by Cotton, L A
“How is she?”
“Bro,” he chuckled. “You’ve got to lighten up. It’s been ten days. She’s okay. There was an incident with a certain mega-bitch who shall not be named but don’t worry, I cut that shit down before it got started.”
“Caitlin went after her?”
“Not really but she tried to cuddle up to Lonnie. I figure she’s looking for a way to position herself in Lo’s life. I guess being a thorn in her side isn’t enough, she wants to be poison ivy.”
“Sometimes, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I admitted, and he laughed.
“Look, Prince. Lo is Lo. Is she hurting? Yes. Is she pissed you left her? Yes. But that doesn’t mean she wants you doing whatever it is you’re doing right now.”
“She’s pissed I left?”
“Yes. No,” he stuttered and then let out a heavy sigh. “Look, she’s not pissed at you, she’s pissed at the situation. Are you telling me if roles were reversed you wouldn’t be the same?”
Well, when he put it like that. I didn’t reply, and he added, “Hell, I’m pissed at you for leaving. How the fuck am I supposed to keep three of them out of trouble? It’s bad enough having to keep tabs on Kiera. Let alone Lo, too.”
“And how is that?”
“Don’t ask. Can you believe she went and sat with Nick’s friend Jack at lunch?”
“The guy with the beard?” I’d seen him around with Summer and Nick a few times over summer. He was quiet. Unassuming. But I knew exactly where Kyle was coming from. The idea of any guy near Summer had taken some getting used to, and while I could stand to be around her and Nick now, I still preferred to not think about them together. Alone. Doing things no brother needed to think about his baby sister doing.
“That’s the one. I mean, what sixteen-year-old grows a beard?”
“The one your sister had lunch with?” I smirked, biting back the urge to laugh.
“Jesus, these girls will be the death of me, Rick, I swear. It’s only the first day back and I feel mentally exhausted.”
“Suck it up, Stone. You’re the man of the house now.” It was supposed to be a joke but the truth in my words hit me square in the chest.
“I’ll be gray come winter formal. I wouldn’t change it though, you know. Me and Laurie. Lo. Even Kiera. I know things are changing but things feel right, you know?”
“Yeah.” They didn’t. But I didn’t want to dampen Kyle’s mood. At least one of us was in a good place.
We talked more about school and the girls. Kyle and Laurie were all set to apply to USC. Mrs. Davison was supportive but Mr. Davison was taking more convincing. It wouldn’t take Kyle long to wear him down though. Before we hung up, I asked him another question.
“How’s Mace?”
“You mean when she’s around?” Kyle let out a heavy sigh.
“Keep an eye on her for me. I know she’s been a bitch to Lo, but she’s hurting too.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll add Macey the ice queen to my growing list of girls to keep my eye on.”
“Stone,” I said softly.
“Keep your panties on, Prince. I got you covered.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Macey had shut me out. Ever since the truth came out about Mom, and I chose Lo over our father, things had changed. And while part of me got it, part of me wished she could let go. Alec Prince was toxic, and I was glad he was out of our life. But Macey felt betrayed by everyone. Mom. Me. Even Alec. I’d always been able to reach her on some sibling-level, but not anymore. Now her walls were firmly up and reinforced with bullet-proof steel.
We said goodbye and hung up. I was supposed to be meeting Jamie and Darnell later. They wanted me to check out the gym with them. I’d been putting it off because places like that usually came with a whole heap of testosterone I wasn't sure I was ready to deal with. But I couldn’t hole up in my dorm room forever. Besides, I needed to burn off some of the tension radiating through me. Zac Lowell wasn’t going away, and I wasn’t going to hide away like a pussy. Padding across my room, I grabbed my gym gear, slung it in a bag, and headed for the gym. At least, I might get to pound the shit out of a bag.
All while pretending it was his face.
“STILL NOTHING?” DARNELL spotted me as I lowered the bench down toward my chest. My muscles locked, humming with exertion as I focused on my inhales and exhales, the slight twinge of pain and resistance fueling the fire in my stomach.
