Rebellious and Reckless: College Sports Romance Stand-Alone (Campus Hotshots Book 1): Campus Hotshots

by Michelle A. Valentine

  “When?” I choke out.

  “Last night,” Simon confirms. “A drunk driver hit her head-on when she was coming home from church.”

  “Oh, my God. How’s Mom doing?” I can’t even imagine how she’s handling this news. She and Aunt Dee were close.

  “She’s struggling, but she’s doing her best to hold things together and be strong for Quinn.” He clears his throat. “So, I’m getting ready to leave Atlanta to head home, and I wanted to let you know I’ll swing by and pick you up since I’ll be going through Ohio.”

  “All right. I’ll text you my address.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

  When I end the call, Miley frowns. “You okay?”

  “No,” I whisper. “My great-aunt Dee died yesterday. I have to go home and be with my family.”

  She reaches over and grabs my hand. “Oh, Sky. I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?”

  “No. I need to get home and pack.” I stand, almost as if on autopilot, and head for the door, and do my best not to completely break down as I pass people along my walk back home.

  “Sky, wait!” Miley calls and then jogs to catch up with me. “I’ll walk you home and then help you pack.”

  “Thank you.” I bat away another rogue tear.

  I don’t even remember the walk home as I twist the key in the lock to allow us inside. After I toss my keys on the counter, I head into my bedroom to get my suitcase. It takes up most of the space on my full bed after I open it up, so Miley sits on the corner and watches me.

  I busy myself neatly folding jeans and sweaters into two piles to make sure I have enough clothes for my trip.

  Shortly after I get started, the front door opens, and Baker’s voice echoes down the hall. “Sky? You here?”

  “We’re in your bedroom,” Miley answers for me.

  Baker’s brown eyes flit from me to the suitcase and then back to me. “You going somewhere?”

  Miley pushes herself off the bed and grabs her purse off the floor. She steps over to me and wraps me in a hug, kissing my cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”

  “I will. Thanks.” I pull back and wipe my eyes again.

  Miley passes by Baker, who is staring at me with a soft expression. Once we’re alone, he takes a hesitant step. “Is everything all right?”

  I shake my head, and the moment our eyes meet, all the emotions I’ve been holding in since I heard the news burst out of me. I cover my face and sob so hard it’s difficult to catch my breath. Baker rushes to me and wraps his strong arms around me. I cling to him, soaking his shirt with my tears.

  “You’re scaring me. What’s wrong? Tell me, please,” he murmurs as he strokes my hair.

  I try to catch my breath. “My great-aunt died. She was like my grandma. My brother is on his way to pick me up to take me home.”

  Baker leans back to look at me. “I’ll take you.”

  “No. Baker, you don’t have to—”

  “I know that. I want to. Let me do this for you.” He holds my face in his large hands. “I want to take care of you.”

  The sincerity in his eyes touches me, and it’s easy to see the love he has for me. “All right.”

  I swallow hard, not knowing how my family will handle me bringing Baker home, considering the circumstances, but I know I need him by my side to make it through this.

  30

  Sky

  The past few road trips we’ve been on together have been exciting, but this one doesn’t have a fun destination so the vibe is completely different. Other than shifting gears, Baker has kept my hand in his the entire ride. It’s another subtle way he’s reassuring me he’s here for me in my time of need.

  No one in my family is aware Baker is coming with me unless Simon has already spilled the beans. I had to call him back and tell him I didn’t need a ride to Detroit after all. I admire Baker’s fearlessness. I don’t know if the shoe were on the other foot I could so bravely walk into the bear’s den where I know the alpha doesn’t like me. It really shows the lengths he’s willing to go to be there for me.

  “Take the next left,” I tell Baker as I point him toward my childhood home. “Then go down about a half mile. It’s the big, brick two-story on the right with the gate.”

  He nods. I’ve never seen his father’s house, but I imagine it’s similar the one I grew up in—probably much larger, though. My father didn’t come from money, but over the years during his career, he has amassed substantial wealth. He’s proud of all he’s accomplished, but he is always quick to remind anyone who questions it that he earned everything he has on his own.

