Sidelined

by Marquita Valentine

  Sidelined

  Copyright © 2018 by Marquita Valentine

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Cover Design: Hang Le

  Photograph: Wander Aguair

  Editing: Cynthia Shepp Editing

  Proofreading: Read by Rose

  www.marquitavalentine.com

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  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Sidelined

  Prologue | Aiden

  Chapter 1 | Layton

  Chapter 2 | Aiden

  Chapter 3 | Layton

  Chapter 4 | Aiden

  Chapter 5 | Layton

  Chapter 6 | Aiden

  Chapter 7 | Layton

  Chapter 8 | Aiden

  Chapter 9 | Layton

  Chapter 10 | Aiden

  Chapter 11 | Layton

  Chapter 12 | Aiden

  Chapter 13 | Layton

  Chapter 14 | Aiden

  Chapter 15 | Layton

  Chapter 16 | Aiden

  Chapter 17 | Layton

  Chapter 18 | Aiden

  Chapter 19 | Layton

  Chapter 20 | Aiden

  Chapter 21 | Layton

  Chapter 22 | Aiden

  Chapter 23 | Aiden

  Chapter 24 | Layton

  Chapter 25 | Layton

  Chapter 26 | Aiden

  Chapter 27 | Aiden

  Chapter 28 | Layton

  Epilogue | Aiden

  Sneak Peek of Nailed | Kingston

  Prologue | Dallas

  Chapter 1 | Paige

  About the Author

  It was supposed to be the happiest time of my life.

  And it was, until my husband left me.

  On our honeymoon.

  For the wedding planner.

  Now all I want to do is get over the humiliation with the one man I shouldn’t.

  Except he's avoiding me at all costs.

  But I'm not going to let Aiden McHugh get away. He might be the hottest quarterback in the NFL and my older brother’s best friend, but he doesn't intimidate me. He promised to help me and I’m holding him it... even if it means I have to convince him one seduction at a time.

  Until the seduced becomes the seducer.

  I no longer want to get over my ex; I just want Aiden.

  Prologue

  Aiden

  I SHOULD HAVE KEPT my ass at the dorm with the other scholarship kids who can’t afford to go home for Thanksgiving.

  The food is fucking weird.

  I can’t fucking curse.

  I can’t fucking understand even half what everyone’s saying.

  And Kingston Price’s little sister is wicked annoying.

  To be fair, she’s only annoying because I refuse to answer her questions.

  “My granny says that Yankees talk so fast because it’s so cold up there. Is that true?”

  I keep my eyes on the flat screen, wondering when someone’s going to tell her to pipe down. However, that won’t happen, because the men in this family are all googly-eyed over the women. My dad—well, when he bothered to come around—treated my ma like she owed him something.

  Thank fuck they watch football. At least we have that in common... except the Cowboys are playing the Patriots, and I’m the only one pulling for the Pats.

  I’m sitting in one of their family rooms with Kingston, his dad, and his little sister, Layton. Mrs. Price left us about five minutes earlier to put, Boone, the youngest Price, to bed.

  “She also says that Yankees don’t know how to cook, so y’all go hungry a lot and it’s why you’re always in a bad mood. Is that true?”

  Swear to God the kid is not only insulting me, but interviewing me, too. I slice my gaze to her. Sure enough, she’s got a notepad out and a pencil topped with pink feathers.

  “My ma’s cooking is the best fu—it’s the best out there, kid.”

  Layton scrunches her nose, muttering, “True.”

  “You can’t write that.”

  Her hazel eyes flick up to mine. “You can’t tell lies.”

  “You callin’ me a liar?” Why the fuck am I arguing with an eleven-year-old? I’m nineteen for Pete’s sake.

  “Layton, honey, leave Aiden be. He doesn’t want to be interviewed,” Mr. Price says, but I can tell he doesn’t mean it.