“Nah,” I rasped out as I made the push back up, my biceps and triceps quaking under the pressure.
“Go on, you’ve got it,” Darnell’s hands hovered ready to take the weight if needed, but on one long exhale I extended my arms and the bar fell into place on its rack.
“I don’t like it.” He went back to talk of Zac and the punishment he’d yet to inform me and Kawinski of.
I sat up, grabbed a towel and wiped my face. “It’ll come when we least expect it; I have no doubt.”
“I still don’t get it, man. Why didn’t you just answer the test?”
“I had my reasons,” I said as I kicked my leg over the bench and stood up, slinging the towel around my neck.
SU’s gym hadn’t turned out to be all that bad. There were a handful of guys working out. But so far, no one from the team had showed up.
“What do you think will happen later?”
“At the team meeting?” I shrugged. “Beats me.”
The season didn’t kick off until late November, which meant pre-season practice commenced in four weeks’ time, but a meeting had been called later for the team.
“He’ll probably sit with his tail between his legs like a good little lap dog,” Jamie piped up.
Me and Darnell both howled with laughter until the door swung open and Vinnie and Balor walked in.
“Boys,” Balor said as they went to the free weights in the corner of the room.
“That was a dumb move, Prince,” Vinnie picked up two dumbbells and started doing reps.
“What’s it got to do with you?” I levelled him with a hard look. It was one thing for Zac to exert his power over us, but Vinnie was just his lackey. I’d seen the way they interacted. They were just as scared of him as the rest of us.
“We’re not your enemies, Prince. You should remember that,” he said cryptically before turning his back on us.
Darnell threw me a questioning look, but I shook my head. Now was not the time or the place. As far as I was concerned, any friend of Zac Lowell was an enemy of mine.
“Come on, let’s get out of here. It suddenly feels a little overcrowded,” Darnell made no attempts to lower his voice which surprised me. He’d been so eager to follow the rules. But I got the sense it didn’t come naturally for him. Just as it didn’t for me.
The three of us stalked out of the gym and into the locker room. Jamie went straight for a shower, but I dropped down onto one of the benches and leaned my head back.
“It’ll get easier,” Darnell said across from me.
“Will it?”
“I’ve known people like him my whole life. They thrive on fear, on power. But you’re not scared. So he can’t get to you that way.”
“It isn’t going to stop him coming after me.” I lowered my head and looked him dead in the eye. “It’s personal for him.”
“Because you’re a threat to him. You have what he doesn’t, Maverick. You were born to play.”
I dragged a hand down my face letting Darnell’s words sink in. It was true; I was one of the best. It wasn’t conceited, and I wasn’t blowing smoke. It was fact. But I hadn’t even had chance to prove myself yet. I knew with the right guidance from Coach Baxter and a chance to work with the team, I could help improve their stats. It was one of the reasons SU offered me a place.
“You’re a fighter, I see that about you,” he went on. “But you have to fight this thing a different way.” He was talking in riddles and my pulse began to thud against my skull.
“You have to—” I started, but a group of guys filed
into the room, their laughter dying down when they spotted the two of us.
“Hey,” one said, and I replied, “Hey.”
Darnell wasn’t done. He wanted to hash out this thing, but I was done for now. I grabbed my wash bag and a clean towel and headed for the row of showers. Talking about it didn’t change anything. Zac Lowell had an agenda, and something told me he wouldn’t give up until he got whatever it was he wanted.
“SHIT, SORRY.” I GLANCED back at the girl I’d almost mown down.
“Don’t worry about it, big guy,” she purred. I did a double take, there was something fam—shit, it was Dana, the girl from the party at the Delta Pi house last week. I narrowed my eyes, inclining my head slightly, and she smirked.
My pocket started vibrating, and I pulled out my cell phone and kept on walking. Dana reminded me of Caitlin Holloway—the kind of girl you stayed far, far away from.
“Hey,” Lo rushed out. “I’m sorry I missed your call this morning. Beth had a pre-school meltdown, and it took me and Stella to talk her out of it.”
