Off-Limits

by L A Cotton

  Off-Limits

  A Rixon High Novel

  l a cotton

  Published by Delesty Books

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  OFF-LIMITS

  Copyright © L A Cotton 2021

  All rights reserved.

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

  * * *

  No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.

  * * *

  Edited by Andrea M Long

  Proofread by Sisters Get Lit(erary) Author Services

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Epilogue

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To everyone who has ever felt different.

  You are enough.

  Chapter One

  Lily

  Everything is going to be fine.

  I chanted the words like a prayer in my head as I stared at myself in the mirror.

  It was the first day of senior year. A day for feeling excited and eager and cautiously optimistic. A day to make bucket lists and plans for the future.

  A day to smile.

  But my smile was fake, and my bucket list contained only one item: survive.

  “Let’s go, Lilster.” My sister Poppy poked her head around the door, smiling. “Ooh, cute outfit.” She gave me the once over.

  Anyone would think it was her first day of senior year, but no, my sister was a junior. A confident, bubbly, popular junior.

  And I was… a wallflower.

  Shy, meek, Lily Ford.

  “I’m coming,” I said, checking my reflection for the last time.

  You’ve got this.

  With a weak smile, I grabbed my backpack and followed Poppy downstairs.

  “Good morning, my two favorite girls.”

  “Morning, Mom. Something smells good.”

  “I made blueberry pancakes.”

  “Hmm, my favorite,” Poppy said. “Where’s Peyton?” she asked, but seconds later, my best friend burst through the kitchen door.

  “Good morning,” she sang.

  “Good morning, Peyton. You’re looking very…” Mom’s brows furrowed as she sipped her coffee. “Is that school appropriate?”

  “No. No it isn’t.” Dad waltzed into the room and gave Peyton a disapproving glance. “I know it’s senior year, but that,” he wagged a finger at her outfit, “is not happening on my watch.”

  “Mr. Ford,” she said, around a puppy-dog pout, “it’s my lucky blouse.”

  “Lucky blouse or unlucky blouse, go change.”

  “Ugh, fine.” She stomped off out of the kitchen.

  “Do you think we’re being too hard on her?” Mom asked no one in particular.

  “She needs boundaries, Fee. And while she’s staying under our roof…” He trailed off, running a hand over his jaw.

  “You’re right. I thought we had our hands full with these two, but add Peyton into the mix and whew, I’m not sure I’m cut out for three teenage girls.”

  “Try being the only male in a house full of estrogen.”

  “Dad!” Poppy cringed.

  “What?” He shrugged. “It’s true.” His eyes flicked to mine, a hundred questions glittering there. I gave him a small smile and nodded.

  I was fine.

  Everything was going to be fine.

  “Okay, better?” Peyton appeared in the doorway. She’d slipped a black tank on under her blouse, so half her midriff was no longer showing, but I had no doubt she’d take it off the second we left the house.

  “Much,” Dad grunted. “Now get in here and eat something.”

  “So what do you think they’ll be like?” Poppy said the moment she sat down.

  “They’re just kids, Pops, not some alien life form from another planet.”

  “Yeah, but Rixon East hates us.”

  “Well, we’re going to all need to put that aside and welcome them into school with a friendly smile.” Mom wasn’t looking at us, she was staring at Dad who looked murderous. “Jason,” she added.

  “Yeah, I know. I just… fuck, did it have to be him?”

  “Jase!” She scolded, flicking her eyes to us.

  “What exactly happened with you and Mr. Thatcher anyway?” Peyton asked.

  “It’s ancient history,” Mom replied. “And we can’t judge a young man’s worth by the sins of his father.” She gave Dad another hard look.

  “I heard Kaiden Thatcher is one of the best quarterbacks in state.” Peyton had that look in her eyes, the same look she got whenever a cute guy was around.

  “I already have a quarterback, that’s the problem.” Dad drained his coffee. “I don’t know how the school board expects me to assimilate two teams into one roster. It’s an impossible task. Not to mention, the rumors that he’s a bit of a loose cannon like his father.”

  Mom went over to him and squeezed his shoulders. “You’ll figure it out. You’re Jason freaking Ford.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek.

  Dad was stressed. Had been ever since we found out that Rixon East, the school across the river, had almost burned down over the summer. Almost a third of its kids were transferring to Rixon High this year. Including the majority of its senior football players. Which would have been fine, if it wasn’t for the huge rivalry between their school and ours.

  It was a whole thing.

  As coach for the Rixon Raiders, my dad had his hands full this semester, trying to deal with the assimilation.

  “Girls, do you want a ride to school?”

