Secrets & Surrender

by L. G. Castillo

  Faster and faster I ran, feeling the players a heartbeat away.

  Forty yards.

  Thirty yards.

  Each step pounded into the turf, sounding out Mandi’s name.

  Man-di. Man-di. Man-di.

  Ten yards.

  TOUCHDOWN!

  The buzzer rang, and the crowd thundered. I sank to my knees, exhausted and gazing up at the scoreboard. I did it. I actually did it. We won!

  The cheerleaders and students spilled onto the field. The football stadium was a sea of red and white as the crowd waved their Cougar towels in the air in celebration. I scanned the crowd through hazy eyes, blinking away the sweat that poured down my face. I’d never felt so alive as I did at that moment: people chanting my name, cheerleaders squealing and waving their pompoms as they eyed me with admiration, the guys on the team patting me on the back and then lifting me onto their shoulders as they carried me across the field. It was amazing, yet all I could think about was Mandi.

  Taking off my helmet, I let out a breath of relief when the cool air hit my heated face. When I finally spotted her, I couldn’t help but grin. She was so sexy…the way she stood there with her red Koppe High t-shirt tied into a knot, making the shirt tight around her body, showing off her delicious curves.

  After telling the guys to put me down, I called out to Bianca, who was with her friends, talking excitedly.

  I jogged over in her direction. As I got closer, the cheerleaders giggled.

  “Bianca, you’re soooo lucky. Nic is so hot!” one of the cheerleaders gushed.

  “Eww! He’s my brother.”

  “He’s not my brother,” another cheerleader whispered hastily. “Hi, Nic. Good game.”

  “Thanks, uh...”

  “Heather.” Thick eyelashes that framed blue eyes batted as she said her name. “Are you going to the celebration party at Koppe Bridge?”

  “Yeah. Bianca, I need you to do something for me.” Heather pouted when I hauled Bianca away from the group.

  “And why should I do you a favor?” She placed a pompom on her hip.

  “Because I’m your brother and you love me?” I grinned.

  “Uh, yeah, you’re going to have to do better than that.”

  “Okay. If you can get Mandi to go to the party, you can go too. How about that for a bribe?”

  “Really?” Her brown eyes sparked to life.

  “Yep. She’s with Cassie over there.” Using my helmet, I pointed in their direction. “But if she turns you down, the deal’s off.”

  “She won’t say ‘no’ to me.” Bianca dashed to the stands, waving frantically at Mandi. There was no way Mandi was going to turn Bianca down now. Mandi may be able to put up that wall of hers when I turned on the charm, but Bianca was a force to be reckoned with. No one could turn down that sad baby face she made when she wanted something.

  It only took only a few seconds before Bianca was squealing again and yelling, “She said ‘yes’!”

  I looked to Mandi, who had her arms folded across her chest, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe I’d stooped so low to use my sister like that. I grinned. I could feel a little guilty about it, but I didn’t. I wanted to celebrate tonight, and it wouldn’t be the same without her. She’d come to the game for me. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, I knew she had. It was that thought alone that gave me the confidence I needed to win. Because deep inside, I felt like I had to win this game on this night, not for Father, not for the team, maybe not even for her. But for me.

  chapter 9

  Nic

  “Stay with your friends, Bianca, and don’t drink anything unless I give it to you.”

  I parked the car in what appeared to be out in the middle of nowhere. Even with directions to the location, it was difficult to find in the dark with only the faint light of the moon. When the gravel road disappeared, I was sure we were lost until I saw several headlights in the distance.

  “Seriously? It’s just the kids from school.”

  It was more than that. Now that I’d proven myself to the guys on the team, they’d told me about some of the so-called traditions of the Koppe Bridge parties. As we dressed in the locker room, each guy made their claim on which girl they had planned on hooking up with tonight. I knew exactly what they meant by “hooking up.”

