“Even after the game I just played? You’re supposed to be celebrating with me. I’m fucking killing it, Lucas.”
I groan, pretending to be annoyed. “Ugh. You are. That play in the third, when you split the defense and literally jumped over Collins, was something else.”
His smile grows.
“Don’t get used to football compliments. I’ll probably never give you one again. I’ll give you compliments about other things, but not that.”
“I don’t believe that at all.” He continues pulling out containers of food, and I continue to pretend to gag while talking shit.
“Why would I have to compliment theComeback King? You’ll get enough of it from everyone else.”
He laughs. “I heard that. Part of me hates that I have to ‘come back’ from anything, but it has a nice ring to it. I’ll take anything right now.”
It takes me a moment, but then I notice the other bag he has with him, this one with a different label on it. Hunter opens it, tugging out a small container, then unseals it, and inside is… “You got me a red-velvet cupcake?” My palms get sweaty, and my heart thuds.
“It’s your favorite, right? You still like red velvet? I remember you did when we were kids.”
“I do. It’s still my favorite,” I admit, Hunter watching me, his frown smoothing out, and I wonder if he’s rememberingthe same thing I am. My fifteenth birthday, when Dad was supposed to pick up a cake, and he brought home a vanilla one—Ellis’s favorite.
“He was never fair to you,” Hunter says. “I should have said something…done something.”
“You were a kid. What could you do?”
“I’m not a kid now.”
“And neither am I. I don’t need anyone to fight my battles with him. And all it would have done back then is turn him against you. He likes people who do what he says. He’ll never forgive me for shattering his dreams for me.” If you obey my father, he loves you. If you don’t, especially when it comes to football, then to him, you’re the enemy.
I stiffen when Hunter reaches out and grabs my hand. He brushes his calloused fingers over the top, the simple movement making heat rush through me.
“I’m sorry.” He keeps drawing circles on my hand.
I shrug. “It is what it is.” I pull away before I do something stupid, before I ruin everything and deepen my betrayal of my brother. “I think I’ll eat my cupcake first.”
I reach for it, but Hunter grabs it before I can. “Nope. It’s your reward after you eat your vegetables.”
“Well, that’s not fair. I would have let you have your dessert first.”
“I’m more responsible than you.” He picks up the containers of food. “Come on. Let’s eat on the balcony.”
I stand there, watching him go.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Hunter
It was theperfect way to end the month of September.
I don’t know what it was about the last two games, why I’m suddenly feeling more like myself, finding my groove and not feeling as uncomfortable in my own skin. I don’t want to think about what it could be…that maybe it means I’m forgetting Ellis or getting over losing him. He doesn’t deserve that, but it feels so good to enjoy playing again, so fucking good to feelgoodabout my game.
I hadn’t been able to come down after the game, hadn’t been able to stop wanting to ride the high football has always given me but that I’ve started to lose along the way. And the person I’d wanted by my side while holding on to that feeling had been Lucas, the guy who hates the game I love. I don’t want to think about what that means either, so I don’t.
“Tell me again how much I impressed you tonight,” I tease as we sit on the balcony, partway through our meal.
Lucas had come out a few minutes after me, maybe because of the red-velvet cupcake. I don’t know why I’d thought of that tonight, why I remembered how much he likes red velvet and wanted to return the favor for my chocolate cake. Is it strange to remember something like that after all these years? Maybe for me, but not for him, since he’s the one who lived it. I hadn’t wanted to bring the past into tonight, andhopefully I didn’t sour the mood, but I’m glad I gave him his cupcake.
“I don’t believe I said that,” Lucas counters.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure you did.”
