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"It was a good story."
Jett throws me a look. "For you, maybe."
The sound of the front door opening and closing cuts through the room, and we all fall silent while we wait for Leo to join us. This is the moment we have been waiting for.
And he looks every bit the part in his expensive suit. "Things are about to change around here, boys." He smirks in the dark, somewhat-disturbed way we are all used to, but to anyone else, Leo Rivera is a scary son of a bitch not to be messed with. What happened with Ace might have just earned him top job.
"Fuck, yeah!" Kobe celebrates.
"No pushback?" asks Jett, looking like he's ready for a fight if there was.
"Nope. I've been around long enough, they know this is for the best." He says it with such self-assurance, but I'm not as confident. This change in leadership will ruffle a few feathers; it's just a matter of time before we see the true impact. "Shower and get dressed, we’re heading to Queen of Hearts. There are a few things we need to take care of tonight," he tells his brothers, then his attention comes to me, and he smiles not with the fucked-up sardonic one he normally wears but a smile of absolute satisfaction. "We can talk tomorrow when you get home from work."
I nod. I already know what's coming, and I'm ready for it. This is why I came home, after all, to help the boys get redemption for their father's death. The Acevedo family has cast a dark shadow over this town since we were kids, and now it's time for us to shine some light on all the shit that went down. The money-hungry crooks have gone along with the crimes Ace and his father committed, and the citizens of Palm Springs have been fooled for way too long.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CASSANDRA
It’sthefourthgameof the session. Scarlet has saved me a front-row seat so we can support our cheer squad along with the football team. She's dressed in her Scorpions jersey, just like me. “Sorry I’m so late. My class at the studio ran late. One of my girls has an audition next week, and I wanted to make sure she’s ready,” I tell Scarlet, slipping into the seat beside her and handing her a bowl of nachos and a soda I picked up from the concession stand on my way through.
“Thank you, I’m starving. I had to rush out of the house before Tilly started crying again. She’s fine with the sitter when I’m gone but likes to put on a show before I leave.”
“Sounds fun,” I mutter, digging into my own food, not really knowing what it would be like to have a kid. I see my sister with her two, and she just seems so capable, like nothing fazes her. Don’t think I would be like that at all. Probably won’t be something I ever get to do anyway, so there is no point in putting those thoughts in my head to rattle around.
“Bet it must be hard for you.”
“What’s that?”
She gives me a sympathetic glance. “Watching other talented young girls follow the dream you once had.”
Devastatingly so, but I’m not admitting that to another human being. I love teaching others. It’s extremely fulfilling. But part of me feels like something is missing because I never got to live out my dreams. “Not at all.” I shut her down immediately. I don’t need anyone’s pity. It was all my doing, anyway. Well, and Brandon’s. “If I can ever help someone to follow their dream, I’m all for it. That life just wasn’t meant for me,” I lie, still not having the guts to admit what really happened.
From across the field, I catch Brandon’s eye and a charming smile crosses his face. I give him a wave, and I can't help the heat that even that small gesture arouses in me.
“Okay, fess up,” Scarlet says. “What’s going on with you two since Austin? When you left here, you definitely didn’t like him. Now there are long, lingering glances and charming smirks. I notice everything, my dear, so don’t think you can hide it from me.”
I bite my lip, not too sure what I should say, but since starting here at the beginning of the year, Scarlet has been my closest friend. I’m dying to talk to someone about it, and I feel like I can trust her to keep our little secret. “So, something happened while we were away.”
“That much is obvious. Are you dating or something?” She scrunches her nose up, confused.
“This stays between us, okay?"
"Of course."
"We just hooked up once while we were away. We have a history, but it’s complicated, and being away with him was just too much. I couldn’t help myself, you know.” I give her a look.
“Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.” And I can tell that she does.
“Anyway, I kinda freaked out at the airport and told him I wasn’t ready for anything. We can’t really date, anyway. My parents hate him,” I admit.
“Why is that?”
The players take the field, and I thank God for the interruption because now is not the time or place to have this conversation. “It’s a long story.”
“I bet it is. If you were going to date him, though, I’d be all for it. I know I said earlier we don’t need the drama in our staff room, but I like the two of you together. You would make a very attractive couple and the cutest babies.”
I laugh nervously. Babies, yeah. Even if by some miracle Brandon and I can work out a way to be together, I don’t think babies will be in our future.