  I had sat with a fake smile plastered on my face as they each threw out a name, wondering why I’d even wanted to win their trust in the first place. Now that I had it, I didn’t know if I wanted to be on the inside of their little group. I heard some familiar names, nice girls that I knew weren’t the type to hook up with those morons. I didn’t say anything and just played along, relieved that no one had mentioned Mandi or Cassie. I silently hoped that the guys at Koppe were the same as the guys at my last school and that locker room talk was just that, all talk. Though I knew by Monday morning some of them were going to be making up stories about their hook ups—whether they were real or not.

  It wasn’t until someone mentioned Seth Baker that I became really concerned. Apparently, he had hooked up with two girls at the same time last year, and Dillon had slipped a little something into the girls’ drinks to loosen them up to the idea of a threesome. Some tradition. I should’ve said something. The guys studied me, gauging my reaction. With Dillon out of the picture, I was the new “big guy” in school now. And all I did was sit there with a stupid fake grin on my face, trying not to throw up. It wasn’t my proudest moment.

  “Just do what I say, Bianca.”

  “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and flung the car door open.

  “Well, that’s gratitude for you.”

  She paused, studying me for a moment. “Nic, you’re such a guy.”

  “Okay?” She said the strangest things sometimes.

  “Look, I’m gonna give you some advice because your totally clueless when it comes to girls.”

  “I don’t have girl problems.” She raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe this one time. But I’ve never had a problem getting a date before.”

  “That’s because you’re—ugh, I can’t believe I’m saying this—you’re kinda cute.”

  “You think I’m hot?” I waggled my brows.

  “Ugh! Knock it off, Nic.” She shoved me playfully. “I’m trying to help you here. Girls know that guys that look like you don’t take girls seriously. I mean, not serious enough to go out with on more than a couple of dates. And most guys like you only take out girls to bang them.”

  “I’m not like that. And you shouldn’t be talking about things like that.”

  “Seriously, Nic. I’m not a vir—”

  “Stop! I don’t want to hear it.” Note to self: Never take your sister to another party again.

  “Fine. And I know you don’t treat girls like that, but Mandi doesn’t know that. All she sees is some guy who likes to flirt around with all the pretty girls.”

  “I don’t flirt.”

  She stared at me, blinking.

  “Okay, maybe just a little,” I admitted. “But it’s harmless. Nothing serious.”

  “Well, she doesn’t know that. If you want Mandi to take you seriously, you need to show her that you’re serious. Stop being fake with all your,” her voice dropped an octave imitating mine, “look at me I’m so cool.”

  “I don’t sound like that . . . do I?”

  “Ugh, Nic.” She slapped my arm, laughing. “The point is just be real with her.”

  I looked into her eyes. She was being sincere. This was a part of her that I wish our parents could see. How did she become so wise so fast?

  “Oh my God. Heather is like totally rockin’ those cowboy boots. I so need Father to buy me a pair.” She jumped out of the car.

  I spoke too soon. Bianca went from wise woman giving sage advice to valley girl in two seconds flat.

  “Be where I can see you!” I yelled out to her as she headed straight to a trashcan where her cheerleader friends were hanging out.

  I groaned. Trashcan punch. I was really
going to have to keep an eye on her.

  I scanned the dimly lit area. Dots of greens, blues, and reds bounced around in the dark from the glow sticks everyone was wearing around their necks. Then I spotted Mandi talking with Cassie. I brushed my hair back nervously as I headed toward her.

  “Glow stick, Nic?” A tall redhead I recognized from my English class named Susan held out a red glow stick. “Stick. Nic. It rhymes.” She giggled as if it were the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Then, leaning in, she brushed herself against me. A fruity and sour smell of what was probably the trashcan punch hit my face. “I bet your stick is longer than this stick. Wanna show me?”

  “Nice rhyme.” I took the glow stick from her, ignoring her innuendo.

  “I have more.” Susan placed her hand on my chest. My eyes shot to Mandi, hoping she couldn’t see. I think Bianca was right about me because my first instinct was to ask Susan, “More of what?”

  I didn’t know what to do. If I pushed Susan away, I’d probably hurt her feelings. But if Mandi saw her feeling me up, there was no way I’d be able to explain it, at least not in a way she’d believe. Then again, Susan was so wasted, she probably wouldn’t remember.