  The Mustang pulls up to the gate in front of my house, and I give Baker the gate code. When it swings open, I release a sigh of relief. At least I know my father didn’t change it in order to keep me from coming home.

  “Your house is beautiful,” Baker tells me. “Has your family lived here long?”

  “All my life. My father grew up on the other side of town, and my mother moved here after she graduated college—that’s how she met my dad. The house Dad grew up in burnt down, so he built a community center for the local youths there. He likes to go over and give back to where he grew up. It’s a tough area, and there’s not much to keep the young people out of trouble.”

  “That’s cool. Sounds like X is a pillar of the community. The most my dad has ever given back is writing a check.”

  I shrug. “That’s still good. At least he’s willing to give back. There are a lot of people out there who don’t help the less fortunate.”

  Baker parks the car and then turns to me. “You ready for this?”

  He’s aware I haven’t told them he was coming with me.

  “As I’ll ever be, but let’s leave our bags in the car just in case Dad kicks me out, and we have to go stay at a hotel.”

  “Do you think he’ll actually do that because of me?”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Don’t sweat it too much, gorgeous. I’m a pretty good boyfriend and will be on my best behavior. Maybe I can at least get your mom on our side.”

  I give him a small smile. “Winning her over will be a victory. She’s the only person who gets to boss Dad around, so she’ll force him to get over the fact he doesn’t get to control my every move anymore.”

  “Okay, then, let’s go inside so I can win her over.” He tells me before leaning over the center console of his car to give me a quick kiss and then opening his door.

  He hustles around to my side to help me out of the car, and when I hook my arm in his, I steady myself and will my nerves to calm down. Never in my life did I picture I would be this scared to walk through my own front door, but I am petrified to face my father again after the last showdown we had.

  I open the front door without knocking and call through the house. “Hello? Mom?”

  Nothing has changed since I left for school in the fall. Everything is still neatly in place as my mother always keeps them. The sounds of footsteps pad in our direction from the kitchen, and the moment I spot Mom, I release Baker and rush into her arms. She wraps her arms around me so tight I feel like I might pop, and then she inhales deeply as if pinning my scent to her memory.

  “It’s so good to see you, baby. I’ve missed you so much,” she whispers in my ear as I cling to her.

  “I’ve missed you too, Mom.”

  We separate, and she grabs both of my wrists to size me up in my jeans and form-fitting top with a cardigan thrown over. “You look fabulous, honey. I approve of this new wardrobe. Very grown-up compared to those baggy sweatshirts you were always wearing around.” Her eyes drift over to Baker standing behind me, and she releases me. “You must be Baker.” Without warning, my mother steps around me and politely hugs my boyfriend. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.”

  “I hope it’s okay I’m here. I wanted to be here for Sky,” he tells her with a sheepish grin.

  Mom pats his cheek. “Aren’t you sweet? And it’s totally fine. Thank
you for driving her home.” She takes a step back toward the way she came. “Come on to the kitchen so we can chat while I get dinner ready. Your father’s flight will land in an hour, and Simon should be here any time.”

  I grab Baker’s hand and tug him along with me. “Mom, do you think Dad will be okay with Baker and me staying here?”

  She washes her hands to get back to chopping cucumbers for the salad she’s preparing. “Why wouldn’t he be?”

  I shrug as I take a seat at the island across from her and then pat the seat next to me for Baker. “The last time I saw Dad, he was upset to find out I had a boyfriend.”

  She waves me off dismissively. “He’ll have to get over the shock of the fact you’re growing up on him.”

  “And if he doesn’t?” I ask, knowing my father isn’t exactly known for forgiving trespasses against him so easily.

  Mom stares at me with her green eyes, which stand out against her olive skin and dark hair. “He’ll come around. Have faith in him.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I tell her as I watch her chopping veggies. “You know, Mom, Baker here is a whiz in the kitchen.”

