Reckless: A Bad Boy Sport Romance (10 page)

“Whatever, don't act like you don't get free drinks all night from random guys, anyway,” Tabitha retorted, pursing her lips. “The kids can see it too, you know. They're not blind, or stupid. Thumper and Maria have been calling me all week, asking about you. I mean, get this – Bill the Newsstand Guy didn't even try catcalling or hitting on me when he saw me today. He genuinely wanted to know if you were alright!”

“Okay, okay, I get it. I appreciate the concern from all of you, really. I just need a little time alone, and I'll be good as new. Promise.”

“Well, don't do it for us. Do it for you, dummy.” Tabitha sighed. She leaned her head against the couch so that she was looking me squarely in the eye. Up close, the bold black wings on the corners of her glistering eyes were absolute perfection. “Come on, Brooks. You can't tell me you didn't see this coming. You've been trying to come up with ways to break it off for months. Shouldn't you be feeling – I don't know – relieved?”

“I am, but I'm on the verge of disconnecting my phone lines.” My nose rumpled. “Xavier's been calling me non-stop, and he won't stop showing up at work. I had to call security on him last Tuesday.”

“Ugh. What an obsessive, sad little man,” Tabitha scoffed, curling her lip. “I can't stress enough how glad I am that you finally dumped his ass. I've been telling you to do it for ages. Well, at least now you know why he was so Level 10 Looney-Tunes and accusing you of cheating all the time. The asshole was deflecting. His conscience must have been eating him alive.”

“Not sure he had one with all the shit I found on his phone, but sure.”

Tabitha slanted her head to one side, sucking her teeth.

“Um, that reminds me. Did you get yourself –”

“Yup. Got myself screened first thing the morning after I ended things,” I answered her tonelessly. “I'm clean, so I guess there's that silver lining.”

“Right. Keep counting those lucky stars.” Tabitha smirked, reaching for the remote. She turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. “Anyway, thanks for letting me crash here. I never thought I'd say this, but staying from one hotel to another is getting a little old. I kinda miss making my own bed... Eh, on second thought, not really.”

“Of course. I'm glad you're here.” My lips tugged back in a small nostalgic smile. I meant it, too. It was nice having Tabitha around. It brought me back to all those sleepovers we used to have when we were kids. “I could really use the company, anyway.”

“Great, so be good company and lighten up, would you?” Tabitha grinned, kicking my leg playfully.

I grinned back at her, retaliating with a kick that nearly knocked her off the couch. But as Tabitha settled back into her seat, my chortles quickly ceased. That pesky little voice in my head just wouldn't shut up.

“There's actually something I haven't told you yet.”

“Yeah? What's up?”

“I'm not exactly as innocent in all of this as I'm making it out to be. It was just that one time, but Christ, I'm no better than Xavier –”

“Wait, wait, slow down.” Tabitha cut me off mid-ramble, lowering the remote. “What are you talking about?”

I exhaled from my mouth and held onto my knees.

“The day before I broke up with Xavier, I bumped into Ace. We got to talking in my car. I don't know what happened. I couldn't help myself – I just threw myself at him. We haven't talked since, and it's driving me crazy, but I know I shouldn't. I mean, it's probably for the best, right?”

A massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders, but Tabitha said nothing. She just stared at me in complete silence, her brows knitted together and her lips slightly ajar. The only sounds came from the TV playing in the background.

“
When we get older, our minds are not the only things that go soft. It happens to even the best of us. But fear not, one tablet of Durus Daily Use is just what you need to restore that confidence...”

“Tab, are you okay? You're not saying anything.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Tabitha closed her mouth, turning away from me. “I know it's Ace, but I'm just surprised, is all. You know, after everything he put you through.”

“Believe me, I know. It's not the smartest decision I've ever made, that's for sure. Which is partly why I haven't said anything –”

“Oh my god, Brooks. Look.”

Tabitha leaned forward urgently, cranking up the volume.

“–
Baldwin and Dylan Hardwick, wide receiver for the New York Jets, suffered minor injuries, but are set to be released within the week. Gary Wilcox, the driver, suffered several injuries including a fractured spine and a broken leg, but is expected to make a full recovery within the week. Sadly, the crash has claimed one victim, the Jets' very own quarterback, Jonathan Whitaker. Whitaker was thrown over 25 feet from the vehicle, where his head collided with a utility pole, killing him instantly.
”

“Oh, no...” I clapped a hand over my mouth.

But when the camera switched to the footage of a handcuffed Ace being ushered through a throng of rabid reporters, my heart plunged to my gut.

“Investigators have found sufficient evidence to suggest that Whitaker's seatbelt had been tampered with, and this case has officially been classed a homicide. In a daunting twist of events, second-string quarterback, Ace Warner, has been arrested on suspicion of the crime...
”

Chapter Three:
Brooklyn

2004

“
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for – the award ceremony for the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship 2004! 5 finalist squads, but only 1 will walk away with the grand prize trophy and a whopping check for $50,000.”

The emcee's voice boomed across the vast, brilliantly lit space of the Jostens Center auditorium.

“This is it, girls. This is it!” squealed Daphne Barnes, the captain of our squad. “All of the blood, sweat, and tears – it's so worth it!”

“It totally is!” Nadine Long, our co-captain, gushed. She leaned in close to me, squeezing my hand. “Remember – next year, this could be you. I've talked to Daphne, and we're definitely nominating you cheer captain next year. You're super talented and by far one of the best flyers this squad has ever seen, so if you play your cards right and kiss a little ass here and there, you've got this totally locked down.”

