by L A Cotton
My heart ached for him as I replayed the last few weeks over in my head. His worsening mood, the anger he carried around. He’d been so up and down. A whirlwind of emotions. But it made sense now. His world had been flipped.
So even though I was angry and hurt at being left on the sidelines, it didn’t change the fact that I wanted to call him. To tell him everything was okay. Because when you loved someone, that’s what you did. You faced the hard times together.
Chapter 17
KYLE
“Out on the field in five,” someone yelled, and a chorus of grumbles echoed around the locker room. After a morning running drills with one of USC’s senior players, my muscles felt like lead. There wasn’t a single part of me that didn’t feel overstretched and overworked.
But it fed me.
Made me push harder, run faster.
And so far, it had kept the beast at bay.
Which was a good fucking job since I couldn’t afford to screw this up. USC was my ticket to a shot at going pro. So, while my head wasn’t totally in the game, my body was more than willing to give one-hundred-and-ten-percent.
I grabbed my water bottle and chugged down another mouthful while quickly checking my cell phone. I didn’t expect to see a text from Laurie, but Lo had been keeping me informed. So when I saw Trent’s name, I frowned.
Trent: Thought you should know Laurie was hanging out with Teller. I know you guys are on a break, but that shit is messed up.
My jaw clenched as I read the text message, my fingers tightening around the phone in my hand.
“Yo, Stone, you almost done?” Darius said. “Coach wants us back on the field.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.”
Kyle: What do you mean they were hanging out? Be specific, Trent. I want to know everything. Every. Single. Detail.
The last of the guys filed out of the locker room. I had about two minutes before I had to go. But I couldn’t move. I needed to know.
Fuck.
She was with him? Hanging out with him?
I’d lost my shit seeing them at Brendon Palmer’s party but that was a one-off, wasn’t it? I didn’t expect to hear they were friends now.
The vibration of Trent’s incoming reply jolted me out of my anger.
Trent: Someone saw them at The Bay the night before last. They were with Autumn and Liam, and I think Lions was there too.
I started replying. That didn’t sound too scandalous. Autumn was after all, one of Laurie’s best friends. It made sense she would turn to her given our situation. But before I could finish, another text came through.
Trent: Apparently they looked cozy, man. They were in The Shack together, getting food or something.
Kyle: What, like a date?
Trent: How the fuck do I know? I’m just telling you what I heard.
Kyle: Find out! I have to go beat the shit out of something.
Trent: Geez, dude. I didn’t tell you, so you could hulk out again. I just thought you should know.
My fingers hovered over the screen. Before I could figure out a reply, another text came through.
Trent: Don’t do anything stupid.
Trent: Kyle!
I threw my cell in my bag and zipped it up. Dragging a hand down my face, I pictured Laurie with him. His hands reaching for her. Her smiling. Them.
Touching.
Laughing.
Them.
Together.
I roared, the guttural noise ricocheted around the room, and I slammed my fist down on the bench. The thing rattled, and someone’s water bottle toppled off, landing with a thud.
“Stone?” A voice yelled, and I dragged a hand over my face. “Do we have a problem?” A head appeared around the door, eyes narrowed right on me.
“Coming, Sir.” I gave coach a tight nod as I rose to my full height, untamed energy coursing through me.
“Let’s go play some football then, son.”
Play football.
I could do that. It came as easy as breathing, which was a relief since my heart had stopped beating the second my eyes read Trent’s second message.
And maybe if I was really lucky, I’d get to take out my frustration on the defensive players.
MEITER WAS CHOKING me out of the game. I’d known the second Coach called our names for the same team, he was going to make things difficult for me. But I’d underestimated his influence on the rest of the team. One of his guys had me pinned down for most the game, and instead of utilizing me for rush plays, Meiter went with the wide receiver, a kid called Delaney. Every. Damn. Time.