  “But I’m not really interviewing him, Daddy,” Layton protests. “I was only trying to get to know him, so I can make sure we have his favorite dishes tomorrow.”

  The way she smiles so serenely and sweetly, like a motherfucking princess, I know she won’t “leave me be”. I also know they won’t make her.

  Kingston chuckles. “Dude, just go with it. The sooner you answer, the faster it will be over.”

  “You encourage this bulls—crap?”

  Layton jumps into Kingston’s lap and hugs him. “He’s the best big brother ever.”

  “I’m not taking you fishing tomorrow and that’s final,” Kingston says as his sister lets go.

  Layton’s face gets red and her lips twist. “That’s not fair! Just because he showed up and ruined everything—”

  “Layton Tallulah Price, that is no way to make our guest feel welcome. Apologize now or face the consequences” Mr. Price isn’t smiling at all. He looks pissed as hell. Maybe this family shit is an act, or maybe he can’t hold his liquor and this was all he needed as an excuse to pound on his kids.

  My heart races.

  Blood pounds in my ears.

  I stand up, automatically putting myself between him and his daughter. “It’s my fault, sir. No need for an apology.” My hands ball into fists. I’ll fight the fucker if I have to, in order to keep Layton safe. Kingston can handle himself, I think. “Things don’t need to accelerate to consequences.”

  The pissed look fades from Mr. Price’s face so quickly that I do a double take. “Son, you okay?”

  “Fine. Just, ah, saying your daughter here doesn’t have to apologize... sir.” I tip up my chin, and adjust my stance. Never know with some people. I’m a Southie. Fighting dirty is in my soul and everyone in South Boston knows it, but these southerners, they’ll smile at you while driving the knife deep.

  “Yes, she does.”

  “Fine. I’m sorry, Aiden, that I’m angry you’re replacing me on my brother’s fishing trip.” Layton stomps out of the room, but not before her dad catches her.

  I take a step toward them, but all Mr. Price does is get down on her level to look her in the face.

  “That wasn’t a very good apology, honey, and the fact of the matter is Aiden isn’t replacing you. You’re getting too old to go gallivanting off with your brother and his friends.”

  Chauvinistic? Maybe.

  Do I agree with him... yeah, she’s not that far off from a teenager and where I’m from, girls not that much older than her already have a kid or two. Hell, my ma had me at sixteen. I grew up in a triple-decker with other kids just like me.

  Except I wasn’t just like them.

  I was only half-Irish and my ma’s Italian pride in an all-Irish housing project made us stick out like a sore thumb. And believe me, more than just my thumb was sore from all the beatings I took.

  Eventually, though, I learned to fight back and do it hard enoug
h that they left me the fuck alone.

  “I don’t want to gallivant. I want to fish,” she whispers, her cheeks heating with each word.

  “I know you do, and I promise that I’ll take you—just the two of us.”

  Layton nods. “Okay.”

  The room calms. Kingston and Mr. Price start watching the game again, like nothing’s just happened. Like I didn’t almost make a fool of myself by calling the old man out.

  Shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans, I move out of the way and back to my spot at the end of the sofa. It’s closest to the snacks Mrs. Price brought in before the game started.

  Layton walks to me, her big hazel eyes so full of tears that I’m shocked they haven’t spilled over, as she twists her hands together. “I’m sorry for being unkind, Aiden.”

  I wink at her. “S’all good, LT.”

  “LT?”

  “Layton Tallulah is a fucking mouthful.” Layton’s eyes round, and a couple of tears finally slide from the corners. Shit. “Sorry, baby girl.”

  “My momma says that guests don’t have to apologize for breaking our family rules.”

  Mrs. Price is good people. “That so?”

  Layton nods, the huge bow in her hair wobbling. “She also said we need to know your favorite food so you don’t feel so homesick. That was my job, and now I’ll get in trouble for that, too.”

