by L A Cotton
I had my whole evening planned. Pizza, a few beers, and ESPN. That was, until the doorbell sounded. I’d assumed it was one of our neighbors or one of Mom’s friends.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Hey,” Maverick Prince tipped his chin. “Can I come in?”
“Is that supposed to be funny?” I arched my brow, pulling to my full height.
“Do I look like I’m laughing? Look, I know this is awkward.” Understatement of the year. “But can we talk?” He ran a brisk hand through his hair.
He looked weary, lines of exhaustion crinkling his eyes. “Everything okay?” I asked, stepping back to let him enter. It wasn’t the first time he’d been here—he had dated my sister after all—but this was different. He wasn’t here under any pretenses this time. And he wasn’t here for Caitlin. He was here for me.
And Summer, no doubt.
“That’s a loaded question, and you know it,” he grumbled, following me through the house to the kitchen.
“Beer?”
“I’d better not. I have to drive back to SU.”
“A flying visit. It must be bad.”
“Shit, Holloway, can you just stop for a second?” Pain swam in his eyes. Maverick always was a broody motherfucker back in high school, but Lo had changed all that. I’d never understood it—a girl sweeping in and changing a guy—but I got it now.
“Is it Summer? Is she...?” My throat closed up.
“You tell me? Since it seems you’re her person now.”
Her person?
It sounded crazy, and yet, I liked it.
I liked it a lot.
I didn’t like the way Maverick was glaring at me though. “You know it’s not like that,” I shot back.
“Isn’t it?” He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “She wasn’t going to tell me.”
“She would have, eventually.”
“I... I didn’t even know what to say... what to do.”
“That’s the problem though, isn’t it? This is one thing big brother can’t fix.”
“And you can?” he quipped, but this time, I knew his anger and frustration wasn’t aimed at me, not really. He was pissed because she’d shut him out. Because he wanted to protect his sister and this time, he hadn’t been able to.
“I’m not trying to replace you,” I said, folding my arms over my chest and leaning back against the counter. “I just want to be there for her.”
“You think I don’t know that? I should hate you. Fuck, I want to hate you. But I also don’t want her to be alone. I don’t want her to think she has no one.”
“Hey, man, listen. Summer knows she has you and Kyle and Macey. But this isn’t about you. It’s about her. About how she wants to deal with all of this, how she wants to heal. I swear to you, I didn’t plan for things to play out like this, but they did, and I won’t apologize for caring about her.”
“I’m slowly getting that.”
“Yeah?”
“I won’t deny this thing between the two of you freaks me the hell out, and if you ever hurt her,” he grimaced, “I won’t hesitate to ruin you. But she needs someone right now. And if that someone is you, I guess I can live with that.”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?” I smirked despite the knot in my chest. I didn’t expect us to be best mates anytime soon, but I also didn’t like the idea of him never being okay with me and Summer. Because I intended on sticking around for as long as she wanted me to.
“It’s not like that.”
“Oh?” It was my turn to tip my chin.
“The past is in the past,” he said. “But Summer, she’s not like us. She isn’t built for this life.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Mom’s words came back to me.
“Just take care of her, okay? Of all the people in the world to let in, she picked you. So I’m asking you, please don’t screw that up.” His brows pinched. “Please don’t break her hurt any more than it’s already been broken.”
And just like that Maverick went from being my enemy to my cheerleader. Even if I heard the words he wasn’t saying.
Break her heart, and I’ll kill you.
Chapter 19
Summer
“Mom, this is JB. JB, this is my mom, Rebecca.”
JB thrust out his hand, a warm smile plastered on his face. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Stone-Prince, officially.”
“JB,” she said through thin lips. “I won’t lie, this has all taken me by surprise.”
“I understand your concerns,” he said. “But I want you to know that I care about Summer a lot and I would never do anything to hurt her.”
His words made my heart skip a beat. When I’d suggested he stick around to meet my mom, he’d hesitated. But eventually, after a few bribery kisses, he came around. I didn’t need her approval, but the idea of sneaking around behind her back didn’t fill with me excitement either. Besides, I was certain if she could see what a great guy JB was, she’d come around to the idea of us.
Because although it was crazy fast, and the little voice in my head kept whispering to slow down, we were an ‘us’ now.
“That’s good to know.” She glanced from him to me. “And Nick, does he kn—”
“I’ll tell him.” In my own time, I silently added. “But this has nothing to do with Nick, Mom. I broke it off with him.”
She pressed her lips together, but I saw the unspoken words in her eyes. She knew I hadn’t told him about the baby yet. JB squeezed my hand, grounding me.
“Your brother—”
“Knows I need this, Mom.” My gaze flicked to JB.
I was shocked Rick had gone to see him, but not as shocked as I was when JB told me he was there to smooth the rift rather than warn him to stay away.
“Look, Mom,” I let out a heavy sigh. “I know this is a shock, but I’d really like it if you could try to get behind this.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” She closed the distance between us and hugged me. “I just want you to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“He makes me happy, Mom.” He makes it hurt less. I glanced over at JB.