“Use Stone, use Stone,” Coach yelled as Meiter scoured the field for his receivers. But like the ten passes before, the ball sailed in the opposite direction to my position.
“Motherfucker,” I ground out under my helmet.
“Time,” someone yelled, and we made our way over to Coach who looked ready to blow a gasket.
Meiter shot me a smug smirk, schooling his expression the second we reached the circle.
“Don’t let him push your buttons, man.” Darius slid in beside me and we unclipped our helmets, giving ourselves time to catch our breath.
“Meiter, what the hell was that? I didn’t put Stone on your team for you to ignore him. Use him.”
“It’s not my fault if he’s pinned down, Coach. DeLaney is open. It makes sense to use—”
Coach levelled him with an icy glare. “I don’t have time for this bullshit. This is my field, my game. I say use Stone, use him.”
Meiter dropped his head and mumbled an ‘okay’.
“I want to run play nine and twelve again. By the letter. We will get this locked down if it takes all night. Are we clear?”
A grumble of “yes, Coach,” echoed around the field. It was balmy, the air thick and humid, and I was pretty sure I’d sweated off ten pounds, but adrenaline coursed through me. It was powerful. A distraction from all the other stuff in my head.
Nope. Not going there. Not when I needed to focus on Meiter.
“You good?” Darius asked me as we moved back into position on the field.
I nodded and trained my eye on Meiter as he scooped up the ball and got ready. I inhaled a long breath, letting him fill my lungs and fuel me. I knew this play inside out. I’d seen the Trojan’s execute it enough times to be able to visualize it in my head. And I’d be damned if Aaron Meiter was going to screw things up for me. The whistle blew, and I cut left carving out an open space. I lifted my hand indicating I was ready to receive. Meiter’s eyes found mine but he hesitated, glancing from me to DeLaney and back again. Sonofabi—
“Stone’s open,” someone yelled and Meiter complied, hiking the ball in my direction, clean and precise. I tracked its projection moving into position. The second the ball grazed my fingers, instinct took over and I snatched it right to my body, put my head down, and ran.
My legs ate up the distance between me and the end zone, fresh air whipping through the grill of my helmet, blood pumping in my ears.
It was a beautiful place to be.
Free.
Weightless.
A defensive player came out of nowhere, lunging for me but I dodged his advance, and he went down like a sack of bricks. I was so close. So close I could almost taste the touchdown and then someone slammed me so hard, the air was sucked clean from my lungs and my body folded into itself. But I didn’t let up the ball, I rolled onto my stomach and held on for life.
“Nice, Stone,” a voice said as my teammates surrounded me. “Shit, man, you were like Usain Bolt or something.”
“I guess it was... okay.” My body went rigid at the sound of Meiter’s voice.
“Come on,” I said, pushing up onto my knees and standing tall, checking myself for injuries. “You’ve got to admit it, Meiter, you think I'm awesome.” Flashing him a smug grin, I turned to Darius and a couple of the other guys to celebrate. But Meiter couldn’t let it go.
“It was a lucky run.”
I spun around quicker
than lightning. “There was nothing lucky about it, and you know it.”
“Geez, Stone, don’t get your panties in a wad.”
Glancing over at Coach who was discussing the play with his supervising staff, I said, “The only one wearing panties here, is you, Meiter. The frills are a nice touch.”
The color drained from his face and then exploded in his cheeks. “At least I’m not fucking my cousin.”
“What did you say?”
“You heard me, rumor has it your brother is screwing your cousin. I knew your family were messed up but I didn’t realize it went that—”
My fist connected with his face and the sound of bone on bone filled the air. And all hell broke loose. Meiter recovered quickly, slamming his shoulder into me, knocking me off balance and the two of us went down. Hard. Someone shouted. But I was too focused on my fist... in his face. More shouts. More punches. He got me a good one in the rib and I sucked in a sharp painful breath.
“Fuck.” That hurt.
“You’re more like your stepbrother than you give yourself credit for.” He taunted, grinning up at me through bloodied teeth.