  Warmth settles into my chest, and I smile. I never had a kid sister before, and maybe that’s how I should treat Layton. Her brother is decent enough, even for a yuppie. He didn’t have to ask me to come today. Given how I’ve been bustin’ his balls during practice for the past two years, I sure as fuck wouldn’t have asked him if our places were reversed.

  “You coulda just asked.”

  She shrugs. “I wanted to find out other stuff. I’ve never heard anyone talk like you before, except on TV.”

  Yeah, I’m a fucking unicorn around here. “Tell you what. Bring your notepad over here and I’ll tell you my favorite foods.”

  Layton eyes me. “And other stuff, too?”

  “Why is the other stuff so important?”

  A smile lights up her face, making me feel good inside. Decent, even. “Hold on and I’ll show you.” She runs out of the room.

  Kingston snorts. “You should have just said you’re forgiven and been done.”

  Probably so, but when have I ever done things the easy way? “What’s the harm with humoring her?” Besides, the Pats are losing, and I don’t feel like getting into another discussion about the Cowboy’s offense with Kingston or his dad.

  “You’ll see. But a word of warning,” Kingston begins, sounding like a lawyer who once repped me before I was sent off to juvie. “Once you’re in the binder, you’ll always be part of her life.”

  “The binder?”

  “Like I said, you’ll see.”

  Layton comes running into the room.

  “Ladies don’t run inside,” her dad says, and she stops so hard she almost falls over.

  “Yes, Daddy.” She flashes him a smile before marching over to me, her arms full of a sparkly pink book that’s half her size, a small bright green bag, and one of those instant Polaroid cameras my ma used to have when I was little. “I have an entire page for you, Aiden.”

  “That’s not weird.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Kingston has lots of pages, and he doesn’t think it’s weird.”

  Kingston smiles. I fully expect it to turn into a smirk, but it remains... loving. “I love being in your binder, honey. Let me know when I’m supposed to kick Joe’s tail.”

  Layton smirks at me. “See.”

  I can see that they indulge her, especially her big brother.

  “Smile.” She holds up the camera and the flash goes off, temporarily blinding me. I hear the sound of the camera spitting out the picture while I blink my eyes to get rid of the bright spots in them.

  She sits down beside me and opens the binder. Bits of glitter fall out onto my jeans while she finds a blank page. I hope to God that shit doesn’t stain because I only got one other pair.

  “This page is just for you.”

  “What do you want to know about me?” I ask.

  She unzips the green bag and gets out clear tape. A couple of seconds later, my unsmiling mug is taped to a blank page in the middle of the binder.

  “Your name and age.”

  “Aiden Anthony McHugh. Nineteen.”

  “Favorite color.”

  “Black, like my soul.”

  Layton’s pen pauses. “Seriously?”

  “Red and Blue.”

  “Favorite food?”

  “My ma’s lasagna.”

  “Girlfriend?”

  For no reason at all, my cheeks get hot. “Finley Owens.”

  Her mouth drops open. “You’re the hottie dating Paige’s sister?”

  “Sorry. What?”

  “My best friend Paige said her sister was dating a hottie from up North. Didn’t know it was you.” She grows serious. “Be nice to Finley. She convinced my momma to let me get my ears pierced with Paige last year. We were the last girls in fourth grade to get it done. So embarrassing.”

  “I’ll be nice to her.” We fight like cats and dogs, but go at it like fucking bunnies when we make up.

  “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

  “Quarterback for the Pats.”

  “Is your accent real?” she asks.

  “Southie until I die.”

  “Cats or dogs?”

  “Neither.” Never could afford to feed them either.

  “You’re the first person to ever say that.”

  “Must’ve not interviewed a lot of people.”

  She nods. “Only five. Joe’s next.”

  “Is this the same kid your brother mentioned earlier?”

  “Yup.” She grins. “I’m going to marry him when I’m twenty-six and he’s twenty-eight. You get to meet him tomorrow.”