  She raises her eyebrows. “Is that so? I’m happy to hear that because Sky needs all the help she can get in that department. The poor girl burns everything.”

  “Mom,” I whine.

  Baker chuckles next to me. “So I’ve noticed.” He hops up onto his feet. “Do you need help with anything?”

  Mom tilts her head and grins. “Actually, I do. Can you peel potatoes?”

  “Absolutely,” he answers and I sit in awe as I watch Baker work his magic on winning over my mother just like he said he was going to do.

  As if my brother could smell the grill being put to use, he wafts into the kitchen. “What are we having?”

  My eyes snap over to my brother, Simon, who is almost a carbon copy of my father with the exception he wears his hair short, cropped closely to his head, while Dad still tends to wear his a little on the longer side and back in a ponytail. Simon’s eyes are light blue, like me and Dad’s, and we both have a great tan complexion thanks to our mother’s Spanish roots.

  Simon comes over and throws a larger arm around my shoulders for a small hug. “Hey, baby sister. How’re you doing?” He holds me a fraction longer than our typical greeting, letting me know he’s happy to see me but sad under the circumstance in which we’ve been brought together. “Where’s this guy Dad is losing his mind about?”

  I smack his arm. “Be nice. Baker is outside with Mom pulling the steaks off the grill.”

  Simon holds his hands up defensively. “As long as he’s not an asshole, I’ll be nice. Dad said he’s a boxer. Do you think he’s any good?”

  “He can hold his own,” I answer honestly. “He’s still fairly new at it, but he’s a quick study.”

  Simon nods. “Does he have any interest in wrestling?”

  I shrug. “He’s never mentioned it, but to be fair, I’ve never asked him about it either.”

  He arches an eyebrow. “Maybe he should try out. Dad said as much as he hated to admit it, your boyfriend is a great athlete and has potential to make it as a wrestler if he got the proper training. What did he say when Dad told him Tension was interested in him?”

  “Our dialog took a hard right after Dad said Baker wasn’t good enough for me, and it all went downhill from there.”

  “Ouch.” Simon purses his lips. “That’s harsh. Once Dad gets over the fact you’re fucking this guy, he’ll talk to him about trying out for Tension.”

  “Oh, my God. Never ever talk about my sex life again.” I can’t hide the disgust on my face. “Besides, I can’t believe you aren’t teaming up with Dad being pissed off at me for even having a boyfriend.”

  He holds his hands up. “Hey, I’m no longer getting paid by Dad to scare all the guys away from you like I did back in high school, so I don’t give a shit what you do anymore.”

  My mouth drops open. “Dad paid you?!”

  Simon pops a piece of cucumber into his mouth. “Yeah? I thought you knew about that?”

  My blood boils, and thinking back on my adolescent years, suddenly everything makes sense. Simon wasn’t keeping guys away because he was protecting my virtue. He was doing it because my father paid him to, which increased my brother’s motivation tenfold. I can’t believe they did this to me. No wonder I never had a date until I went to college.

  Before I can express my displeasure knowing my father paid my brother to be a bodyguard my entire life, Baker and Mom come inside, carting their grilled masterpieces.

  Baker sets the food down on the counter and then comes around to extend a hand to Simon. “What’s up, man? I’m Baker.”

  My brother gives Baker’s hand a firm shake. “Simon—the brother. Sorry our first meeting is under such shitty circumstances.”

  “Simon, language,” Mom scolds.

  “Sorry, Mom, but it is shitty. Aunt Dee was awesome, and I hate she’s gone.”

  Mom’s lip trembles. “I miss her already. She was an amazing person. The world will certainly be a less colorful place without her.”

  Silence falls over the room, and again it hits me that Aunt Dee is actually gone. She’s the first person who I’ve been really close to who’s died. I’m unsure how to process her death—the finality of it. My thoughts drift to Baker, who had to say goodbye to his own mother not so long ago. Empathy pours from me as I try to put myself in his shoes and what I would do if that were my own mother, and tears instantly stream from my eyes.

