It was a rash decision, one I knew I’d need to talk to my parents about, not to mention Hailee. But life was precious, and I didn’t want to spend a minute wasting it. If things went south with Mom, I’d cross that bridge when it came. We still had nine months before college. A lot could change between now and then.
But here, in this moment, I wanted the dream.
I wanted football.
And the girl.
Epilogue
Hailee
“Oh my god, it’s so big.”
“I know something that’s big,” Asher turned around and flashed Flick a wicked grin.
“Asher, really.” She rolled her eyes at him before settling her gaze once more on the New York skyline as we crossed the bridge. Jason grunted, his eyes thinning as he focused on the road, but I brushed it off because Cameron was wrong.
He had to be wrong.
Flick didn’t like my step-brother—there was nothing to like.
“Are you excited?” Cameron’s lips brushed the shell of my ear, sending a trail of heat zipping through me. I clenched my legs together and his smooth chuckle washed over me.
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to see a Reba exhibition. I can’t believe Kent managed to score us tickets.”
“You, tickets,” Jason said. “I told you already, I’m not going to some lame art show. Besides, Ash’s cousins are going to give us the tour, right?”
“What?” I asked, looking from him to Cameron and back again. “You didn’t say anything about Asher’s cousins.” This trip had officially been hijacked by my step-brother.
Fuck my life.
We might have found a temporary truce since everything with Cameron’s mom happened, but I was under no illusion it would last. Too much had happened between us. But for a rare weekend, our differences weren’t front and center. Cameron needed this weekend, we all did. And nothing was going to ruin it.
Not a damn thing.
Thirty minutes later, after battling the city traffic, we were finally in the hotel.
“Holy shit, Hails, I can’t believe it. Would you check out this view? I can see the Empire State Building.” Flick’s voice held a tinge of wonder as she beckoned me to the floor-to-ceiling window in our accommodation for the night.
The penthouse suite overlooking Fifth Avenue was ridiculous. But Flick had insisted I room with Cameron, so I couldn’t complain too much. Jason and Asher were sharing the other double room—with two king beds—and Flick had happily taken the twin.
“New York,” she sighed dreamily. “I still can’t believe it. And,”—my best friend leaned in, whispering—“I heard Asher tell Jason his cousins are taking us to a club. A club, Hails. I’m so freaking excited.”
My brows pinched as I tried to share her enthusiasm. “A club? I’m not sure—”
“Oh no you don’t, Hailee Raine. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do you know how many kids from school would kill to be here right now? We are embracing this.”
“Let me guess,” I said. “It’s on your—”
“Ssh. Don’t let the guys hear. It’s bad enough Cameron overheard us before. I don’t want them thinking I’m...” Her voice trailed off as something caught her eye over my shoulder. I glanced back to find Jason and Asher watching us.
“Are you two going to stand there all fucking day or can we get out of here?”
“Can you at least try to be civil?” I asked Jason, but he merely grunted and went to the refrigerator.
“So, how are my two favorite ladies?” Asher approached us but I ducked before he could collar me. His arm went around Flick though. It was becoming quite the habit.
“This is so cool,” Flick beamed up at him. “I can’t believe your dad is letting us stay here.”
“Believe it, baby.” He grinned back. “But you ain’t seen nothing yet. My cousins know all the local hotspots.”
“Asher, I’m not sure—”
“Hails.” He levelled me a serious look. “One night. We have one night. Turn that frown upside down and get on the love train.”
“Love train, seriously?”
“It’s okay for you, you’ve got Chase to attend to… your needs.” His brows waggled. “The rest of us need to go hunting.”
“Asher.” Flick elbowed him in the ribs. “That’s gross.”
“Naw, baby. It’s simple biology. Unless you’re—”
“Is he bothering you?” Cameron came up behind me, looping his arm around me and pulling me back against his chest.
“Who, me?” Asher feigned surprise.
“What time is the exhibition?” Cameron brushed his lips over my ear.
“Not until two.”
“So, we have some time to explore?”
“Yes, yes we do.” Flick ducked out of Asher’s hold and grabbed his arm. “We should go. I want to see everything.”
“Of course you do,” Asher grumbled, trailing after her like a lap dog.
“This should be interesting,” I said as we followed them.
Me and Flick with my boyfriend, step-brother, and their best friend.
What could possibly go wrong?
“So, did you like it?” I asked Flick as we exited The Met. We’d cut the guys loose despite Cameron insisting he wanted to come. It was his trip too, and I didn’t want to monopolize all of his time. Besides, I knew if Cameron came, Asher would want to come, and there was no way I wanted him making a scene in one of the most prestigious museums in the country.
“I...” She hesitated. “You like it and that’s what’s important. And at least I can say I visited The Met now.”
“It was just so... inspiring. Her work is really something.”
“And I’d love to hear all about it sometime but,”—she pointed at the guys standing at the bottom of the steps—“Who the hell is that?”
Jason was talking to a girl, a very well dressed, very beautiful girl.
“I guess it’s Asher’s cousin.”
“He didn’t say she looked like a super model.” Flick grabbed my arm, pulling me toward them.
“I’m sure she’s nice, despite being related to Asher.”
“Hails, he's not that bad.”
“But he’s not boyfriend material either, right?”
She rolled her lips together.
“Flick?” I asked her again.
“I told you already, not interested. But it doesn’t hurt to have a little fun.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure Asher is the kind of guy you—”
“Fee get over here. I want to introduce you to Vaughn and Riley.”
“Come on, Hails. He wants to introduce us to his cousins.” She flashed me a playful grin, bouncing down the last few steps and sidling up to Asher as if they were the best of friends.
And it occurred to me, maybe that’s where this strange thing they had going on was headed.
“Fee, Hails, this is my cousin Riley and his sister Vaughn.”