Fuck!
“You’re the same bastard who fucked a ton of chicks in high school. I was there, remember? Tell me you didn’t steal her virginity.” He stared at me sideways.
“I didn’t steal anything.”
My hand ran gruffly over my bearded chin. “Deacon, it was one night. We went our separate ways after that.”
He gripped my shirt and pushed me into the back of my truck with a loud bang. “You stole her innocence,” he shouted.
“I wanted more, but she refused. Lakelyn should’ve been my woman. I never wanted those other women.”
“Get the fuck away from me.” My palms shoved into his chest.
“Our friendship became a weight around my neck because it meant I couldn’t have her. I missed out on taking her to prom. Do you have any idea how many dudes I beat up because they touched her?”
Yup, I know. I only mentioned Cornell. Let’s just say Fosco and I had been busy over the years.
Gazes locked, we walked in a circle.
“She was always mine. I will never apologize for loving her. The real reason I wanted to play in Atlanta was because of her.”
“Is that speech supposed to make what you did all right? Because it doesn’t. It fucking doesn’t. You fucking trader. You pissed on over twenty years of friendship. Hell, we were more like brothers.” His face twisted.
Deacon’s fists hung at his sides as he squared his chest.
“I agree we’ve been brothers forever. Deacon, I love you, man. That will never change.”
“Naw, motherfucker. Our friendship ended the day I heard you fucking my sister.” His powerful jab met my jaw. I stumbled.
My fist beat against my chest. “Bring all you got. Because I’ll fight to the depths for my wife.”
“You fucking bitch,” he roared.
Deacon threw another punch. I leaned to the left, avoiding the blow.
“That day on the field, you got what you deserved. Your career should have ended.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Because I love your sister? That’s how it is? You wished bad luck on me.”
Bunching his shirt in my hand, I pounded my fist into his face. His fists slammed into my gut again and again. He threw another punch to the face. Blood trickled down my lip.
We separated. “Is that all you got?” I placed my hands up, waving him over.
“We can go all night, bitch. Tell me when did you see my sister again. You know, since you two went your separate ways.”
“A few times when I came home from college on the weekends. Then once I went pro, I felt empty. Even though I had the best career. The one I dreamed about. It brought me joy. But if she was by my side, it would’ve tasted so much sweeter. Seeing her face at the games made me feel alive again. I held out as long as I could. Lakelyn became my second lung. It was difficult to breathe without her in my life. I told her I’d sit down with you in L.A. and tell you the truth. How long have you known about us?”
“Speculated for too long. But putting the pieces together became a game. You and my sister were my puppets. Hanging out with you meant I kept you away from her. I thought for sure telling her about the chicks standing near your car that night would make her walk away. Nope. But damn, sitting at the dinner table amongst you both the night she found out about the four women.” He laughed.
“Was fucking classic. I hated how distraught she was over you. But hey, guess your relationship was a casualty of war. You two were finished.”
Chest heaving, I bared my teeth, lunged forward, and knocked him to the ground. My fists made contact with his face again and again. He rolled us over and slammed his fists into my nose and jaw. I wrapped my hands around his neck and squeezed.
“Stop. Please stop. You’re going to kill each other,” Lakelyn shouted in the distance.
Deacon fell to the ground. I pounced on him again. It was his turn to choke me.
“Break it up. That’s enough.”
My teammates Mavis and Barnes pried us apart. Lying on the ground, I scanned my surroundings. People held their phones up, recording the spectacle, whispering.
Damn, was that how Lakelyn knew we were here fighting?
“Wyatt.” Lakelyn dropped to her knees, caressing my head.
Her gaze shot to her brother. “I love you, both. Please let that be enough. I’m pregnant with your nephew. Will you hate him too?”
Deacon blinked through the blood sliding down his face. “He’s your flesh and blood. You can hate me for the rest of your life. Just don’t hate this baby.”
His face softened. Lakelyn crawled into his arms. “I love you, Deacon. I love you so much.” They sat on the cold pavement hugging for what felt like a lifetime. They needed that time to release all the hurt. Hopefully, they’d become close again. I lost my best friend forever. Didn’t matter if he was my brother-in-law. My actions ended a lifelong friendship. I’d live with the loss if it meant my wife could find balance.
EPILOGUE
LAKELYN
Wyatt and I found happiness after all these years. Sitting at the long dining table eating Christmas dinner with our families felt natural. Beautiful gold china graced the silver tablecloth. Our parents sat at the other end of the table. Their boisterous laughter filled the room. Wyatt sat opposite of my dad at the head of the table between me and Phoebe.
Today our entire crew was in town. Maxon, Rayne, Sylvie, and an honorary member Tyler were coming over later to hang out.
My husband shoveled a forkful of my mom’s baked macaroni and cheese into his mouth. I pointed my fork toward him, laughing. “I know it’s good, but don’t choke on the food, Oak.”
He kept the full beard and his hair had grown over his ears a little. I loved his new look.
He scowled.
“Wyatt,” I grinned.
The man hated when I called him Oak. He said we weren’t friends anymore, but the deepest kind of lovers. Soulmates even.
His enormous hand rubbed my huge belly. I was seven months pregnant. Felt like nine. This little guy loved to eat.
I peeked at my brother and Bella, who were deep in a conversation. She and I weren’t besties, but she was in my brother’s life, so I was cordial. Deacon and Wyatt still didn’t speak to each other. God, I wished they would.
My brother and I were slowly working on our relationship. He came over to the house while Wyatt was at away games. At least he stepped foot in Wyatt’s home. Our home. Deacon bought and built Leo’s crib. He talked to my belly all the time too. Told Leo he couldn’t wait until he was here so they could watch football games together. I wished Wyatt, Deacon, and Leo would one day watch games together. A piece of my heart was still broken because I came between two best friends. I’d take the small victories for now.
Wyatt still asked if I was ok after killing Johnny. Hate to say I didn’t have remorse. He tried to ruin our life because of his obsession with having the best player on his roster. So his team could have a better chance at winning the Super Bowl. Stupid man.
Oh, well now he’s dead. A small smile took my lips.
Dad stood. “The football game is on.”
The men vacated the room like a herd of cattle. I strolled toward dad’s man cave and leaned my head against the entryway wall. Wyatt pulled his Falcons cap low, sitting next to his dad focused on the TV. Dad and Deacon sat at the other end of the sofa. Wyatt shot to his feet. “Did you see that play?”