  “There you are, Susan.” Tricia appeared, peeling the girl off me. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  “Thank you.” I mouthed as she guided a stumbling Susan away.

  “Good luck.” Tricia smiled, glancing over at Mandi.

  Putting the glow stick around my neck, I made my way over to Mandi. My stomach rolled as I got closer.

  What the hell? Why was I nervous? It’s not like I hadn’t seen or asked Mandi out on a daily basis.

  You can do this, Marcelli.

  Taking a deep breath, I said, “Hello, beautiful. Are you enjoying our ‘not-a-date’ so far?”

  She twirled around, her stunning dark eyes growing wide as they locked with mine.

  Damn!

  My heart slammed against my chest. She was even more stunning up close. She was always pretty when I saw her in class, but tonight it was different. I couldn’t put my finger on what she did to make herself look like the sexy knockout standing in front of me. My eyes drank in the smooth skin and high cheekbones and slowly drifted to her full lips. It took everything I had not to jerk her into my arms and kiss those delicious lips.

  I took a cautious step back, mesmerized by the loose silky strand of hair that hit gently against her cheek as the wind blew.

  “I . . . uh . . . I . . .”

  “That was an awesome game, Nic. You’re really good,” Cassie jumped in when Mandi turned her dark eyes away from me.

  Hope leaped into my chest. I was making her nervous. That had to be a good sign.

  “Thanks. I didn’t know what to expect. I heard Texas teams were pretty good.”

  “They’re the best.” Cassie took a sip of her drink. She seemed distracted as she spoke. I gazed in the direction she was looking and saw a guy wearing a cowboy hat sitting on the back of a truck with Lynette Baker. He had on a blue glow stick and didn’t seem to be happy about Lynnette’s hand roaming all over him. And I thought girls from New York were bold. Texas girls sure weren’t shy about what they wanted.

  I glanced back at Mandi. She wasn’t shy either, but she sure was acting like it. Somehow, I had to break down that wall she put up whenever I was around.

  “What’s that in your hands?” I asked Cassie as she continued to stare at the cowboy.

  “Yes!” she cried.

  “What?”

  “Oh, sorry about that.” Her face grew pink. “They’re feathers that attach to Mandi’s headband.”

  Before she could hand them back to Mandi, I snatched the feathers and band. Turning on the full charm that the Marcelli men were famous for, I said, “Allow me.”

  My eyes locked with Mandi’s as my hands hovered over her head. The moment I touched her, she sucked in a breath. I forced myself to keep cool when a jolt of electricity surged through me as my fingers slid along the smooth skin of her forehead, adjusting the band. As I weaved the band’s feathers into her dark tresses, I got lost in the touch of her silky hair.

  I should’ve stopped. I couldn’t help myself. She was letting me touch her, and I wanted more. I dug my fingers deeper into her hair, cupping my hand around her head, caressing her. Dark pools gazed into my eyes, and red lips parted slightly as her breathing quickened.

  I gazed at her intently, wishing that she could read my mind as I thought of the words I longed to tell her: Be with me. Tell me you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you. Please don’t turn away from me.

  Slowly, I slid my hand to her shoulders. As if in a daze, I drew her to me. Then I felt it. A resistance. Her body held steadfast. She wasn’t going to come near me.

  “Smooth moves, Marcelli.” My heart fell as she took a step back and shook her head.

  “I have my days.” I grinned, fighting back the dull ache slowly building inside of me. The skeptical expression on her face made me think of what Bianca had said. Maybe she was right. Maybe Mandi didn’t trust me. I couldn’t give up, not when I was so close.

  “You know, Die Hard is playing at the drive-in. I didn’t know they still had drive-ins. I was wondering if you’d—”

  Bianca’s high-pitched giggles caught my attention. Looking over Mandi’s shoulder, I saw Seth and his brothers. They were surrounded by fawning cheerleaders, who were fawning over them. Bianca was in the center of the group.

