#Player

by Cambria Hebert

  “I know the cops didn’t uncover any gambling years ago, but, babe, it’s the only thing that makes sense. Your loss of insurance, your father’s job. People sniffing around you and me, talking to me about money and how much I’d pay to protect you.”

  She sucked in a breath.

  “I think he’s mixed up with some bad people.”

  Part of me hoped she would yell at me, tell me how insane I was and that she couldn’t believe I’d say such things about her father. I hoped to hell I was wrong about what I was thinking.

  She didn’t yell.

  She didn’t tell me I was insane.

  She didn’t tell me I was wrong.

  “There’s information in the file that proves his gambling.”

  A curse dropped from my lips.

  “It’s recent. Not from years ago when Mom died. The PI followed him around. There’s pictures of him going in to a known underground gambling club.” Rimmel looked me straight in the eye. “Your mother was right.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Rimmel

  The phone rang and rang.

  I called three times in a row.

  He didn’t pick up. Not once.

  I didn’t bother leaving a voicemail. He’d see I called. Besides, what would I say?

  Hey, Dad, it’s Rimmel. I know you were suspected of killing Mom. I know you’re in gambling debt. And did I mention someone is threatening my boyfriend?

  That would go down as the worst voicemail in the history of voicemails.

  Romeo watched with a veiled look in his eyes as I growled at the phone and punched the END CALL button once again.

  “What kind of father ignores his only daughter?” I demanded.

  Romeo pressed his lips together and said nothing. I saw the anger in the depths of his eyes. I saw the distaste. He was holding himself back from saying nasty things about the only parent I had left.

  It made me beyond angry that he was in this position at all.

  Now I kind of understood how he must have felt standing between his mother and me.

  I called up a different number on the screen and hit SEND.

  She answered on the second ring. “Rimmel! I’m so thrilled to hear from you!”

  “Hi, Gran,” I said. Just the sound of her voice, the sound of home, sent a wave of homesickness through me. Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back. I’d cried enough.

  “How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.”

  There was a brief pause on the line. “Oh, honey, what’s wrong?”

  “I’ve read the police report on Mom’s death.” I dropped the words like a bomb. There was no gentle way to say this.

  A charged, lengthy silence filled the space between us.

  “How?” she whispered.

  “Does it really matter?” I asked, trying to hold in my anger. This wasn’t my grandmother’s fault. Well, okay, it kind of was, because she’d known about this too. She lied too.

  “No. I suppose not.”

  “Why did you lie? Why did you tell me it was a horrible accident when the police have it listed as unresolved? What happened to my mother?”

  “Oh, honey.” The catch in her voice said it all.

  Everything I read was true.

  “I have a right to know.”

  “We were trying to shield you. You’d been through so much.”

  “I’m not a little girl anymore. And this is affecting my life.”

  “What? How?” Her voice was completely alarmed. “Have you called your father?”

  “Yes. Many times. He won’t return my calls. I had to leave him a message that I was attacked and in the ER, and only then did he call me back.”

  “Oh my God!” she gasped. “Honey, are you hurt? What happened?”

  “It was a few weeks ago, Gran. I’m fine.”

  “Weeks ago?” she murmured. “He didn’t say anything.”

  “So he’s talking to you, then?”

  Silence.

  So he wasn’t.

  “I know about the gambling,” I said.

  She sucked in a breath.

  “I assume you do as well.”

  “This isn’t a conversation we should have over the phone.” Her voice was sad and strained.

  “Fine. I’ll fly to Florida. I’ll be there soon.”

  “At least let me send you money for the plane ticket.”

  I agreed because I spent most of what I had on my gown for the fundraiser. I was seriously going to have to get a job when all this was over. It was up to me to take care of myself.

  “Thank you,” I said when she promised to transfer the money into my account, plus a little extra for food.

  “You know your grandfather and I love you. So much. We’ve only ever wanted what’s best for you.”

  It hurt to hear those words because I believed them. And because I loved them too.

  But I was still upset they let me live a lie.

  When I disconnected the call, I tossed my phone onto the couch and looked at Romeo.

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I know.”

  I nodded. I wanted him to come. I needed him. What if I went to Florida only to realize it no longer felt like home?

  In that moment, I hated lies. I hated liars and half-truths. I hated what lies could do to people.

  I glanced out the window again and then back at Romeo.

  Without a word, I walked past him and out the front door.

  He yelled my name, but I didn’t stop. I kept going. There was something I had to do.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Romeo

  Where the hell was she going!?

  One minute she was looking torn and hurt, and the next she looked like a barefoot warrior ready to roll some heads.

  It was hot as hell.

  But it was also scary.

  The front door waivered against the winter wind as I rushed after her. I cursed against the biting, frigid air and my lack of shirt, but I didn’t turn back.

  Rimmel was halfway across the yard, wearing nothing but one of my T-shirts and a pair of sweatpants I was surprised stayed up on her.

  She wasn’t even wearing socks.

  “Rimmel!” I roared. “You’re gonna freeze to death!”

