to give it time.” I slid my fingers through his belt loops, pulling us together. “And we both need to relax a little. I can’t freak out every time you go to a party and you can’t freak out about me working here.”
He stiffened, but I yanked harder. “Maverick.”
“I won’t pretend to like it, because I don’t.” His dark gaze flicked behind us to Hitters. “But I trust you, Lo, and I know you need this.”