  “Actually, Mr. Ford, Ashleigh is giving us a ride,” Peyton rushed out a little too hastily.

  “She is?”

  “Yeah, Dad, she wants to show off her new shiny Mazda.” It was an early birthday present from her parents.

  “Well, you girls drive safe.” He tipped his face up to Mom. “Maybe I should call Cam.”

  “You don’t need to call Cam. Ashleigh is a sensible driver.”

  “Seriously, Dad. Lilster is a senior now. If she had her own car then—”

  “Poppy.” I kicked her under the table. We’d discussed this. I didn’t want a car, not yet. Poppy and Peyton would only want me to chauffeur them around and Rixon was small enough to navigate on foot or by bus.

  Besides, I wasn’t ready.

  “You feeling okay, Lil?” Peyton asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “You haven’t eaten much.” Mom frowned at my plate of barely touched pancakes.

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Lily, you have to—”

  “Fee.” Da
d shook his head. “It’s senior year jitters, that’s all. Happens to the best of us.” He winked at me and some of the tension inside me ebbed away.

  “You have nothing to worry about.” Peyton smirked. “Senior year is going to be epic.”

  “Yeah.” I managed a weak smile.

  Epic.

  I wanted to share her enthusiasm. I wanted to be excited about what the year would bring.

  But the truth was, the only thing I wanted was to get through each day.

  “I can’t believe she’s—yep, she got in Sean’s car.”

  Ashleigh, Poppy, and I watched as his car drove off with Peyton inside. Mom and Dad would freak if they saw her going with him. Sean Farrow wasn’t exactly a star student. But that was Peyton, always falling for the diamonds in the rough. She craved attention. I didn’t blame her though, she’d had a tough life.

  People often didn’t understand why we were friends. The wild child and the wallflower. Peyton Myers was everything I wasn’t. Beautiful, confident, and strong-willed. But she was also damaged. Damaged in a way only other damaged people could understand.

  I understood.

  We were different in all the ways society deemed important, but our souls were the same.

  She didn’t judge me or my issues just as I didn’t judge hers.

  “God, I wish I was as brave as her.” Poppy let out a soft sigh.

  “Oh yeah, Pops,” Ashleigh teased, “and which guy’s car would you be climbing into?”

  “No one’s,” she rushed out a little too quickly.

  “Wait a second.” My brows furrowed. “Do you like a boy?” I teased.

  “No, that’s not what I—oh, shut up. Both of you.” She poked her tongue out, scrunching her nose up in annoyance.

  “So what do you think it’ll be like… you know, with half of Rixon East starting school?”

  “It isn’t half, Leigh. Dad said it’s more like a third.”

  “Half, third, it doesn’t matter. It’s still a whole lot of new kids.” She shrugged as she made the turn for our school. “It’s going to be interesting for sure.”

  That was one way of putting it.

  “Did your dad say anything else about it?”

  “He’s worried about the team. If he’s got to give the East players a fair shot it will cause issues,” Poppy said.

  “I already heard Jenson and his guys are refusing to play if Coach gives any of their positions to East players.”

  “I’m sure it will figure itself out,” I said, staring out of the window, watching the world roll by.

  “Hey, you good?” Ashleigh asked me.

  I nodded. “Just first day jitters.”

  Her brows pinched as I met her eyes. “It’s going to be okay, Lil. We’re seniors now. It’s our time to shine.”

  That was just it though. I didn’t want to shine. I wanted to stay in my safe little bubble where I knew what to expect.

  “Have you given any more thought to college?” she asked.

  “I’m still not sure.”

  “Well, you have time.”

  Time.

  It already felt like it was running away from me. Mrs. Bennet, the guidance counsellor, would want to know my plans. She would expect me to have some idea of where I wanted to apply, and when I told her my small list of in-state schools, she would encourage me to think further afield.

  But the truth was, I wasn’t sure I was ready.

  School was a hive of activity when we arrived. Everyone was watching, waiting for the Rixon East kids to make their grand entrance.

  I empathized a lot. When I’d started Rixon High, I’d been terrified. Middle school wasn’t easy for me. It should have been a blessing, being the daughter of one of Rixon’s most famous residents. But it was my curse. I loved my dad; I loved him something fierce. It wasn’t easy sometimes though, being Lily Ford, daughter of NFL legend Jason Ford.

  “Lil?” Ashleigh said, pulling me back into the moment.

  “Yeah, coming.” I gave her a weak smile and she laced her arm through mine. Poppy gave us a small wave and skipped off to find her best friend Sofia.

  “Peyton and Sean look cozy.” Ashleigh motioned over to where he had our friend pinned up against the side of his car. His hand was buried in her hair as he leaned in, whispering something to her. Peyton giggled, her hands running up his chest.