  “Aren’t you a little young to be engaged?”

  “We’re not engaged, silly. Our families do everything together.”

  That isn’t an explanation, but I let it go.

  She flips slowly back to the beginning, handling each page with reverence. “I just started scrapbooking this year.”

  “Why?”

  “So I don’t forget anything.”

  “You’re in fifth grade. What’s there to forget?”

  “I don’t want future me to forget what past me loves.”

  “That’s pretty fucking deep, LT.” I wince, glancing guiltily around the room. Luckily, Kingston and Mr. Price are gloating over a touchdown.

  She turns to a page with a chapel drawn in the background. On the foreground is a bride and groom, each with a cut-out head taped over them. One is Layton, and the other has to be Joe.

  Shit. Can a thirteen-year-old already look like a grade-A douche?

  “Nice dress.”

  “Thank you.” She traces the outline of it with the tip of her finger. “Joe and I will get married here, and then we’ll live in the house next door for a little while. Wanna see it?”

  “You don’t think it’s a little weird to have that shi—stuff all planned out?” Layton’s big eyes meet mine, and uncertainty starts to cloud them. Fucking hell. “Show me the house.”

  She turns the page. The house is big. White with black shutters. It’s two stories with a yard, flowers, and other shit. Looks like something out of one of those magazines my ma likes to read.

  “You gotta back-up plan if Prince Charming and your fairy-tale wedding don’t work out?”

  Her nose scrunches. For a second, I worry I’ve hurt her feelings. “Why would I have one of those?”

  “In case future you changes her mind.”

  “I won’t change my mind,” she insists with a firm nod of her head.

  “What if Joe—right?” She nods. “What if Joe changes his mind?”

  “He won’t.”

  “How do you know?”

>   “True love doesn’t change its mind.”

  Fuck. I don’t want to ruin her childhood dreams of weddings and picture-perfect houses. “Say true love got it wrong—accidentally, of course—what about then?”

  “I don’t know...” She glances at her brother, and then back at me. “Would you be my back-up plan?”

  My mouth drops open a little.

  “You know, kinda like Kingston... You kick Joe’s butt to make him change his mind back? Kingston would just pound him into the ground until he got arrested.”

  Kingston raises his glass. “Southern men defend their sister’s honor.”

  Fuck southern men. That still leaves future Layton without her fucking fairy tale.

  Crossing my arms, I smirk at Kingston. “I’ll do you one better, LT. Joe changes his mind, and I’ll marry you. Buy you the house of your dreams and shit. That way, no one gets hurt or arrested, and future you doesn’t forget that past you wants a fairy tale.”

  “Always have to outdo me, McHugh.” Kingston shakes his head. “The last time you tried that, you ended up with cracked ribs.”

  I flip him off—who gives a fuck about rules when someone’s busting my chops? “Pretty sure marrying your own sister is illegal even down here... so unless you have a better plan to defend her honor...”

  “You’d do that?” Layton asks, and I turn my full attention back to her.

  She stares at me, as if she’s trying to figure out if I’m teasing her or being serious. Honestly, it’s a bit of both. Big brothers tease their little sisters, but they also make sure to be there when life sidelines them.

  “Swear to God, kid.”

  She solemnly holds out her hand, and I take it. “Deal.”

  Chapter 1

  Layton

  FIFTEEN YEARS LATER

  I’m about eighty-five percent sure Joe is cheating on me.

  Maybe I’m too pessimistic and it’s only forty-five percent.

  Or I’m naïve and it’s really ninety-five percent.

  Ugh.

  Why in the world did I go to Vivvy’s house and listen as she spread poison in a bless-your-heart kind of way about a soon-to-be-married man and his clueless fiancée?

  Let’s be real—the percentage should be zero because Joe is faithfully in love with me and we’re getting married in less than two weeks. No woman in her right mind would go forward with a wedding when she’s any percentage confident that her man is cheating on her.