  She kept going, right up to the main house back door.

  My steps faltered.

  She was going to my parents?

  What the fuck for?

  I started running because in her current mood, if she were going after my mother, then fireworks would likely fly.

  “Rimmel,” I called again, rushing inside after her. She was about to turn the corner, but she stopped and held out her hand to me.

  I wrapped my hand around hers, and she continued going without a word.

  Mom was sitting at the small table in the kitchen, a mug of tea at her elbow and a bunch of paperwork spread out in front of her.

  She looked up when we walked in. The smile died on her lips. She knew this wasn’t some kind of pleasant visit. She glanced at me, and I shook my head.

  I didn’t know what Rimmel was doing, but I wasn’t going to stop her. Whatever was going on in her heart and her mind needed resolved. If whatever she needed to say would help her, then my mother was going to have to withstand her wrath.

  “Rimmel?” Mom asked, giving her full attention to my girlfriend.

  “Thank you,” Rimmel said, shocking the shit out of my mother and me.

  “You were just as responsible for the success of the event as I,” Mom said, gesturing to all the papers in front of her.

  “I’m not talking about last night,” Rimmel said, withdrawing her hand from mine.

  “Then…?”

  “Thank you for telling me the truth. For not just covering up what you found and letting me continue to live a lie.”

  For once in her life, my mother was struck silent. She twisted the platinum chain hanging around her neck on her fin
ger.

  “I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it more or less to chase me away. You did it for Romeo. But even still, I’m grateful. I know I wasn’t before, but now I…” Her voice cracked, and I stepped toward her.

  She shook her head, telling me to let her stand on her own.

  “Now I see things differently. So thank you.”

  My mother got up and rushed around the table toward my girl. “Oh, honey, I’m so very sorry.”

  She hugged Rimmel without hesitation. Rimmel stood stock still, not returning the embrace or pushing it away.

  “I shouldn’t have done it that way. I should have been more caring. You’ve done nothing but love my son and support him. You’ve stood by him even when his entire future was at stake. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but maybe someday you’ll offer it. Please know that I accept you wholeheartedly into this family and as part of my son’s life. I truly hope someday we’ll have a close relationship.”

  And Rimmel called me a drama queen?

  Um. I don’t think so.

  After a few seconds ticked by and my mother fell silent, Rimmel moved. She lifted her arms and hugged my mother back.

  “We’re flying to Florida,” I informed her when she pulled back from Rim.

  She touched Rimmel’s arm. “I hope it brings you the peace you need.”

  Back at my place, I grabbed my hoodie off the bed and pulled it over Rimmel’s head.

  “Spring break is next week. But I can’t wait that long to go,” she said.

  “I’ll call the dean. He freaking owes you after everything that’s happened with your scholarship and with Zach. I’ll get him to excuse us from classes.”

  She squeezed my hand before she moved away. “I’m gonna pack.”

  I’d always been curious about where Rimmel came from.

  I guess now I was going to see.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Rimmel

  I still hated flying.

  It was more tolerable because Romeo was beside me, but it was never something I would ever like.

  “I’m not looking forward to all the plane rides to your away games,” I said when we finally stepped out of the airport.

  “You’re gonna come to my away games?” He grinned.

  “As many as I can.”

  “Something tells me that will make Ron Gamble very happy.”

  “I only care about making you happy.” I couldn’t keep the worried note from creeping up behind my words. How was Romeo going to be happy with me if things like this kept happening to us?

  From day one, Romeo and I had been hit with obstacles at every turn.

  He was worth it. One hundred percent. But how much more could he take?

  How much more could I take?

  “Don’t do that,” he murmured, pulling me around on the sidewalk.

  “Do what?”

  “Worry.” He pressed a kiss to my nose. “After this is over, it’s smooth sailing through the rest of our lives.”

  I wanted to believe that.

  “C’mon, let’s get a cab,” I said and walked toward the cab line.

  “Hells no.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me away. “We don’t ride in cabs. We ride in style.”

  I laughed. “And what kind of style is that? The bus?”

  He made a face. “I’m renting a car.”

  “What? That’s too much money.”

  “I can afford it. I’m a pro football player.” He winked at me with a sly smile.

  “Better get a convertible. Your big head won’t fit in a regular car.”

  He threw his big head back and laughed.

  I loved the sound of that. I loved the sound of him.

  I tilted my head to the side and just stared. “You know, you could be a garbage man on the street with not a penny to your name and I would still love you more than anything, right?”

  He grabbed me beneath my armpits and lifted me until my feet dangled above the ground.

  “Your arm,” I reminded him.

  “This is good exercise for it.”

  His eyes did that thing again. The thing where they saw only me, took in only me. The love he had for me literally turned tangible right there on the sidewalk. Right there out in the open. I felt people staring, but I couldn’t break away from him.

  I didn’t want to.

  “You got something against garbage men?” he finally asked.

  I giggled. “Of course not.”

