by Cotton, L A
“I took Kawinski’s place the other night because I get it. You need to show everyone who’s boss, me included.”
Zac scooted forward, reaching for his beer. He snagged it to him and ran his thumb over the rim. “What game are you playing, Prince?”
I held up my hands. “No game, I swear. I’m here for one thing and one thing only, to play basketball.”
He inclined his head, studying me. His eyes searched my face for any sign of the lies I had locked away so tightly not even Kyle knew what I planned to do. “The other night was only a taster of how bad things can get for anyone who steps out of line.”
“Understood.”
“This doesn’t make us friends. This doesn’t even make us teammates. Not until you prove yourself. But it takes balls to walk in here after getting your ass handed to you.” He took a long pull on his beer. “I gotta say, Prince, I’m impressed. I expected a little more fight from you.”
“I’m not looking for a war.”
“Good because I’m the general around here. People have tried, sure, but it’s always them lying bloody and broken on the battlefield at the end.”
He was deluded.
Zac Lowell had either had one too many bangs to the head or he was narcissistic enough to believe every word coming out of his mouth.
“Well, I’m here waving my white flag.” The words were like sandpaper in my throat, but this was my only shot at getting Zac off my back.
“Noted,” was all he said. But I saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes. Zac had underestimated me. Maybe I’d even underestimated myself. I had Lo to thank for that. She saw a better me. She always had.
I gave him a tight nod and stood up. “I guess I’ll see you in the gym tomorrow.” Moving to the stairs, his voice stopped me.
“Prince?”
“Yeah?” Blood pounded between my ears. Part of me wanted to run. To get out of here before it was too late. But this was the plan. So when he said, “Stick around, have a beer.” I sat back down and forced a half-smile in his direction.
“Sure, that sounds good.”
JAMIE AND DARNELL WERE waiting for me when I left the dorm building the next morning. Darnell’s hard eyes skated over my face. “It’s looking better.”
“Dude,” Jamie chimed in. “He looks like he was jumped by a group of ninjas.”
We both frowned at that as we made our way toward the student union.
“It feels better than it looks.” I had a deep purple bruise around my eye, making the other bruise from the paintball night look like child’s play. The cut on my lip looked angry still but the majority of the damage was hidden beneath my Laker’s jersey.
“I hear Kawinski is MIA.”
“What?” I grabbed Jamie’s arm and yanked him back. “He left?”
He shrugged. “Just telling you what I heard. We all called it. Sam isn’t cut out for this, man.”
“But it hasn’t even been a month. He didn’t give it a chance.”
“He pissed himself in a fake test. Let Zac and his guys dress him in an overgrown diaper and then watched you get the crap beaten out of you in his place.” Jamie paused. “And I heard he puked all over his roommate.”
“That’s fucking messed up,” Darnell added, casting me a sideways glance. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“He can’t just leave. That’s letting Zac win. It’s letting him—” I don’t know why I cared so much. Kawinski was no one to me. I’d barely said two words to the guy. But I didn’t stand in that basement and let Vinnie drive his fist into me over and over just so he could quit.
“Maybe he’ll come back,” Jamie said, and I didn’t miss the questioning look he threw in Darnell’s direction.
“Yeah, maybe.” I hitched my bag up my shoulder and started moving again.
“Anyway, I heard something interesting last night,” Darnell’s voice was thick with accusation and I grumbled under my breath. “Anything you want to tell us, Maverick?”
“Huh?” Jamie looked to me and I rolled my lips together. “What did you hear, D?”
“I heard that a certain Prince was over at Delta Pi house yesterday hanging out with Zac and his guys.”
“Darnell, come on,” I said, hoping to end the conversation.
“Is it true?”
“I was over there, yeah.”
“Shit, Maverick,” Jamie hissed. “Do you have a death wish? What happened? What did you say?”
Cutting in front of them, I stopped them in their tracks. “Just trust me, okay? Whatever you hear, whatever you see, I’m still me. You know me, you know who I am. Don’t forget that.”
Darnell’s eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
“I’m not bringing you into this, man. It’s my fight. Mine, okay?”
“I don’t like this.”
“You don’t have to like it. You just have to promise me you won’t get in the way.” He looked ready to protest but my cell phone started blaring Imagine Dragons. I slid it out my pocket and glanced at the name flashing across the screen. “I need to take this. But I’ll catch you two at lunch? I think I get out of Sports Psych at twelve.”
“Yeah, okay,” he said, not looking pleased that I was running out on them before he had a chance to make me explain myself.
“Maverick?” Mom’s voice came over the line.
“Mom? What’s up?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” she said with a hint of annoyance.
“Hmm, am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”
“I overheard Kyle telling Laurie he and Lo came to see you Friday night. They were supposed to be at a party.”
I was going to tear my stepbrother a new one.
“I wanted to see Lo. Kyle drove her up.”
“You need to stop this, Maverick.” Her voice softened. “I know the two of you have a special bond but Lo needs to focus on her senior year and you need to focus on settling in at college. You have classes to think about and the team.”
If only she knew.
