A second later, the door swung open, and John Carrick and his son stepped out. John shook Coach’s hand, the two of them wearing grim expressions. Carrick’s glare cut to me, narrowing with contempt.“Looks like that went well,” Aaron whispered.Coach saw them both out and made his way over. “Ezra, I’m glad you’re here.”“What was all that about?”“You don’t need to worry about Nathan or his father anymore.”“What did you do?” My brow arched.“Everyone has secrets they would rather keep buried, son. You just have to know where to look. I gave Nathan the choice as to whether or not he remains a Raider. But if he does, he understands that this is my team and you’re a part of that.” He gave me a small nod. “Get changed and I’ll see you both out on the field.”“Hey, Coach,” I called after him.“Yeah?”“Why’d you do it? Why go to all this trouble for me?”“Because you’re family, Ezra. And I protect my family—always.”Jase walked back to his office.“Now do you believe me?” Aaron said with a
“No, I’m here… with somebody.”“You are?” My brows went up. “Is this a joke? Because you’re sitting here all—”“Ashleigh?”Gav snickered as I turned to find Penelope standing there. “You,” I said.“Hey, I hope this is okay. The guys thought it might—”“Hold on a second, you’re Gav’s date?”“Surprise.” He grinned, but I wasn’t grinning. I was frowning.“I’m confused.” I sank back into the leather seat, and Ezra took my hand in his.“You knew I liked her,” Gav said with complete honesty.“Yeah, but isn’t this… weird?” I looked at all of them. Penelope gave me a shy smile.“It’s only weird if we make it weird. I’m happy for you, Ashleigh. Ezra deserves to have someone like you in his life.”“I… thank you. And you,” I jabbed my finger at Gav. “You didn’t think to tell me this earlier?”“And miss your reaction?” Amusement glittered in his eyes, but then his expression softened. “Honestly, I didn’t think you would agree to come.”He was right, I would never have agreed.“This is a good thin
Ezra“Fuck,” I grunted as the ball rebounded off my shoulder.“Seriously, bro, get your head in the game,” Aaron said.“Sorry, I was…”“Daydreaming about a certain girl, no doubt,” he scoffed.“It’s her birthday soon. I need to get her something.”“Hell yeah, you do. And it needs to be epic since she decided to forgive your sorry ass.”I scowled at him, and he grinned. “Relax, I’m just busting your balls. I can help you shop for her if you want. I’m good at stuff like that.”“That’s just… weird.”He shrugged. “Fine, I won’t help. But don’t blame me when she kicks your ass for getting her some lame gift.”Coach yelled time and we both jogged over to the water station. “Have you talked to Poppy yet?”“Nah,” he said. “I’m letting her cool off.”“You know Zara is telling anyone who will listen that you screwed her over.”A dark shadow passed over him as he let out a weary sigh. “She’s a bitch. I never should have gone there.”“You need to fix it with Poppy, and soon.”“Since when do you c
“I get it,” she said, eyes soft with understanding. “And I think it’s a good idea. To ask them to handle it, I mean. But if you ever change your mind or feel in a place where you’re ready to talk to her, just know that I’ll always be there, right by your side.”Fuck. This girl. Just when I thought she couldn’t blow my mind any more than she already had, she went and said something so perfect, it slayed me.“What?” she smiled shyly at me.“You, buttercup. Just you.”My best friend.My anchor.The girl who saved me.Aaron“Yo, Bennet, what’s—”“Not now, I have something I need to do.” I gave the guys from the team a two fingered salute as I went in search of Poppy.Things had been all wrong between us since the semester started.She was my best friend but somewhere along the way, the lines had become blurred. I needed to fix it, I needed to explain to her that I was feeling the pressure.It was senior year, and my last season as a Rixon Raider. Coach Ford was relying on me. He’d named m
ProloguePain.That’s all I could feel.Excruciating, blistering pain.“H-help…” I forced the word from my lips in an agonizing breath. My lungs felt tight, burning me from the inside out.Something was wrong.Very wrong.I tried to shift against the crushing weight, but pain lashed up and down my spine, exploding inside me.A whimper tore from my throat.“A-Ashleigh,” a voice called out to me from the darkness. “Fuck.”Something crackled. Heat licking up my skin. I tried to strain against the darkness again, but it was futile.I couldn’t see.I was powerless. Alone.Except, I wasn’t alone… was I?“H-help,” I choked out again, blindly trying to reach out and find something—anything—to help me.Think, dammit. Think, Ashleigh.But it hurt too much.Everything hurt.My limbs, my muscles, my head. At least I could feel everything. My arms and legs, fingers and toes. Everything felt whole.That was a good sign, wasn’t it?Wasn’t it?“Ashleigh,” a voice cried out from the darkness. “Hold on
“Everyone’s worried sick,” Mom said, eventually breaking the heavy silence. “Avery spent the first three nights camped downstairs in the family room. He point blank refused to leave.”“H-he did?” My brother was supposed to be in Indiana, so it touched my heart knowing he’d rushed back to be at my side.“I don’t want him jeopardizing his junior year,” I said. Avery played football for Notre Dame and had a real shot at going pro. “Once he’s seen I’m okay, he needs to go back. I won’t be the reason he messes up his—”They shared a strange look.“What?” I asked.“Nothing, sweetheart.” Mom squeezed my hand.Just then, the doctor came into the room. At least, I assumed he was the doctor given his appearance. “Ah, Ashleigh, it’s so good to see you’re awake.” He greeted my parents before his attention came back to me. “I need to examine you, Ashleigh, if that’s okay?”“Yes, of course.”“It shouldn’t take long. Did your parents fill you in on what happened?”“I was in an accident.”“You were.
Finals.Prom.Graduation.My entire high school experience had been blown wide open, leaving a gaping hole right at the heart of what should have been the best year of my life.Mom and Dad had tried to talk to me about it, about college and all the important things I’d missed, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t lie there and be a bystander to almost a year of my life.So I’d faked a headache and asked them to let me rest. But sleep didn’t come, and I’d been lying here for too long, trying to will the memories back into existence.The door opened and my brother peeked inside.“Avery,” I breathed.“Hey, Leigh Leigh. Mom and Dad said you were sleeping but I had a feeling you—oh shit, Sis, don’t cry.”But the floodgates had torn open, big fat ugly sobs spilling out of me like a torrent.“Hey, it’s okay.” He rushed to my side and took my hand in his. “It’s okay.”“Is it?” I choked out. “I can’t remember, Ave. I can’t remember any of it.”“Fuck,” he hissed. “I… I don’t know what to say.”“The
“That’s great, sweetheart. I’ll tell her you’re ready for visitors.”“Jeez, Dad. Don’t make it sound so weird.”He smiled but it slipped. “You’ll get through this, Ashleigh. I know you will.”I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Because there was no guarantee. Even if my memory returned, the doctor said I might have permanent gaps.Parts of my life… vanished.Forever.It was a lot to wrap my head around.But what choice did I have?“Ashleigh?” My cousin peeked around the door, and I smiled.“You’re here.”“I am.” She came over, pulling a stuffed toy from behind her back. “For you.”“Thank you.” I took the bear from her, running my hands over its soft fur.“How are you feeling?” Lily sat down in one of the chairs beside my bed.“I feel okay. The whole memory loss thing is weird but I’m dealing.”“I’m so sorry.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “I can’t even imagine—”“Please, don’t. I just want to talk. Mom said you and Kaiden are getting ready to move to Penn State. I can’t believe you