“You’re done, Meiter.” I grappled for control as his solid frame tried to buck me off. “You’re so—”
“WHAT THE HELL? STONE, MEITER. QUIT ROLLING AROUND LIKE A PAIR OF GIRLS AND GET OVER HERE.” Coach’s voice echoed around the field and the place went silent. My chest heaved as I cussed under my breath and rolled off Meiter, giving myself a couple of seconds to catch my breath. My ribs stung like a bitch and I was pretty sure he’d given me a black eye, but oddly, I felt... lighter. Like I’d just run a half-marathon and come out on top.
I was losing my fucking mind.
“STONE! MEITER! OVER HERE, NOW!”
The two of us got up, thanks to the help of a couple of our teammates, and slunk over to Coach, disappointment rolling off him like an angry wave.
“Care to explain yourselves?”
“I—” My mouth snapped shut and I let Meiter try to talk our way out of this one.
“You’re benched, both of you. I’ll see you in my office first thing tomorrow. Get your sorry asses off my field.”
Fuck.
Fuck!
“Happy now, Stone?” Meiter hissed as we made our way to the tunnel. I wanted to argue—to set him straight given that he’d pushed me. But I was as much to blame. I took the bait. I let him press my buttons.
I lost control.
He didn’t make me throw down.
He didn’t make me crush my fist into his face.
That was all on me. Because I couldn’t be the bigger person.
The better person.
It was Jared Teller all over again. Except this time, Laurie hadn’t been the trigger. Shit. Who was I kidding? This was all about her. About us. About the fact my perfect life and perfect future was slipping through my fingers.
Every time I thought of Maria Lessinger, it was like another nail in the coffin on the good life of Kyle Stone. And if it wasn’t her, it was Laurie. Laurie with Jared.
Another mental image of them close. Touching.
Another nail.
At this rate, by the time I got back to Wicked Bay the casket would be good and buried, the old version six feet under and worm food.
I needed a miracle now.
A motherfucking miracle.
Chapter 18
LAURIE
The door swung open and the air left my lungs. “Kyle?” I croaked out. “But w- what—”
“Tell me it’s not true.”
“What?” My brows knitted together. I was so surprised to see him given he wasn’t supposed to get in until tonight. And even then, I hadn’t anticipated seeing him. We hadn’t talked in almost a week.
“Tell me you weren’t with Jared Teller at The Shack?”
My mouth hung open, disbelief radiating through every inch of me. “You were spying on me?”
The muscle in his jaw pulsated as he made a grunting sound in his throat. “No, I wasn’t spying on you. It’s a public diner. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”
“I wasn’t at The Shack with Jared, Kyle.” I stood taller, overcome with irritation. How dare he—after everything—come here accusing me, of what? Dating Jared in his absence? It would be laughable, if it wasn’t so sad that this is what our relationship had become. Secrets wrapped up in lies neatly tied with a string of doubt.
“So, it wasn’t you?” His brow arched, accusation lingering in his voice.
“Yes. No.” I sighed, hating that I sounded guilty. Clearing my throat, I drew in a calming breath and continued, “I mean, I was there, but we weren’t together. It wasn’t like that.”
“Fuck.” He raked his hair, pulling the ends in frustration. “Five days, I was away five days and he—”
“Don’t make this about Jared, Kyle. This has nothing to do with him.”
“It doesn’t?” he barked hysterically, and I glanced around hoping my neighbors weren’t tending their garden or spying on us out of the window—it wouldn’t have been the first time. The last thing I needed was them reporting back to my parents.
“Come inside and we can talk.” I pulled the door wider and moved to the side. Kyle’s eyes darted around my face and then the fight left his body, his shoulders visibly sagging. Without so much as a word he came inside, the click of the door cutting through the tension swirling around us like a knife.
“I went to a bonfire with Autumn,” I explained. “Jared hangs out with Liam and Devon. It wasn’t a date. We weren’t there together. Nothing happened.”