But she couldn’t, so I said, “I know, Mom. It’s just been hard is all. But you’re right. In fact, Lo and I talked things over at the weekend.” I lied. But it wasn’t like my mom would call up Lo and ask her. Hell, I was surprised she was calling me now.
“You did? That’s great, sweetheart. A little distance never hurt anyone. It’ll make the time you do spend together all the more special.”
“Okay, Mom, good talk, but I really need to get to class.”
“Of course, I’m sorry. I love you, Maverick. I know it sounds like I’m interfering but that’s not what this is. I just care. About both of you. And you worked too hard to jeopardize this.”
“Yeah, got it. Now I really need to—”
“Okay, sorry. Bye.” She hung up, and I found Kyle’s number.
Me: You need to learn to be discreet. Look it up!
Kyle: What the hell, man?
Me: I just had mom on the phone... she overheard you telling Laurie about Friday night. Luckily just that you brought Lo over.
Kyle: Shit, Rick. I swear, I didn’t know. Although she’s been acting extra interested. In all our shit. I think she misses you.
Me: Just try not to give her any more excuses to worry... yeah?
Kyle: Sure. How’s things anyway?
Me: Just keep an eye on Lo for me, okay?
Kyle: Why does that sound like code for: things are about to go to shit?
Me: Just promise me.
Kyle: I promise. But don’t forget, Rick... you made promises too.
Silencing my cell, I shoved it back in my pocket and made my way to class. I didn’t want to alienate Kyle, but I didn’t want him to worry unnecessarily either. In some ways, Mom’s phone call, although it bugged the shit out of me, had come at the right time. If she thought me and Lo needed to focus on our stuff more, chances were all the adults did. That could work in my favor over the coming weeks.
Fuck.
What was I
doing?
Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea. Zac was a senior. Next year, he’d be gone. His rule over the team no more. I could lay low, avoid his bullshit as much as possible, and turn a blind eye to his treatment of the freshmen players.
Who was I kidding?
There was more chance of hell freezing over.
I might not have wanted to go to war with Zac, but I could fight the good fight. Everyone had an Achilles heel. You just had to find it. And something told me the best place to start was in Zac’s inner circle.
Chapter 20
Lo
“HERE SHE IS,” LIAM grinned as I made my way over. It was only my fourth week working at the bar, but I already felt at home. I’d covered the last two weekends for Gus since Maverick had team stuff and being at the bar beat moping around at home.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Look around,” he laughed. “The place is buzzing.”
“The rush will come.” It always did.
“So are we going to talk about the fact your boyfriend is Maverick Prince or are we going to continue pretending otherwise?”
The question caught me off guard and my mouth bobbed open like a fish out of water.
Liam inclined his head. “You should see your face right now.”
“I’m...” I cleared my throat, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Well,” he urged. “Is it true?”
“Yeah but...”
“But?”
“This is weird.” It had been almost a month and Liam had never said anything, and honestly, I kind of liked being just Lo. Not Maverick Prince’s girlfriend.
“You never said anything?”
“I didn’t know I needed to. My private life is just that, Liam. Private.” I regretted the defensive edge to my voice but this whole thing was weird. I hadn’t had to defend my relationship with Maverick in months.
“Whoa.” He threw up his hands. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just visited a friend at the weekend. She goes to SU.”
No shit. Now things made a little more sense.
“She knows Maverick?” Jealousy prickled in my chest. Irrational, yes, but there all the same.
“Nah, but he’s big news on campus. I don’t pay attention to schoolyard gossip, Lo. But apparently, she does. She mentioned his British girl from the Bay and I put two and two together.”
“Wonderful,” I grumbled, turning away from him and staring out at the bar.
“Hey.” His voice was softer. “I’m sorry, I was a jerk. If it’s any consolation, you did good. I heard he’s quite the catch.”
My lip quirked up and I stifled a laugh.
“Aww, she smiles.” Liam pressed. “Come on, talk to me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Turning slowly, I nodded. Liam had become a good friend. The three of us—me, him, and Sarah—had a lot of fun. I’d even met the two of them one night for milkshakes.
“You really haven’t heard the rumors?”
Last year, I’d been the talk of the town. All thanks to Caitlin Holloway and her jealous streak and sharp claws.
“Lo, like I already said, I’m a little old for high school gossip.”
“You’re twenty-two. Hardly ancient.”
He pushed his sandy blond hair out of his eyes. “Anyway, even if I had heard any rumors, I always prefer to know the truth.”
I heaved a sigh. “Maverick is my step-cousin. When I moved to Wicked Bay we stayed with his family. My dad’s brother and his wife. The Stone-Princes. You may or may not have heard of them.”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “Was it lust at first sight?”
It should have felt weird talking to Liam about this, but strangely it didn’t. It was nice for someone to have no pre-conceived ideas about the situation. Not that I cared what he thought. Not really. But he was probably the first I’d talked to about this who didn’t know some version of the story.
“It’s complicated. We met the summer before when I was visiting. But we didn’t know who we were to one another. We, erm, kissed.” Colour burst in my cheeks and I bit back the rest of that story. “So when I showed up in his kitchen a year later, it was—”
“Fate?”
“Awkward.”
“I can imagine. So you’ve been dating for a while?”
