by L A Cotton
A shiver rolled up my spine as my breath hitched at his dirty words. “But until then, I can wait, Summer.”
And despite everyone’s warnings—Maverick’s, my mom’s, even the little voice in the back of my mind—I believed him.
“GOOD MORNING, SWEETHEART,” Mom said as I entered the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Please,” it came out a yawn and I climbed onto one of the stools, barely awake.
It had been three days since JB came over to the pool house. We’d met at the Bay yesterday just as the sun was setting, but other than that we’d been relying on texting one another.
“I didn’t hear you get home last night.” Mom slid a steaming mug of coffee across the counter.
“I wasn’t too late.” I ducked my eyes to avoid her scrutiny, hoping she couldn’t see the truth on my face. After making out with JB in his truck for almost an hour, I’d gotten back to the house a little after eleven.
“And where were you exactly?” Her brow rose with accusation.
“Mom, we talked about this.”
“No, I tried to talk to you about this, and if I remember correctly, you stormed out of the house like a child. You’ve been through a lot, Summer; I’m concerned as any parent would—”
“Mom, I’m eighteen. I can make my own decisions.”
She let out a heavy sigh, pain pinching her expression. “Sweetheart, I am not the enemy here, but I agree with Maverick on this one. JB Holloway is—”
“Not up for debate. He was there, Mom. He drove me to the hospital; he stayed with me.”
“I know, and I’m grateful, I am. But you’re still hurting and you’re vulnerable and it isn’t any surprise you’ve developed feelings for him. It’s common.”
Common?
She thought what I felt for JB was common?
She made it sound like a symptom of an illness.
Her stony expression told me she wasn’t interested in hearing my side of the story. “You need time to heal. A boy will only complicate matters.”
Boy?
She obviously hadn’t taken a long hard look at JB at the hospital because he was far from a boy; in fact, he hadn’t been a boy for a very long time.
“I like him and he likes me; is that so hard to accept?”
“Baby,” she winced at her slip of the tongue. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again, not after everything.”
“JB won’t hurt me,” I said defiantly.
“And when he goes back to college? Your brother told me he’s at SDU, right? On a football scholarship. What happens when he goes back to college and resumes his life as a star football player? What then?”
“I... I don’t know. I haven’t given it much thought.” I had. I did nothing but think about it. But I refused to let my fears about the future interfere with whatever was building between me and JB. Because every time he looked at me, I felt a tiny part of myself heal.
JB was healing me.
And I didn’t want to give that up yet.
I couldn’t.
“You’re smarter than this, Summer.” The disapproval in her tone, her eyes as she studied me, stung. She thought I was making a mistake. “Sheridan Holloway is a formidable man, don’t forget that.”
“JB’s dad?”
She nodded; her lips flattened into a grim line. “What do you suppose he’s going to think when he finds out his only son is dating you.” Regret fell over her expression, but it was too late; Mom had said the words, and she couldn’t take them back.
“Do you mean because I’m a Stone-Prince or because I’m damaged goods, Mom?”
She blanched. “Summer, that’s not—”
“Don’t kid yourself. I know exactly what you meant; I’m just surprised you’d ever say something like that to me.” I slid off the stool. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling hungry anymore.”
“Sweetheart, I—” she called after me, but I was already grabbing my purse and fleeing the house.
Chapter 16
JB
I looked up from my cereal bowl as Mom entered the kitchen. “Mornin’.”
“JB.” She gave me a tight smile. “Is your father—”
“He already left for the day.” Her shoulders seemed to visibly relax.
“Everything okay, Mom?”
“Just the usual. Your father is working hard to secure a new deal and you know how stressed he gets.” She grimaced and my spine went rigid.
“He didn’t—”
“No, no, nothing like that. He’s just more difficult than usual.” Mom pursed her lips unconvincingly. It wouldn’t have been the first-time things had gotten heated between them. “Which probably means you should end your little affair with the Stone-Prince girl. I mean, really, JB, could you be any less discreet?”
Indignation tensed every muscle in my body as I locked eyes on my mother. “What did you just say?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about. This is a small town and people talk.”
Shit. She was right of course. But she’d caught me completely unaware.
“Summer is just a friend. I helped her out with something, that’s all.” The lie felt like shit on my tongue.
“Not according to Mrs. Rose’s son. He told her he saw the two of you looking quite cozy.” Mrs. Rose, one of our neighbors, had a big fucking mouth.
“I’m allowed to hang out with my friends, Mom. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m an adult now.”
She tapped her fake nails against the counter, the way she used to when me and Caitlin were young and she wanted our attention. “Honestly, I couldn’t care less who you screw, Son. But if your father finds out you’re involved with Summer Stone-Prince...” She left her warning dangling in the air, and I hated that she was right. Hated that we lived in a world where money talked and people were nothing more than bargaining chips.
“Dad’s beef is with Alec Prince. He’s nothing to Summer.” Alec Prince was Maverick and Macey’s biological father, not Summer’s, although neither of them had anything to do with him anymore after they discovered what a piece of shit he really was.
