"Give it to me straight." Lanie drops down next to me on the couch with a massive bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce poured over the top. It's more sauce than ice cream. "How pissed off are you about the counseling appointment? You know how much I hate it when you're angry.""I'm not mad." If anything, I'm grateful my friends care enough about me to seek out support when I'm unable to do it for myself. "It was really helpful. In fact, I've already made another appointment for next week."She shoves the spoon in her mouth before saying, "I'm glad you're going to talk to someone. We've all been really concerned about you.""I'm sorry, I never meant to worry you." I glance down at my fingers. "I was trying to deal with everything the best way I knew how.""Oh, honey." Lanie reaches out and squeezes my hand. "You know how much Jax and I love you. There's nothing we wouldn't do for you." She gives a helpless shrug. "But we weren't sure how to support you.""You're
"Great game last weekend, Price!"I flash a quick smile. "Thanks, man.""We're all looking forward to this Saturday's game against Georgia. It's going to be a tough one.""Yup." I tip my head in acknowledgment. "I've been watching a ton of game film.""Good luck, we'll be cheering for you.""Appreciate the support." With that, I pull open the doors to the library and jog up the staircase to the second floor where I'm meeting Skye. There's a definite pep in my step. I can't wait to have her all to myself for a couple of hours. Maybe we're only working at the library, but it doesn't matter. It's enough to be close to her.I'm trying my best to navigate this new relationship with Skye. She needs me to be her friend and that's exactly what I'm trying to give her. Friendship. Instead of being all up in her face, I've pulled back and have been giving her space to breathe. Space to work through her emotions.It sucks. All I want to do is protect her from anything that will cause
My breath lodges in my throat as she pulls out the twenty-five-page paper I've been working on in my spare time. It's not like I have a ton of it, but it's funny how much time opens up when you stop playing video games and hanging out with the guys."I don't understand," she mumbles, thumbing through the pages before glancing up at me.Even though I shrug, wanting to play it casual, my heart jackhammers painfully in my chest. It's only now that I wonder if she'll be pissed off. What if she's mad that I wrote it up myself without asking for her input? We've been emailing back and forth, so I was able to take what she sent and synthesized it into a cohesive piece about vaccinations. I also spoke with my childhood pediatrician and got his professional opinion on the matter before emailing a spokesperson from an anti-vax group, the National Vaccine Information Center, along with The World Health Organization who is a proponent for vaccines. In the end, I feel like it's a pretty damn
Book Two: ShamelessI rap my knuckles against Derek Andrews' office door before poking my head inside the cramped space. "Hey, Coach. You got a minute?"A bright smile flashes across his sun-weathered face as he pauses the game film he's watching and waves me in. "You don't need to knock, Mason. You work here now. Walk in any damn time you want."The corners of my lips tug upward as I settle on the worn chair parked across from his desk. "That's gonna take a little time to get used to." As I glance around the office, my gaze slides over all the team photos that line the wall since he's been head coach for the Claremont Cougars.That's fifteen years.This is the man who recruited me when I was a junior in high school. I spent my freshman and sophomore years in college as his starting quarterback before my parents died in a boating accident. That day changed the course of my entire life. Instead of starting my junior year, I was forced to drop out and work full time as a mechanic
Book Two: ShamelessI tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear and yank open the door to the men's locker room before stepping inside the space. Since the guys are on the field running drills, there's no chance of me walking in on a situation.Been there, done that, and caught quite the eyeful.It's only happened a couple of times, but the guys all grinned before hooting and hollering, calling my name with a wave. They don't seem to care in the least that they've been caught bare assed. A few of them actually seemed to enjoy strutting around and putting on a show.Me, on the other hand?My face turned about fifteen shades of red until it felt like I was in danger of self-combusting.Talk about embarrassing.The pungent stench of sweat and humidity hangs thick in the air as I walk past a long row of lockers and metal benches. When my phone buzzes, I fish it out of my messenger bag and glance at the screen.A text from my roommate pops up. There's a bonfire at the beach tonight and s
Book Two: ShamelessI yank open the door to the lecture hall and grind to a halt as my gaze coasts over the roomful of students laughing and chatting with one another. That's all it takes for uncertainty to crash over me again.What the hell am I doing here?I don't fit in.Or belong.I'm too damn old to be an undergrad.I shift my backpack. The heavy weight resting against my shoulder feels more like a blast from the past than my current reality."Hey, you gonna move or what?" an impatient voice says from behind.I blink and realize that I'm standing in the middle of the aisle near the door, holding up traffic. One glance over my shoulder shows a handful of annoyed people waiting to file into the spacious hall.A dull heat creeps into my cheeks as I step aside."Sorry," I mutter, feeling even more like a dumbass.It's so tempting to swing around and plow my way toward the exit. To forget about this idiotic idea of finishing up my degree and finally graduating.What do I really nee
Book Two: ShamelessProfessor Lindstrom flips the page of the syllabus, going over every bullet point in pain-staking detail. I wish I could say I'm paying attention, hanging on every word, but that would be a lie.I'm much too distracted by Mason Price, who's sprawled out a couple rows behind me. Every once in a while, I'll pretend to grab something from my messenger bag that sits on the thinly carpeted floor next to my desk. The excuse allows me to swivel just enough to glance in his direction and stare at the dark-haired guy who has been a constant presence in my thoughts since we ran into each other the other day.God, he's good looking.And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Most of the girls in his vicinity are turned in his direction, trying to catch his interest. It's a relief when he continues to stare straight ahead as if absorbed in the material.Levi nudges my shoulder. "This is so freaking boring."Knocked from my thoughts, I straighten on the seat and nod. "Yeah, it
Book Two: ShamelessI drag a hand through my hair before pressing the doorbell. When a couple seconds tick by, I shift and glance at the bottle in my other hand. The guy at the gas station wasn't any help when it came to picking out the wine. We both stood in the cramped aisle, staring at the limited selection before I finally decided that one at the midlevel price point was probably my best bet.I don't know shit about wine.What I know is beer.Here's my advice when it comes to beverages with hops and barley-the colder, the better.It's as simple as that.The forced smile falters when the front door opens and I find Poppy standing on the other side of the threshold.Well, shit.It never occurred to me that she might be here for dinner. Is it too late to bail on this evening?I'm thinking it is.Plus, when your boss gives you a time to stop by for supper on a Friday night, you show up.No ifs, ands, or buts."Hi," she says, hugging the edge of the door.The hesitant smile simmerin