  I tensed as Seth placed one arm around her and handed her a cup of trashcan punch with the other. At the same time, Dillon whispered something into his brother’s ear. Alarms went off the moment Seth’s eyes met mine. He smirked.

  Shit!

  My fingers curled into fists. Seth had never shown any interest in Bianca until tonight. By the expression on Dillon and Seth’s faces, I knew exactly why they were going after her. Bianca was going to hate me for this, but the girl was so worried about her reputation she couldn’t see past Seth’s popularity with her friends.

  “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

  “Hey! What are you doing?” Bianca cried when I snatched the drink out of her hands.

  “We’re leaving.” I clamped down on her arm, dragging her to the car. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to get Bianca out of here. Maybe if I drove fast I could drop her off at home and get back before Mandi left the party.

  “I don’t think Bianca wants to leave.” Seth placed himself in front of me. I gritted my teeth as I glared into a pair of cold gray eyes. His body loomed over me by at least three inches. He leaned in, the smell of alcohol strong on his breath, muscles flexing beneath his flannel shirt. I stood my ground, wondering how in the world was this guy still in high school. He wasn’t a kid; he was a man.

  “I don’t give a shit what you think. We’re leaving.”

  “Mind your own business, Nic.” Bianca snatched her arm out of my grip. “I want to stay. Seth will take me home.”

  “You bet your sweet little ass I will.” His eyes crawled over her body. “I’ll take you all the way home.”

  I had to admit, being from a powerful family that had money, lots of money, did have its benefits. Fighting a man who looked to be all muscle was not one of them.

  I swung my fist, prepared to knock the disgusting smirk off Seth’s face when out of nowhere, Dillon and Chase tackled me.

  “He’s mine,” Seth growled.

  They shoved me to the ground, and I landed facedown. Quickly, I scrambled up to my feet when a knee pounded into my back, sending a surge of pain down my spine.

  “Stop it, Seth!” Bianca cried.

  Seth laughed as he straddled me, tying my hands behind my back. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’m just welcomin’ your brother to Koppe. Call it an initiation. Get up, Marcelli.”

  I struggled to get out of the ropes as he and Dillon jerked me to my feet.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “You’ll see.” Dillon smirked
.

  I stumbled forward as Seth and Dillon partially dragged me along the side of the riverbank, heading into the dark shadow of Koppe Bridge. When we reached the base of the bridge there was a group of guys in cowboy hats. One of them was taking money. They called out to each other, taking bets.

  “Go to the car, Bianca,” I called to her when I realized what was happening.

  “Let go of him!”

  I groaned at the sound of Mandi’s voice. I didn’t want her to see me like this. She pushed herself through the crowd of gawkers. They whispered amongst themselves. No one wanted to step in to challenge Seth and his brothers. Even the football players, my so-called teammates, didn’t make a move.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw something move in the shadows. Next to Cassie was the cowboy I’d caught her staring at earlier. Although his face was a stoic mask, blue eyes blazed as they glared at Seth. His hands were balled into fists. It seemed like he was about step in and challenge Seth. But then he stopped, shaking his head slightly.

  “Chill, Mandi. We’re just taking him to the bridge,” Dillon said. “Everyone from Koppe’s jumped from there. It’s tradition.”

  “Not in the dark with your hands tied up!” She pummeled her fists into Dillon’s arm, emphasizing each word with a punch. He paused, scowling, and with a swipe of his left arm shoved her so hard she slammed to the ground.

  “Leave her alone, asshole!” I jerked my arm so hard, I thought I heard a popping sound.

  Seth and Dillon laughed as they continued to drag me toward the bridge. I twisted around and caught a glimpse of Cassie helping Mandi to her feet. The last thing I saw was the horrified expression on Mandi’s face as we disappeared into darkness.

  chapter 10

  Nic

  There’s a saying that everything’s bigger in Texas.

  I’m not sure about that, but I do know one thing that’s for sure. Jumping off the Koppe Bridge in the dark where the only lights were those from glow sticks definitely takes some Texas sized balls.