Page 182 of Forever Relentless

I picked up my phone and called my brother.

“Hey, what’s up?” he asked cheerfully.

Fuck. Mason was cheerful? Was I really going to jeopardize that? Yes. He deserved to know.

“Noah made a deal.” I sounded blunt. Flat. Hurt.

Yeah. All the things.

Mason let out a breath. “There more to this story, Bri?”

I told him everything Noah had told me. Because while I had been astounded at his audacity, making this decision for us, I had heard every word he’d said. Mason didn’t interrupt, and he didn’t say anything when I finished.

“Mase?”

I heard my brother clear his throat. “An interview.”

He, too, sounded flat.

“Yeah.” I waited. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? The guy has balls. He met me once, and he stuck his neck out for me. For you. And you get to leave there, with no police escort.”

I frowned as he spoke. “Mason, this doesn’t—”

“It doesn’t fix my broken leg,” he cut me off. “It doesn’t fix that I had to stop playing. I get my name cleared, and it changes nothing. What did you think would happen?” He gave a low laugh. “This is what I told you when you got a job there. Nothing changes for me. Why do you sound upset that the outcome was any different?”

And that was the harsh reality.

Nothing for Mason had changed at all.

“Well, I think some good can come of them making sure you hadn’t done anything,” I protested bitterly.

“Why? I always knew the truth. So did you, and so did Tiff.”

Why wasn’t he angry?

“Why are you so calm?” I demanded.

“Calm?” Mason’s laughter was bitter. “I don’t think I’ve been calm for a long time. This actually helps. I will never like Coach Sutherland, and sure, I don’t agree he was oblivious to the slander that came after, but it’s actually nice to know that they knew I didn’t hurt her like that.”

“He’s still probably the one who let the rumor circulate,” I reminded my brother sharply.

“Yeah, but I’m with your guy, I believe Sutherland in this.” He made a sound that was part snort, part laugh. “Sorry, I know you want me to rage and curse, but, honestly, Bri, I think your guy did us a huge favor. And he didn’t have to. Now pack up, leave it behind you, and come home.”

We said our goodbyes, and I stood in the middle of my apartment, phone in my hand as I mulled it all over.

Come home.

I wasn’t ready to come home. Was I ready to stop the pretense of why I was here? Maybe. No, not maybe, definitely.

Mason appreciated what Noah had done. It was that simple to him, but I still had a nagging feeling about it all.

What had it cost Noah? And why was I still so mad at him for doing it?

I grabbed my keys and headed out. I needed to talk to someone, but I just didn’t know who.

I met them as they crossed the quad. They looked as angry and bewildered as I felt.