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“Ooh, then you’re in for a real treat,” the redhead grins. “The squad leaders here are hot as fuck. Though I’ve got dibs on Tristan, so don’t go getting any ideas about him.”
I grin, fighting to hold in a giggle. If only she knew she’s talking about my little brother. “Are you two…?”
“She wishes!” her friend laughs, elbowing the red-haired girl playfully. “Tristan hardly knows she exists.”
“It’s only a matter of time,” she shoots back defensively.
The brunette flips her long ponytail over her shoulder. “Whatever. Iver’s hotter, anyways. Or Madd.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Maddox Kessler?” the redhead snorts in disbelief. “Yeah right.” She turns back to me, rolling her eyes. “Stay far away from that dude if you can. He’s a straight up psycho.”
I chuckle to myself, shaking my head. “I’m sure he’s notallbad.”
Her eyes widen in warning. “You don’t know him.”
“You’d be surprised,” I muse.
I haven’t seen Madd in a long time, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard things, like how he changed after I left. People say he turned cold. Callous.Ruthless. Or at least he acts like he is.
The Madd I knew was warm and kind and full of life. He’d give you the shirt off his back, drop everything to help a friend out of a bind. He was always playful and scheming and getting all of us into trouble, but hey, what teenager doesn’t have a rebellious streak? It didn’t change who he was, deep down.
So yeah, I’ve heard rumors about ‘Mad Maddox’. But I don’t believe them.
Maybe he’s been fooling everyone else with his cold-hearted bullshit, but not me. I once knew Madd like the beat of my heart. Better than he even knew himself.
We haven’t spoken in eight years, but that kind of soul-deep connection can’t be erased.
I should know.
When he cut off all contact after I left, I tried to move on and forget him- but like it or not, Madd will always be a part of me.
“So what’s your name?” the redhead asks, her voice shaking me from my thoughts.
I open my mouth to respond, but my brother beats me to it.
“Sloane!” he calls out from across the practice field, grinning widely and throwing a hand up to beckon me over.
The girls’ eyes practically bug out of their heads as they look from Tristan to me, making the connection. I give them a little wave as I turn away, leaving them slack-jawed in shock as I jog over to my brother and practically tackle him with a hug.
“How’s my baby bro?” I tease, pushing up on my tiptoes to ruffle his hair.
“Hey, none of that shit when we’re here,” he laughs. “I’m a big bad squad leader now. Gotta keep up appearances.”
I roll my eyes, shoving at his chest playfully as Lo and Avery approach, flinging their arms around me and trapping me between them.
“I’m so fucking glad you’re back,” Avery sighs, eyes full of emotion when she pulls back to stare at me.
“About damn time,” Lo adds. She grabs onto my hand, squeezing it tight in hers. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever show your face around here again. It’s been months!”
“I know, I know,” I laugh. “I’ve been getting more involved with the IT hive back in Denver and time just got away from me.”
Lo’s eyes light up. “Does that mean you’re joining the squad’s IT unit here?”
“Duh,” I reply, sticking out my tongue.
“Okay, where the hell is Madd?” Iver asks, huffing in annoyance as he, Archer, and Ares join us. “He’s the one who said four o’clock. I’ve got shit to do.”