  The lopsided smile he bestowed upon me caught my breath. And I’m pretty sure the woman standing nearby dropped her bag and stumbled.

  “I fucking love you,” he growled.

  “I fucking love you.” I tried to growl the words like him, but it sounded pathetic. And that word… it wasn’t my favorite. But he sure liked it.

  “You sound like a baby kitten.” He sat me down and tucked his arm around me. “C’mon, Smalls. Let’s get a ride.”

  Romeo rented the nicest car on the lot (big surprise there). It was a red convertible and an automatic. I was more excited about it not being a stick shift than I was about it being a convertible.

  Not that he would let me drive. But at least this way he wouldn’t be using his arm.

  As we pulled out of the rental lot, I texted Braeden to let him know we made it safely. And then I texted Valerie the same.

  I wasn’t sure what our relationship would be like in the future, but I no longer carried any anger or even resentment toward her. I knew she didn’t, either. I’d like to think someday we would at least be friends. But honestly, I hoped for more than that.

  I laughed out loud when Braeden texted back. Romeo gave me a puzzled look, and I held out the phone to show him.

  It was a picture of B dressed in a super heavy coat, a hat, and gloves that he plastered with snow. His last accessory was the large frown on his face.

  “I take it he’s still pissed we didn’t let him come.” Romeo grinned.

  “Yes, and he’s trying to make me feel bad because we’re in sunny Florida with no snow.”

  Romeo laughed, probably because he knew Braeden’s pathetic attempt was actually working. I did feel bad he wasn’t here. But honestly, I didn’t want him to have a front row seat for my messed-up family. My relationship with him was close and untouched by family drama. I wanted it to stay that way.

  “You know,” Romeo said. “Next week is spring break.”

  “Yeah, I’m gonna have to spend it catching up on what we miss this week.”

  Romeo made a rude noise. “We could just stay here, get a place on the beach.” He slid a glance my way. “You like the beach? Or does the ocean—”

  “Scare me?” I finished.

  He nodded.

  “I like the beach.”

  He grinned and held out his fist. I bumped mine against it.

  “But I don’t swim in the water.”

  “That’s cool,” he said. “You on the sand in a bikini is good enough for me.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Text B back. Tell him to fly in. We’ll pick him up at the airport next week and hang at the beach.”

  “You seriously want to go stay at the beach?” I asked, surprised. The idea was so… spontaneous.

  “Why the hell not? We need a break. Some sun, sand, waves… that’s my kind of party. Besides, in a few months, I’m gonna have to leave. Training camp starts, getting ready for the season, the press, the games.”

  Romeo reached across the seats and grabbed my hand. “I want time alone with you before that happens. I want a whole week with you, drama free.”

  I wanted that too. Now that he’d planted the idea, I wanted it more than anything.

  “We won’t be alone if Braeden is with us,” I pointed out.

  “We’ll find plenty of time to be alone.” He wagged his eyebrows.

  “What about Ivy? And Missy?”

  “Invite them too.”

  “Really?”

  “Whatever you want, baby.” He kissed the
back of my hand.

  Excitement filled me. I’d never really had a vacation before. Yeah, my grandparents took me to Sea World and Disney a lot when I was growing up. And I remember we went on a trip to the Keys when my mom was still here. But I’d never had any kind of spring break trips with my friends. I never had any slumber parties in high school. And I’d never stayed at the beach.

  But as much as I wanted to go, I didn’t have the money to help pay for something like that.

  “Don’t worry about the money.” Romeo groaned, reading my mind.

  He interrupted our conversation to ask me which way to turn on the highway. Once I told him, he turned and glanced back at me.

  “I want to do this. I can afford it. Let me.”

  “You haven’t gotten paid yet, have you? Don’t you have to wait ‘til training camp?”

  He shrugged. “I can afford this without my NFL pay, baby.”

  I bit my lip, and he grinned. He knew I was caving.

  “Text Braeden,” he said. “We’ll get on the net later and book a place to stay.”

  “What if everything is booked?” I worried. It was spring break after all.

  “We’ll find something,” he promised.

  I texted Braeden, and he sent me back a picture of him in a pair of sunglasses and holding a bottle of suntan lotion.

  He was crazy.

  Ivy squealed so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. She was supposed to be going home to visit family, but she vowed she would get out of it and change her ticket to come to Florida instead.

  Missy agreed but seemed a little less thrilled than Ivy.

  “She didn’t want to come?” Romeo asked when I hung up.

  “She did. I think she’s just kind of on the fence about being around Braeden.”

  “Understandable.”

  After a few quiet moments, Romeo pulled out his phone and hit a button.

  “Driving while talking?” I lectured him.

  He hit the speakerphone button and the ringing of the line filled the car.

  “Hey, man.” Trent’s voice came on the line.

  “Spring break. Florida. The beach. You in?”

  “Seriously, man?”

  “Yep. I got the place. You just need the plane ticket.”

  “Hells yeah,” Trent replied instantly.

  “Sweet,” Romeo said. “Hey, B is coming too. You guys should try and get the same flight.”