Easing me away, she smiled at me, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. But Mom’s gaze moved past me to the guy standing slightly behind me. “I’m trusting you with my daughter, JB. Don’t let me down.”
“No, ma’am.”
The tension dissipated around us as understanding passed between them. It was a lot, so early in our relationship, but we hadn’t exactly started things in a simple way either.
“I have to be at an event at The Coastal soon, I should probably get moving. You’ll be okay?”
I nodded, stepping back into JB’s side. He looped his arm around my waist and drew me into his side.
“Well, I’ll see you later then.” She gave us a last lingering look before heading out, only to pause at the last second. “Oh, and Summer, I’d prefer it if JB went home to sleep at his own house tonight. The pool house is not a motel.”
Embarrassment flamed my cheeks and Mom smirked before disappearing into the hall.
“Did she just—”
“Yes,” I cut him off. “Yes, she did. Loretta must have told her.”
“Well, shit,” JB said turning me in his arms. “I’m surprised she let me stay at all.”
“I’m eighteen; it’s not like I’m a child. Besides, between Mom’s event planning and Dad’s business growing, they’re hardly ever here lately.”
“True, but you’ll always be her baby.”
My breath caught, pain skittering up my spine. “Shit, Summer, I didn’t think—”
“It’s okay.” I forced myself to take a deep breath. “It wasn’t meant to be. I know that now. And if I’m being honest, I’m not ready to be a mom. I’m barely able to look after myself.”
JB hooked his arm around me, drawing me close. It felt nice, standing here in my kitchen with him. Knowing that in her own way Mom had given us her blessing. Rick too. I st
ill hadn’t told Kyle or Macey the whole story, but I knew if I didn’t soon, Rick would.
“You would have been a good mom, Summer,” he said, his eyes crinkled with emotion.
I appreciated the sentiment, but I didn’t want to dwell too much on the what ifs and maybes. “How many days until you leave for San Diego?” I asked him.
“Thirteen, why?”
The corner of my mouth tipped. “Because we’d better make the most of them.”
BEING WITH JB WAS AS easy as breathing. He didn’t crowd me or keep asking me how I was. He didn’t shield me as we wandered downtown, going from store to store from the arcade to the ice cream shop. He simply held my hand, opened doors, and refused to let me pay for anything. He was the perfect gentleman; until we found a secret spot down by the boardwalk and he pulled me behind the sand embankment and kissed me so hard I thought I might pass out.
Every afternoon, when the temperature began to cool, I sat and watch him jog laps of the Bay. Then we ate burgers and sipped milkshakes at The Shack. He even stayed over at the pool house a couple more times; Mom and Dad being none the wiser.
It was perfect.
Yet bittersweet.
Because every day we spent together, I fell more and more in lust with JB Holloway and every day that passed was another closer to him leaving.
“Hey,” he jogged up to me, his hair damp and falling over his eyes. Brushing it back with his hand, I offered him a towel and he dried his face.
“How are you feeling?”
JB rotated his shoulder forward and then back, smoothing his hand over the corded muscle. “Good. Movement is a lot easier. But I’m still not sure I’ll be ready.”
“You’ll be ready,” I said, because despite not really talking about what happened when he left for San Diego in a week’s time, I knew what football meant to him.
Dropping down on the sand beside me, his hands went to my sides, tickling and pinching. “I’m glad one of us has faith in me.” His lips brushed mine, sending a delicious shiver rolling up my spine.
“Are you hungry?” I asked around a smile.
“I am, but not for food.” His brows waggled, earning him a swat to the chest.
“Well, I could eat some of those chili fries and a burger. My treat?”
“Nice try.” He leaped up, pulling me with him. “But I got it.” JB roped his arm around my neck and pulled me close as we made our way off the beach and toward The Shack.
After everything, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to show my face in the diner again, but JB reminded me I had nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of. People could make up their stories and spread rumors but the people who mattered knew the truth.
Well, most of them.
As it turned out, the first time we did come back here, a few days ago, the waitress who had helped us out that day came over and asked how I was doing. She didn’t judge or point or stare, restoring some of my faith in humanity.
“I was thinking,” I said, feeling brave.
“Yeah?”
“What if we got our order to go?”
JB grinned down at me. “I think that sounds like the best idea you’ve had.”
I FELT GIDDY AS WE walked to the pool house, but my excitement quickly fizzled out when I saw the light on.
“That’s strange,” I said as we creeped closer. “I don’t think Mom or Dad would be out here.” But there were definitely voices coming from inside.
“Maybe we should—” JB’s warning rolled off my shoulder as I grabbed the door handle and pushed it open.
“Kyle? Maverick? What the—”
“Surprise, Sis,” my brother said as Rick watched on, regret swimming in his eyes. “You have some explaining to do.”
“Hmm, maybe I should...” I was suddenly aware of JB pressed up against my back, the heat of his body radiating through me.
“Get in here, Holloway. Summer’s not the only one who has some explaining to do.”
“Kyle,” Laurie groaned. “You promised to go easy on them. Hey, by the way.” She shot us both a warm smile. “I can’t say this isn’t weird, but if you’re happy that’s all that matters.”