“You and Stella, huh?”
“Don’t,” she clipped. “I’m trying, I really am. But sometimes I feel like the walls are closing in and I can’t breathe.”
“But Beth’s okay?”
“Yeah, some kids are being mean to her about the move.”
“Guess you’re not the only one finding it hard then.” It was supposed to sound accusatory but Lo went silent. “Lo?”
“Yeah, I’m here. How’s your day?” She changed the subject.
“My eyes hurt, and my head is pounding, but I survived. Intro to Sports Management was interesting, but Sports Psych is going to be tough. I struggled to keep up with my notes.”
“It’s okay to ask for help, Maverick.”
“I’ll be fine. Listen, I checked, and this weekend is looking free. I thought we could—”
“Oh, I have to work. I’m sorry.”
“All weekend?”
“It’s my week to work a Saturday and Gus asked me to cover Sunday lunchtime.”
“Oh, okay.” Shit. Was this how it was going to be now?
“Maverick, I’m—”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s work, you have to do it. Maybe I can drive down and we can spend a few hours together before your shift starts Saturday?”
“Yeah, maybe. Listen, I have to get to class and Mr. Decker does not appreciate tardiness.”
“You’ve got Decker for English? Good luck with that.” The old guy was a stickler for the rules.
“I’ve really got to go. I’ll text you later.”
We said goodbye and hung up, and I blew out a frustrated breath. I’d known it would be hard being away from Lo, but I’d underestimated just how much. I was so used to seeing her, waking next to her. Falling to sleep with her wrapped in my arms. Maybe it made me a pussy, but I missed not having her around to talk to about the little things.
“Yo, Prince.” Jamie spotted me and made his way over. “What’s doing?”
“Nothing, just about to head to my next class.”
He leaned over and checked out the schedule in my hands. “Sports Marketing?
“Yeah.”
“Well then, let’s go.”
“Wait, you’re taking that class?”
“Sure am.”
“How did I not know that?”
He shrugged. “I guess it never came up.” But I read between the lines.
I hadn’t asked.
Well, that made me feel like a royal dick.
“I’m sorry, man. I never—”
“It’s all good. At least we won’t be walking into the lion’s den alone. I’ve heard Professor Ellis can be brutal.”
Fuck. That was all I needed.
“Don’t sweat it,” Jamie said noticing my deep frown. “I just so happen to be an excellent note-taker. Come on.” He set off toward the room and I followed, shaking my head at the strange turn of events.
Jamie wasn’t someone I’d have picked out of a crowd to befriend. But thank fuck, we’d found each other. Because Lo was right. I needed friends.
Jamie and Darnell had already made being away from home—from Lo—that bit easier.
Chapter 16
Lo
I HARDLY SPOKE TO MAVERICK all week. After our rushed conversation on Tuesday between classes, it became a pattern of missing one another. He had classes. I had classes. I had to work at the bar. He had team stuff. Maverick explained pre-season practice wouldn’t officially start until the last weekend in September, but the team still needed to train. There were open gym sessions and conditioning training. Not to mention mandatory ‘team bonding’ activities. By the sounds of it, Zac Lowell had his claws hooked in the new players good. Even Maverick.
I hated it.
It was a game the new players were forced into. One that Maverick had no choice but to play if he wanted an easy life at SU. But just because I understood it, didn’t mean I had to like it.
“What the hell is that?” Kyle narrowed his eyes as I entered the Stone-Prince kitchen.
“Hmm, it’s called a dress.”
“Yeah, I know what it’s called; I just want to know where the rest of it is?”
I looked down, my brows pinching with irritation. “Kyle, there is nothing wrong with my dress.”
“It’s practically indecent. Can’t you change? Or put on some pants? Yes, pants would be a good idea.” He gave me a serious look, and I rolled my eyes.
“Seriously, you need to lighten up. It isn’t even micro-mini.”
“It’s micro something, alright.” He covered his eyes. “I can’t look at you all night in that thing. Take it off.”