The fact was my father had once been his business partner and together they had bartered Maverick as compensation for a business deal, all because my sister wanted him and couldn’t accept he didn’t want her in return. The whole thing made me sick to my stomach. Only made worse by the fact I hadn’t realized what had truly been going on at the time. I should have known better though. Men like Alec Prince and my father were used to getting what they wanted, regardless of who got hurt in the process.
“You think that matters? She bears his name. She’s Maverick’s half-sister. And that makes her a liability. Besides, she’s barely eighteen. You’re a junior at college with the world at your feet. She doesn’t have what it takes to—”
“To what, Mother?” I ground out, not liking where this conversation was heading.
“To stand at your side, live in your world. I know you think this,” she glanced at my shoulder, “setback changes things, but it doesn’t. Even if you’re not ready to play again, you will be one day, and you’ll go all the way, Son. You’re destined for greatness.”
I snorted. “Greatness, Mom, really?”
“JB.” Her tone was scathing. “You need a strong woman by your side. Someone who understands the nuances of the world we live in. Someone who can handle the pressures of our lifestyle.”
“You mean someone like you?” My brow rose, anger boiling beneath my skin.
Mom clamped her lips together and I didn’t blame her. She knew I knew all about Dad’s indiscretions. The whole town did. We just didn’t talk about it. The mighty Sheridan Holloway needed something to take the edge of all the pressures of our world, usually a petite brunette ten years Mom’s junior did the trick.
I didn’t want that life. Sure, I hadn’t given much thought to settling down or anything like that. But I also knew I didn’t want to become my father. Obnoxious. Conceited. With little concer
n for how he treated those around him. Maybe that’s why I avoided relationships. Because all I’d ever known was toxic ones. Mom and Dad. Caitlin and Maverick. Dad and Alec Prince. It was a never-ending cycle of secrets, lies, and deceit.
But Summer opened my eyes to things I’d never really wanted before. I wanted her to be mine, in every way that counted. If that meant calling her my girlfriend and making it official, then I was prepared to do it. But it was too soon, I knew that. And I didn’t want to push her.
Mom was right though. I hadn’t given it much thought. I’d been too consumed with Summer, with thinking about all the ways to make it work rather than all the ways that made it impossible for us to be together.
“I’m sorry.” I conceded. “That was uncalled for.”
“I don’t claim to be the best mother, JB, or even the best wife. But I have always tried to do right by this family, by you and your sister.”
“I know, Mom, I know.” We shared a silent moment of understanding. She’d sacrificed everything to keep our family together: her independence, her dignity, even her job. Dad wanted a trophy wife and he got the very best in Mom. But me and Caitlin weren’t kids anymore and I had to wonder what kept her here.
As if she could hear my thoughts, she said, “He’s all I know, and I know it doesn’t seem like it, but in his own way, your father does love me.” Mom gave me a sad smile, smoothing her hair out of her face. “Summer isn’t like the rest of them, JB. Exposing her to our world will only taint her.”
With that she disappeared out of the room, leaving me with a pit in my stomach and an ache in my heart. Because while I didn’t doubt there was an element of truth to her words, I knew I was too far gone to heed her warning.
Summer might have needed me, but somewhere along the line I’d come to need her too.
MOM’S WARNING STAYED with me all day. The Sadist noticed during our session, demanding I pull the stick from my ass and focus. Jenson knew the second I answered his call and barked over the line at him. And Summer picked up on my deteriorating mood when she repeatedly asked me over text if everything was okay.
But everything was not okay.
The truth was, I had no fucking clue what I was doing.
I knew I wanted Summer... but at what cost?
I knew I wanted to get back to my team and play this season... but at what cost?
And I knew I had to make some decisions soon... but at what fucking cost?
So when I walked out of the store and slammed straight into none other than Summer’s ex, I knew the day couldn’t get any worse. “Shit, I’m... oh, it’s you.” The words died on Nick’s tongue as he glared at me.
“My bad,” I said moving around, hoping to cut this short before I did something I couldn’t undo.
“Wait, JB,” he called, and I swung around, a heavy sigh escaping my lips.
“Yeah?”
“Is it true? Are you and Summer... together? She won’t answer my calls or texts and I’m going out my mind over here.”
“You’re going out of your mind?” This fucker had no idea. “Have you stopped to consider that maybe it’s none of your fucking business? That since you fucked another girl and broke Summer’s heart in two, you don’t get that right anymore?”
The blood drained from his face, and I was aware we’d gathered a small audience of bystanders. Summer wouldn’t want this, she wouldn’t want me out here, giving Nick shit. But I couldn’t stop myself.
At least it was only words and not my fists raining down on him.
“That’s not... it wasn’t like—”
“So you didn’t stick your dick in another girl?” The crass words punctuated the thick silence enveloping us.
He ran a hand down the back of his head, clutching his neck. “I just need to talk to her, to explain...”
I was all up in his face, eyes hard, fingers jabbed right at him. “Stay the fuck away from her or you and me, we’ll have a real problem.”