“Hey.” Lo left Rick’s side and came over to us, wrapping her slim arms around me. “I missed you,” she whispered, adding, “He looks good on you.”
“I... uh, thanks.” My brows crinkled. This was the last thing I’d expected when I’d persuaded JB to sneak into the pool house with me again.
“Not that it isn’t nice to see you,” I said. “Because it is. But what is this?”
“This.” Kyle puffed out his chest, his eyes narrowing over my shoulder. “Is me and Rick laying down the law.”
“The law?” I spluttered.
“Yup.” I looked to Rick for help, but he simply shrugged as if Kyle wasn’t about to embarrass me let alone himself. “The law according to us. If Holloway is going to be one of us, he needs to take the test.”
“Babe, you didn’t say anything about a test.” Laurie mouthed, “I’m sorry,” in our direction.
“That’s because I just thought of it. But Holloway’s a big guy, he can handle a little test, right?” Kyle’s brow arched.
“Right.”
I glanced up at him and said, “No, absolutely not. Don’t encourage him, it only makes him worse.”
“He’s right,” Laurie agreed, her head bobbing up and down.
“You and me, big guy, let’s go.”
“Go.” My eyes went wide. “Go where?”
“I think he’s nervous,” Lo leaned in, keeping her voice low.
“Nervous?” I whispered, watching as Kyle began pouring what looked to be shots of vodka, tequila, and whisky into glasses that had just conveniently appeared.
“You’re not drinking that,” I said at the same time as Laurie said, “Oh, hell no.” She leaped up and rushed over to Kyle, snatching the bottle away from him.
“Babe, what the—”
“No games, Kyle, you promised,” she hissed.
His hands went up as he flicked his amused gaze over to me and JB. “Fine, Fine. But I’m still getting shitfaced. It isn’t every day I get to be home with no one yelling at me.”
“Coach giving you a rough time?” JB asked him.
“Something like that. We’ve only been back at it a couple of weeks and it’s already hell.” His eyes settled on me. “Come here.”
I went willingly, falling into my brother’s embrace. “You could have told me,” he whispered.
“I—”
“I know,” he added. “And I get it, I do. But you’ll always be my sister; you’ll always come first. Got it?” He pulled away to stare down at me and all the doubt and worry I’d had about telling them, melted away.
It would have been easy to be angry at Maverick for telling them my secret. But deep down, I think there was a part of me that wanted him to be the one to do so. To shield me from their initial reactions.
“Macey couldn’t make it?” I changed the subject.
“No, she’s supporting Devon with his tour this weekend.” He’d made quite a name for himself in the local music scene in LA. “And Kiera and Trey wanted to come, but she didn’t know if—”
“I’ll call her tomorrow.” Kiera might have been Kyle’s half-sister, but it didn’t mean I didn’t consider her family. We’d been good friends during senior year, Nick and her ex, Jack, had been friends too so the four of us hung out a lot. But she had her own stuff to deal with, her own life to live, I hadn’t wanted to get in the way of that.
“You’re happy?” Kyle asked quietly. “With Holloway, I mean?”
“I am.”
“Well then,” he hooked his arm around my neck and pulled me toward our family and friends. “I guess I’d better go welcome him to the crazy.”
Chapter 20
JB
“Come up next weekend,” I said to Summer as she wiggled against my morning wood. After I’d met her mom and then Mr. Stone, and spent the evening with her b
rothers and their girlfriends a few nights back, we’d stayed in the pool house almost every night. But our time was almost up.
Coach Salamander expected me back at San Diego on Monday. The Sadist was happy with my progress and had given me the green light to play. I felt stronger, with almost full movement back in my shoulder. There was just one fatal flaw in my plan to get back on the field.
I hadn’t anticipated how quickly I’d fall for the blonde-haired angel in my arms.
“Did you hear me?” I brushed my lips over the shell of her ear, and she sighed.
“I heard you.”
“So, what do you think?” I rolled Summer onto her back, looming over her.
“It’ll be your first weekend back with the team. I don’t think they’ll appreciate me turning up to ruin all their plans.”
My spine went rigid. “I don’t give a fuck what they think. I want you there.” I lowered my mouth to hers, barely kissing her. “I need you there. Say you’ll come, please?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Disappointment flared inside me, but I tamped it down. I knew Summer was still dealing with everything, including me leaving in three days.
“Have you thought about what you might do?” I asked.
“I might check out community college; they have an open evening next week. Or I figured I could get a job for the year and apply to start college next fall.”
Shit, the idea of her here and me up in San Diego sucked. But I had to go back; I had a team to lead and a degree to finish.
“Mom said I could even intern at her company for a while, although I’m not sure event planning is for me.”
“It could be fun though.” I ran my nose along her jaw, kissing the corner of her lips. “And I bet she’d like to spend some time with you.”
“I guess.” Summer’s hands wound around my shoulders, tugging at the hair at the nape of my neck. “Are you nervous?” she asked.
“I feel ready, but the only way I’ll know is if I get back out there.” It had been a long and painful road, one at times, I didn’t know if I’d survive. But I’d made it. And now it was almost time to see if I was ready.