“But then I’d be nake—”
“Cous, you’re pushing a very fine line right now. I don’t want to have to call Rick, but I’ll do it. If you push me, I’ll do it.”
“You are such a twat at times,” I snapped. How dare he throw the boyfriend card at me. Especially given my current mood.
Kyle’s hands went down, and he glared at me. “Take that back.”
“What? It’s true.” I shrugged. “You’re being completely unreasonable and threatening to call Maverick? Not cool, Cous.”
“Fine. Fine!” Kyle folded his arms over his shoulders. “Wear your dress, see if I care. Just don’t come calling for help when you’re trying to fight off the vultures later.”
It wasn’t unusual for him to lose his cool about my wardrobe choices, but this seemed over the top.
“Is everything okay, you’re acting extra testy?” I asked just as voices filtered down the hallway.
“We’re here,” Laurie’s voice sang and then she appeared, wearing a dress not too dissimilar to mine. Except hers was bright pink and mine was black.
But it wasn’t Laurie’s outfit that was the showstopper. Kiera stood next to her, barely recognisable in a denim mini with a sparkly black halter-top and black chucks, with enough smoky eyeliner to make me look twice.
“Oh, hell no!” Kyle growled stomping over to his sister. “There is no way in hell I am taking you anywhere looking like that.”
“Kyle Stone.” Laurie stepped in front of Kiera. “Don’t you dare talk to her like that. Kiera looks pretty and you’re being a complete dick right now.”
“Don’t worry, Kiera,” I added. “He didn’t approve of my outfit either.”
“What?” Laurie gasped, glancing me up and down. “You look hot, what’s the problem?”
“That.” Kyle stared his girlfriend down. “That’s the problem. I don’t want her to look hot. She needs to look off-limits. I want her to wear a t-shirt that says, ‘I belong to Maverick Prince’ so it means I won’t have to spend the night fighting my teammates.”
Kiera snickered but clamped her lips together when Kyle craned his neck around Laurie’s shoulder. “And you? Don’t even get me started on you. Your mom would kill me if she knew I was taking you to a party looking like that.”
“Our mom.”
&nb
sp; “What?” Kyle frowned.
“You said ‘your mom’ but she’s our mom, Kyle.” Her brows pinched, the color draining from her face.
“Kiera, I didn’t mean—”
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll wait outside.” She spun around and left.
“Way to go, big brother.” Laurie smacked him upside the head and Kyle yelped like a little girl.
“Babe, come on. She’s barely sixteen. Couldn’t you have made her wear pants and a sweater?”
“Get over yourself. She’s the same age as Summer and you don’t lose your cool every time Nick picks her up in his Chevy.”
“No, because Rick scared the living shit out of Nick. He knows the deal. He’s a dead guy if he so much as hurts a hair on her—”
“Are you actually listening to yourself?” Her voice was louder now as she got all up in his face. “You sound completely deranged. Tell him, Lo, tell him how unreasonable he sounds.”
“I’m going to check on Kiera.” I shot Laurie an apologetic smile and left them to it. Kyle was acting extra-douchey lately, but something told me it was just his way of coping with Maverick being gone. He’d inherited a new sister, had a cousin moping over her absent boyfriend, and a team he was expected to guide to the state championship. We probably needed to cut him a little slack.
“Hey.” I found Kiera outside, sitting on the wall picking the hem of the halter top I suspected Laurie had bought her because I’d never seen her in anything so... girly.
“He’s been different since I started school.” She refused to look at me.
“He’s adjusting.” I took the seat beside her. “There have been a lot of changes, for all of us.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have let Laurie talk me into it. But then I thought, why not? I’ve never been to a party before, well not like the way you guys do parties.” She sounded so dejected, it hurt my heart. I remembered all too easily what it felt like to find out you belonged to a new family. A family with everything you didn’t have, had never experienced.
It was a lot to get used to.
“Listen.” Shuffling closer, I nudged her shoulder. “Can I tell you something?”