Dating didn’t really begin to cover mine and Maverick’s relationship, but I didn’t correct him.
“Officially, we’ve been together a year at Christmas.”
“And unofficially?”
I bit my lip, and he shook his head and then we both laughed. “Hey,” he said. “Maybe we can ride up together one time? I can visit Mya and you can visit Maverick. We could even hang out?”
“Yeah, maybe.” I lied. I couldn’t see that happening anytime soon. Maverick could barely find the time to see me, let alone find time to double date with my co-worker and his friend.
Wanting to turn the heat from me, I asked, “So Mya, is she...”
“A friend.” He deadpanned.
“Yeah, but how friendly are we talking?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He poked out his tongue earning him an eye roll.
“That sounds awfully like a schoolyard comeback to me.”
His laughter bellowed around us but then a group walked in. “Right.” I pushed off the counter. “Think I’d better go do some work.”
I SHOULDERED THE DOOR and dropped my keys onto the sideboard. “I’m home.”
“In here, sweetheart.” Dad’s voice floated down the hallway. I slipped off my pumps, enjoying the feel of the tiles against my skin. Working at Hitters was fun, but when the rush started, it was hard work. After my strange conversation with Liam, we’d barely had time to say hi again.
“Hey, Dad.” I dropped my purse on the table.
“How was it?”
“Good. Busy.”
“You know, Sweetheart, I wasn’t keen on the idea at first, but Stella was right, this job has been a good thing for you. I’m proud of you, Lo.”
“Hmm, thanks,” I said around a weak smile. “Where is Stella?”
“She’s just tucking Bethany in. She’s upset again.” He dragged a hand down his face, releasing a weary sigh.
“She’s young. It can’t be easy on her. New family. The stuff with Ken.”
Ken was Stella’s ex and the reason they had to move in with us.
“You’re right. Of course you’re right. I just feel so useless sometimes.”
“Dad, come on, you did a good—”
“Phew, she’s down.” Stella appeared in the doorway, her eyes pinched. “Oh, hello, Lo. I didn’t realize you were home.” She gave me a weary smile.
“Hi.”
Awkward silence filled the space between us, so I rushed out, “Well, I’m beat. I’m going to take a shower and then hit the sack.”
“You can stay, Lo.” Dad’s voice held a question.
“I really should get an early night. Kyle’s picking me up early tomorrow. Goodnight.”
“Night, Sweetheart.”
“Night, Lo.”
I left Dad and Stella cuddling on the sofa. Being under the same roof as Stella and Bethany no longer made me want to scream, but I still had days where I couldn’t do the family thing. No matter how much I tried to tell myself I was being irrational, it felt like I was betraying Mum and Elliot.
Their memory.
There were times when Stella would catch me off guard and I found it hard to say no, but most of the time, I avoided her like the plague.
Inside my room, I stripped out of my uniform and dug my phone out of my purse, smiling when I saw a text from Maverick.
Maverick: Call me when you’re home
Lo: Home. I’m going to take a quick shower and then I’ll call, okay?
Maverick: Are you trying to kill me? Send me a photo.
Lo: I am not sexting you.
I needed to wash off the smell of burgers and fries first.
Maveric
k: You did the other night...
Lo: That was different.
He’d texted me just as I climbed in bed and when he texted me a photo of him in just his boxers, one thing led to another. And before I knew it, I was coming to the feel of my own fingers, imagining they were his.
Maverick: Spoilsport
Lo: Can’t type. I’m just getting undressed. Call you soon.
I left my phone in my room while I went for a shower. It would have been easy to play Maverick’s game, and God only knew I was sexually frustrated, but phone sex didn’t compare to real life sex with Maverick. I wanted to feel his fingers chasing my skin, his tongue tangled with mine. I was fed up of imagining it. Of waking in the middle of the night after yet another dream of him.
Us.
A tangle of limbs and love and desperate touches.
After a tepid shower, I changed into some boy shorts and a tank top and climbed into bed. My heart quickened as I dialed Maverick’s number.
“Please tell me you’re naked?” His voice was husky, thick with need, and a bolt of desire shot through me causing my thighs to clench.
“No such luck. I’m in my ratty pjs.”
“The one with the hole right by your—”
“Maverick,” I fought a smile. “How was your day?”
“Don’t do that. Don’t change the subject. Not now I’ve got an image of you in my head...” He left the insinuation hanging but I was tired... and I really was fed up of settling for stolen conversations in between our busy schedules.
“Fine, if you won’t tell me about your day, I’ll tell you about mine. Caitlin was throwing some serious shade my way again.”
“Still?”
“Still.” I rolled onto my side. “I avoid her like the plague, but she won’t let it go.”
“Just ignore her. She can’t hurt you.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Kyle drew the line. She wouldn’t risk the whole team turning against her. Senior year is too important to people like her.”
“I guess.” Kyle and Caitlin had come to an agreement. As captains of the football team and the cheer squad, they had to work together occasionally at team parties and school events. But that was as far as the facade went. She wasn’t welcome at any inner circle parties. The team were under strict instructions not to hook up with her. It was tenuous, but it was working, and despite the daily daggers she threw in my direction, she left me alone.