  A pang of jealousy zipped through me. She was so good at that, at being with guys. Flirting and having fun with them. She never let herself get close, that wasn’t Peyton’s MO, but she soaked up their attention like warm rays of sunshine. I envied her. Guys at school treated me like a social leper. I was Coach Ford’s daughter. The apple of his eye. The shy, meek girl who hung out in the shadows. Even if they were interested, and they weren’t, nobody was brave enough to ask out the coach’s daughter.

  I watched Sean brush his lips over Peyton’s, once, twice… Most girls would have begged for more, batting their eyelashes and smiling seductively. But not Peyton. She gave him a saucy wink before slipping out from between him and his car and made her way over to us.

  “You and Sean looked cozy?” Ashleigh said.

  “He’s a cutie but I’m not sure he’s the guy for me.” She flicked her long platinum blonde hair off her shoulder.

  “Are they ever the guy for you?” I asked.

  “High school guys are fun but they’re too… eager.” Peyton let out a soft sigh, something flashing in her eyes. Sometimes, I wondered if it was all a front. Her confidence and bravado. Her don’t care attitude. But there were some things not even best friends told each other.

  We made our way into school, and I focused on my breathing. In and out. In and out. Steady inhales and long exhales, until my racing heart started to calm.

  “Okay?” Peyton squeezed my hand, and I nodded.

  “Oh hey, Peyton, Ashleigh… Lily.” Lindsey Filmer and her cheerleader friends approached us. “Have you seen any of the East kids yet?”

  “Nope.” Peyton pretended to pick her nails. “I was too busy making out with Sean.”

  Lindsey’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You and Sean Farrow?”

  “Well, yeah… I mean, you did break up with him before summer, right? So I figured he’s fair game.” She shrugged.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t think he’d…”

  “What? Choose the trailer trash over Cheer Barbie?”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Oh, I know exactly what you meant, Linds.” Peyton flashed her a saccharine smile. “Happy first day back.”

  Ashleigh snorted, but I rolled my eyes. “Peyton,” I said.

  “It’s okay, babe. Lindsey was just leaving, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah, whatever. Come on,” she said to her friends and they turned and sauntered off.

  “Do you have to poke the bear?” I hissed.

  “Oh, come on, Lil. She deserved it. Lindsey is a grade A bitch, who, might I add, is only going to get worse now it’s senior year.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t encourage her.”

  “Peyton’s right,” Ashleigh nodded, “she deserves everything she gets.”

  The hall ushered into silence as a group of guys entered the building. Not just any guys.

  Rixon East Eagles.

  They all wore their red and white jerseys, moving as one. A ripple went through the air as the whispers started, rising like a wave hurtling toward the shore.

  “Holy shit, they have balls,” Peyton whispered as we stood and watched the scene unfold.

  They passed us and the air seemed to thin, but then our players entered the building, and Jenson Monroe, the captain of the football team, called out, “Yo, Eagles. You seem to have forgotten this isn’t your school.”

  The new guys turned, and one pushed to the front, coming face-to-face with Jenson.

  Anticipation crackled around us as the two teams went head-to-head in the hall. Ashleigh laced her arm through mine and pulled me close.

  “You’re not welc
ome here,” Jenson said.

  “You think I give a shit what you think, Monroe? I’m here to play ball and graduate, that’s all.”

  The Eagles’ mouthpiece was as tall as Jenson, with the same broad shoulders and muscular arms. His hair was mousey brown streaked through with dark blond, falling in his face a little, but it was his menacing eyes that stood out.

  “Okay, okay.” Dad appeared, instantly cooling the situation. “Football players, locker room, now.” His hard gaze moved past Jenson to the Eagles’ players. “All of you. Everyone else, get to class.”

  “Everything okay here?” he asked, his eyes lingering on mine, and I nodded.

  “Good. I’m going to deal with this.” He stalked off down the hall, but that’s when I noticed a couple of the players hadn’t moved.

  “Problem?” Peyton snapped.

  “No problem.” The guy said coolly, and he turned to follow his teammates.

  But Peyton stepped forward. “Hey, new guy, what’s your name?” she called after him.

  He looked back, but his eyes slid straight past my best friend to me. “Kaiden,” he said. “Kaiden Thatcher.”

  Chapter Two

  Kaiden

  My guys waited for me, and I led them into the locker room. None of us wanted to be here, in a different school, with a different team. Our rival team, no less. The whole thing was a fucking shitshow, but the damage to Rixon East was too substantial for it to reopen in time for the semester. Which meant playing for another team or watching senior year go up in flames too.