  “Oh, honey.” Mom steps toward me, but I can’t handle telling her what I’m thinking about, so I shove myself out of my seat and head outside, desperately needing space.

  I throw myself onto the outdoor couch and bury my face into the back cushion, hugging it to my chest as a sob rips through me. I curl my legs into a ball as I sit in the corner and cry.

  The warmth of something being draped around my shoulders alerts me to the fact I am no longer alone. I stare up under my lashes to spot Baker placing my coat on me, and then he takes a seat next to me. He doesn’t say anything as he wraps his arm around me and pulls me to his side. His strong presence is comforting.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he whispers as he strokes my arm as we stare out into the backyard of my parents' property.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over this pain. It hurts so much. I can’t even imagine the pain you went through—still go through—about losing your mom. How do you not sit and cry all the time?”

  He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “You never get used to it. You just get used to it being hard. Nothing will ever bring back someone you’ve lost, as badly as you wish it would, and eventually, you’ll come to terms that this is how life goes. It’s not easy, and it sucks most of the time, but some things make it better—you, for one. You’ve made things a hell of a lot better for me.”

  I snuggle into his side, grateful to have him next to me during this.

  We spend three days at my parents' house, and while riding back to campus with Baker, I keep reflecting on everything that happened.

  Dad kept his distance from both Baker and me, only speaking to us when he had no other choice. To say things were tense would be an understatement. I can’t gauge how upset he is at me, but I can tell he’s definitely not over it yet like Mom said he would be eventually.

  The funeral was a blur, and it still bothers me knowing my aunt is cold and buried under the earth, where she’ll remain alone forever. I couldn’t even make it to the casket to say goodbye before it was closed for the final time. It was too hard seeing her like that.

  Baker was amazing and stuck to my side like glue, never leaving me alone. I’m grateful to him for that.

  The Mustang engine rumbles as it parks next to our apartment. It’s been an exhausting and emotionally draining trip, and I’m glad to be home. The last thought soaks in a bit. It’s strange how this tiny apartment with Baker now feels more like home than my paren
ts' place does.

  Baker looks over and gazes at my face, taking a moment to push a lock of my hair behind my ear. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Glad to be back.”

  His face softens. “Me too.”

  At this moment, I realize how much I’ve changed since coming to school here, and how much I’ve grown as a person. This adulting thing isn’t as scary as I once believed it to be.

  It’s nearly Thanksgiving break, and Baker has agreed to come home with me for the holiday since he’s refusing to accept his father’s invitation to be with his own family. I can’t say I blame him. What his father did was cruel. However, Luke will never stop extending the invitation as he’s made it his own personal mission to reunite his family.

  “I can’t wait to go home,” Miley says before she stuffs a french fry into her mouth. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss my mom’s cooking. I plan on eating until I pop on Thanksgiving day. Are you two still going to Detroit?”

  “Yeah. We’re driving up on Wednesday so Baker can help Mom cook. He’s been itching to help her with the feast since they cooked together during our last visit,” I tell her. “It’s been hard for him to focus on exams because he keeps looking up recipes.”

  She laughs and shakes her head. “Who knew badass Baker Finnegan was a chef at heart. Seriously, Sky, you hit the jackpot. A sexy man who can cook is a definite keeper.”

  I laugh, glancing down at the clock on my phone. “Speaking of studying, I need to get home and get on it. I have so many notes to review before my English lit exam.” I grab my bag. “I’ll text you later. Maybe you can come over for dinner? Baker’s making spaghetti, and he always makes too much.”

  “Sounds good. Let me know what time, and I’ll be there.”

  We say our goodbyes, and I head to my apartment, anxious to get some quiet study time in before Baker gets home and becomes a distraction for me. When I arrive at my door, I fish the key from my pocket and quickly unlock the door, needing to get inside because it’s only in the thirties today, and I didn’t dress warm enough for long walks in colder temperatures of the fall weather.