At least, nothing with Jared.
Kyle stared at me like he didn’t recognize me, and it killed me. “He wants you, Laurie. You know he does. So what I can’t figure out is why? Why put yourself in that situation, unless...” His unspoken accusation hung between us, pushing us further away, creating more distance than there already was.
“You think I like this?” I said softly. “You think it’s fun for me, watching you self-destruct, standing by while you ruin us?”
“Ruin us?” he scoffed. “You think I’m the one ruining us? I’m trying to protect us.” His voice rose an octave, heavy with frustration. “From the vultures, from the blood sucking leeches. Why can’t you get that? Why can’t you just...”
Kyle swallowed whatever it was he’d been about to say and stepped closer, taking the air with him. I should have moved. Everything in me was telling me to move but when he reached for me, I leaned in. Magnets unable to resist the pull. His hand curled into my hair and around my neck, drawing me in. And then I was in his arms, surrounded by his smell, his familiarity.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered against my hair. “I thought I was going to lose my mind and then Trent texted me saying he’d heard you went out with Jared. I lost it. Completely lost it. Coach had to rip me off another player. I got benched.”
“Kyle.” I pulled away to stare up at him. “You can’t keep losing your temper. It isn’t you. You don’t let your emotions get the better of you like that.”
“I can’t help it, babe. When I think I might lose you, I see red. Just the thought of it slays me, Laurie.” He leaned down, ghosting his lips over mine.
And I let him.
Because we needed this—he needed this—and I didn’t have it in me to say no.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. But you have to trust me, you have to know that I’m doing this all for you. For us. For our future.”
“I know.”
I hadn’t known if I was going to confront him until this very moment. Part of me didn’t want to bring it up, yet he seemed so devastated, so unhinged. And I didn’t want any more secrets between us.
He relaxed against me and I realized he thought I was accepting his apology. Sucking in a shaky breath, I repeated my words, leaving nothing to chance this time. “No, Kyle, I mean I know about your sister.” I blinked up at him. “About your mom.”
The color drained from hi
s face as his whole body went rigid. “What did you say?” he asked in a cool tone.
“I saw her, at The Shack again. I- I went after her.”
His arms slipped away, and he stepped back, putting an ocean between us. “You went after her? After I told you she was no one? That she didn’t matter?” The sting of betrayal glittered in his eyes.
“I had to know who she was. It would have driven me crazy otherwise.”
“But I asked you to let me handle it, I asked...” Kyle ran a hand over his hair and clutched his neck. “You didn’t trust me.”
The defeat in his voice hurt so much that, for a second, I questioned my actions. Had I done a bad thing, going after Kiera, pushing her for the truth? But I wasn’t in the wrong. She’d been watching us, watching Kyle.
I loved him. And when you loved someone, you did whatever was necessary to help them.
Didn’t you?
“It’s not about trust, don’t you see that?” I said softly. “It’s about having something between us. You lied, Kyle. It wasn’t going away. It was only going to get worse. To spiral into something neither of us could fix. So, I made a choice. That’s why I was with Jared, he—”
“He was there? He knows?” Fear and anger flashed in his wide eyes and I shrunk into myself, knowing how it sounded. Wishing I could spin it another way. But the truth was, Jared had been there. He’d been the one to comfort me that night.
It didn’t mean I wanted him though.
“He came to see if I was okay.” I stared at Kyle, willing him to believe me. “Kiera, your sister, she got angry and said some things.”
He started pacing, rubbing his face. “I told her not to come around again. I told her to leave me alone. She should have listened, she should have...” His words were laced with so much panic and confusion that I rushed to him. But when I reached out and tried to comfort him, he flinched, backing away from my touch. “You spoke to her?”
I nodded slowly, my hands hanging limply at my side. He was hurting; I’d tried to comfort him, but he rejected me.
What did that say about us?
