He didn’t get a chance to respond when a massive bout of thunder shook the house. “If the rain clears up, then yeah. If not, we can go tomorrow, because you need the student union to be open to check that one off.”
“Aw, you’re being so considerate.”
“I’m a man of the people.” He stood, stretching his arms above his head and giving me the perfect, mouth-watering view of his hard body. I slammed my eyes closed, pretending to yawn so he couldn’t see my reaction. “I’m going downstairs to play video games for four hours. Let me know if the rain stops.”
He didn’t look back before walking down the hall and opening the bright red door to the basement. I didn’t close my eyes that time and let my gaze roam over his back muscles and the two dimples that hung right above his waistline.
I mentally added another item to my list.Get a grip.
Chapter Four
Tanner
Fuck me.I pressed my palms against my eyes and took a deep breath, reciting all the reasons it was inappropriate to think Aaron’s younger sister was hot. But the list only had one reason, and it was who her brother was. “Shit.”
I tossed the controller across the carpet and leaned back in the gaming chair Jeff had got last year for Christmas. It was pretty sweet how it rocked back and forth if needed, and it was almost a semi-circle shape so we could fit. My neck muscles throbbed with stiffness—which annoyed me more. The entire reason I’d brought Mia back was to help lose the tension. She had been great in bed, wild and willing to do anything, but instead of feeling relaxed and settled, I felt worse.
It had nothing to do with the draft and my future this time, and everything to do with how Kenzie felt on top of me, her hair hitting my bare shoulders and her legs spread over mine. The way her mouth had fallen open when she’d realized the position she was in and how sweet she’d smelled so close to me.
Baby Hill.
No.
Like, so much fucking no.
But the fucking list, that was what had my chest feeling tight. It had been so innocent, so sweet and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I wanted to be a part of that list. I groaned into my clenched hand. Sundays were supposed to be off days, where Coach wanted us to relax and not use our muscles, but the itch to release my pent-up energy had me jogging upstairs to grab a pullover and my headphones. I could do with a light run in the rain. Content with my decision, I’d taken two steps downstairs when my phone rang. It was my mom, and I sprinted back into my room and locked my door.
“Hey, Mom, how are you?” I always asked the same question, my nerves dancing until she responded.
“Hey, Tallen. I’m doing just fine, like always, and your brothers are doing good too.” She chuckled, the sound sending a wave of relief over me, and I fell onto my bed. My middle name was Allen and my youngest brother had started calling me Tallen when he’d turned four, ten years ago, and the name had stuck. “I have a bone to pick with you. I got your care package. Son, what did I tell you about spending a dime on us?”
I scoffed. “I don’t care. I had some extra spending money last month and wanted you and the boys to enjoy summer.”
“You’re too good to us. It should be the other way around, Tallen. It is my—”
“Mom. Stop. Must we do this every other week?” I hated how our guilt and worry seemed to compete. “We’re so close to getting you, Marcus and Malcom out of there. One more year. If I get the signing bonus I’m hoping for, we can get the animal for Marcus sooner.”
She sighed, emotion clogging her voice. “Honey, he’s doing okay. Malcom looks after him. You should see how much older Malcom looks. I swear he grew four inches since school got out!”
“Yeah?” I grinned, picturing my punk little brother trying to act taller than me. “Is he up? Let me talk shit to him.”
“He’s a teenager. He’ll sleep until noon.” We both laughed at that and an alarm went off, signaling she had to go. “I’m off to my second shift for the day. I’ll leave a note for Mal to call you. I love you, Tanner. You were my first real love, son, and I thank God every day for you. Call you in three days.”
“You too, Mom,” I replied, hating how helpless I felt being thousands of miles away. It would eat me alive if I let it, but if I shared even a hint of guilt, she’d say the right words to settle me down.You’re where you need to be. Focus on you.
It still sucked, that I’d gotten a full-ride scholarship across the country, where I only got to see her and my brothers once or twice a year. I needed a bigger signing bonus.Then I can buy Marcus the service animal he needs, let Malcom choose whatever college he wants and pay off my mom’s mortgage so she doesn’t need to work two jobs.
It was easy to get lost in the sea of emotions, on what felt like a lonely island. The injustice of what my dad had done to her, to me and my brothers, was enough to light my blood on fire and was the fuel that kept me going. I took a deep breath, channeling the inner demons until I calmed my breathing. One more year. One more year of madness and all our lives could get better.
* * * *
Aaron and Greta suggested we all headed to her place of work, the Lion, for dinner since we’d run out of food, and it felt good to get out of the house. It had rained all day and the call from my mom had thrown me off my game. Some beer and wings would be a great start to feeling better.
Zade and Callie had plans with his sister, so that left Aaron and Greta on one side of the booth and Kenzie and I on the other. It did me no good to think about how our legs touched.Nope.I tried moving closer to the window, but it didn’t help much. Greta sensed my discomfort and gave me her signature smirk. “What’s up your ass, TJ? Have a bad hook-up?”
“No, she was pretty cute,” Kenzie chimed in, and my mouth dropped open. She shrugged. “What? She was kinda hot.”
“Oh, details! Did you bump into her in the hallway?” Greta had a crazy look on her face, her eyes dancing with mirth at Kenzie. “Did he pretend to sleep until she left?”