“Wow, Nadine, that is such an honor –”

“Oh my gosh!” Nadine shrieked. Her false doll lashes nearly leaped off her bulging eyes. She slapped me on the arm delightedly, pointing at the bleachers across from us. “It's my sister, Natalie! I can't believe she's here – she's supposed to be in Prague for school!”

A girl with feathered dirty-blonde hair waved at Nadine from the bleachers. She held up a large poster with a cutout face of Nadine and the words, “We Love You Nadine! Go Bay Valley Lions!” emblazoned in glittery lettering. Nadine's resulting smile was infectious.

I looked around at my squad. Daphne blew kisses at her boyfriend, who was shooting her a kiss with an imaginary bow and arrow from across the room. The rest of the girls around me struck up cutesy poses for their friends and family members, who were busy blinding us with one flash after another from the sidelines.

As I turned back to the audience, my smile started to waver. I stood on the tips of my toes and squeezed my eyes to slits, scouring the countless unfamiliar faces in the crowd. I could see Whitney's family, standing front and center on the ground-floor bench of the bleachers. They were all on their feet, dressed in our gold-and-black school colors, with temporary tattoos of the Lions logo on their cheeks.

It looked like the entire extended family of Alana, one of our bases, had shown up, too. They sat in the far back, taking up the entire upper-left corner of the stands, honking their air horns and whacking their stadium bangers. Nope, no sign of Mom or Dad there, either.

“
And in third place, from Trinity High School in Grand Rapids Michigan, the Trinity Jackals!
”

The squad next to us flared up in a frenzy of crazed screams and enthusiastic air-lassos. 2 giddy cheerleaders in red-and-white uniforms scurried up to the stage to accept their bronze trophy. The rest quickly followed suit, parading across the stage to pose for a round of pictures. I clapped along distractedly, my eyes still working the crowd.

“Now, in second place – and believe us, this was a tough decision, as all judges have agreed there were 2 teams who did exceptionally well this year...”

Family members and loved ones were seated in different sections of the room, so maybe Mom and Dad had gotten their seats mixed up. Come to think of it, I don't think they'd ever been to a place where they weren't personally escorted to their seats. But as I started a second sweep of every section, whatever hope I had left of seeing them fizzled out.

“And now, our runner-up... From New York City, New York, the Bay Valley Lions!
”

“Fuck yeah!” Godric, one of our spotters, kicked off the commotion.

Though I noticed a flicker of disappointment in Daphne and Nadine's faces, the rest of the squad bounced all the way up to the stage. I found myself a spot between Nadine and Whitney, automatically sticking my hand on one hip as flashes and shutter sounds went off in my direction. When the photographers and video cameras finally retreated, everyone zipped off in opposite directions and into the arms of their loved ones.

I weaved in and out of the foot traffic and slipped out of the auditorium, making my way towards the locker rooms. Grabbing my duffel bag, I politely thanked the strangers congratulating me and headed back to the bustling hallway. As soon as I found myself a quiet corner next to a water fountain, I sifted through the junk in my purse for my phone. I don't think I'd ever been more crushed to see no new notifications in my entire life.

With a heavy sigh, I hit the “Call” button and pressed my phone to my ear.

“
Barbara speaking,”
the voice singsonged on the other end of the line. She sounded distant, her voice muddled by upbeat samba music and snooty laughter.

“Mom? Didn't you get any of the messages I sent you this morning?”

“
Honey, sorry, you're going to have to speak up – oh, why yes, thank you, I'd love another glass. And why don't you fetch me a hot towel while you're at it. Rose-scented would be preferred, but I suppose I could settle for citrus.
”

“Mom?” I cupped a hand over my mouth. A knot formed in my throat. “Where are you guys?”

“
We're in the grand ballroom of the Queen Mary II – I'm sorry, honey, did we forget to tell you? Kelly Davenport and her husband invited us last minute – we've been on the waiting list to stay at the Royal Penthouse Suite for months now, and there was a sudden vacancy, so we packed up and left straight away this morning. Can you believe our luck? These opportunities don't just come very often, you know –
”

“Really, Mom?” I breathed in sharply, my nails digging into my palms.

“
What's wrong, honey? Are you upset we didn't invite you along? Grow up, Brooklyn, you're 16, for Pete's sake. Besides, you were already gone this morning –
”

“We came in second place, in case you were wondering.”

“
Second place? What – oh! Oh, honey.
” Mom gasped in realization. “
Sorry, was that today? It totally slipped our minds –
”

“It's all I've been talking about at the dinner table for the last month and a half, but okay.”

“
Well, congratulations! We'll celebrate when you get back. We'll do anything you like.
”

Mom's empty promises were so old, they were growing fungus. And by “anything you like,” she always failed to clarify that it actually meant anything she approved of. She was, after all, allergic to free, “poor people” things. At least Tabitha, who had an important callback of her own today, sent me a monster bouquet of good-luck flowers.

“
You still there, honey?
”

“Yeah, I –”

“Hey! Hey, Brooklyn!”

The knot in my throat unraveled.

I spun around, lowering my phone slowly. The audience spilled out of the auditorium doors. Ace's face appeared amidst the chaos. Wielding a bulky backpack, he dodged through the crowd, jogging towards me. His spiky hair flopped lightly against his shiny forehead, and the frayed laces on his orange hoodie swung wildly from side to side.

“
Brooklyn? Hello?
”

“Sorry, Mom. I gotta go. Have fun on the cruise.”

I stuffed my phone back into my bag and ran towards Ace, meeting him halfway.

“There you are, I thought I lost you for a minute –”

I pounced on Ace, throwing my arms around his neck and wrapping my legs around his waist. His hair was all wet and his hoodie smelled a little funky, but I didn't care. I closed my eyes, breathing in every bit of him as I kissed him deeply. His arm swooped under me, holding me up with his big, strong hands.