I didn’t think it was possible for him to go any paler, but the guy looked as white as a sheet. “Y- yeah, okay.”
I stormed away from him, desperate to beat the shit out of something, anything, to abate the anger rising in me.
“JB...” The dude either had balls of steel or a death wish.
“What?” I spun around, forcing myself to keep backing up.
“Take care of her. She deserves the world.”
So why didn’t you give it to her? I wanted to ask but I forced the words down. Maybe he had made a one-time mistake. Been lured by the promise of fresh pussy and new experiences. But it was Summer for fuck’s sake. He was right, she did deserve the world.
She deserved the fucking universe and everything in it.
But could I really be the one to give it to her?
Or would I only end up breaking her heart as well?
I STARED AT THE TEXT message again.
Summer: Are you avoiding me?
Was I?
I hadn’t texted her back all day. I couldn’t. Not until I figured out things in my head. But I couldn’t ignore this, could I?
My cell bleeped again.
Summer: Wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact you spoke to Nick today would it?
Me: Busted.
My ringtone blared to life and my heart almost somersaulted out of my chest. Chill the fuck out, it’s just Summer.
“Hey,” I said trying to school my apprehension.
“Hey, I thought talking would be easier than texting.”
“Hmm, yeah, sure.” I ran a hand down my face.
“Are you okay? You sound... I don’t know, weird.”
“I’m okay.”
“So, what happened?”
“How’d you find out?”
“One of my friends from school texted me that she saw you and Nick outside the store she works at.”
Because I’d confronted him on the sidewalk in a busy street downtown. Not my best moment.
“Yeah, about that... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
“Did you hit him?”
“Shit, Summer, no, I didn’t hit him.” Despite how much I’d wanted to.
“Did you say anything that he didn’t deserve?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“JB?” She sounded pissed, and I hated it. Hated that I’d somehow disappointed her.
“I might have told him to stay away from you.”
“That’s not so bad.” Her voice was quieter now.
“No?”
“I mean, I would have preferred it if the two of you never crossed paths, but it was unlikely.”
“So, you’re not mad?”
“I trust you, JB. I’m sure whatever you said to him was fair.”
Relief settled in my bones, but then she said, “It still doesn’t explain why you’ve been avoiding me.” The line went quiet and then she whispered, “Are you having second thoughts... about me?”
Fuck, I hated the uncertainty in her voice, hated that I’d been the one to put it there. But I was confused. And being around her only seemed to blind me to the reality of our situation.
“I have to go back to San Diego soon,” I blurted out.
“I know; we talked about it, remember?”
“And you’re okay with that? With me leaving? With me being there and you being here?”
“I’m trying really hard not to think about it,” she admitted, ripping my heart in two. “But I always knew this was temporary. That you’d be going back to college, to the team.” Her voice cracked and I knew we needed to finish this conversation in person.
“Where are you?” I asked, the need to get to her almost overpowering.
“At home, why?”
“I need to see you.”
“N- now?”
“Yeah, are you home al—”
“My parents just left for the night.” Her reply was rushed.
“Can I come over?”
“Yeah,” she breathed, and I was already shoving my feet
into my sneakers and grabbing my keys.
Chapter 17
Summer
My heart thumped in my chest as I watched JB climb out of his truck and walk up to the door. He didn’t get to knock because I yanked it open, expelling a breath at the sight of him standing there. He looked so good in his dark wash jeans and fitted navy Henley.
“Hey.” He ran a brisk hand over his head, looking at me through his lashes.
“Hi. Do you want to come in or go out to the pool house?”
“Whatever you want.” His eyes darkened, sweeping down my body and back up again.
“Come in then,” I said, suppressing a shiver as I led him down the hall. Certain I heard him mutter, “Jesus,” under his breath.
We went into the kitchen where I’d been picking at a plate of Loretta’s cookies, waiting for him. “Hungry?” I motioned to the plate.
“Always.” He plucked one up and took a big bite. “These are so good.”
“Loretta is one of a kind.”
“Can I have another?”
I nodded, smothering a smile at how much he could eat, before grabbing a couple of sodas from the refrigerator and shoving the plate toward JB. “Bring them.”
He followed me out to the pool house. Seeing him had set off my pulse, but it was nothing compared to the way my heart galloped in my chest like a band of wild horses, as we stepped inside.
“Summer, I...” he said at the same time as I said his name. We both laughed and JB deposited the plate on the counter, stalking toward me. He took the cans of soda from me and placed them down and then took my hands in his.
“I know we need to talk, but first, I really need to do this.” He gave no warning as he cupped my face, fixing his mouth over mine. His tongue traced the seam of my lips, seeking entrance and I opened willingly for him. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I fisted his polo shirt needing him closer. Needing to feel his hard body pressed against the soft curves of mine.
“JB,” I sighed as he kissed me deeper, harder, one of his hands skating down my spine to the curve of my ass.
“Fuck, Summer,” he rasped, suddenly breaking the kiss, touching his head to mine. “We should stop...”