Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
He squeezes me so close to his shoulder he nearly cuts off my oxygen supply. “You have my blessing, Son.”
When we disconnect, he thumbs away a desolate tear from my cheek. I’m not even embarrassed. Boys don’t cry, but men do. The good ones, anyway.
“Coach know?” Dad runs his fingers through my hair to fix it. Old habits die hard.
I nod. “I retired as captain.”
“How do you feel about it?”
The question gives me pause, because I’m not used to being asked how I feel about things when it comes to football. Only to keep doing my best, to push harder. “It feels…right.”
Dad sucks in a breath. “It’s the end of an era.”
“More like an error,” I murmur. We grin back at each other.
He rolls his eyes. As supportive as he might be, it’s still too soon to joke about the One True Sport.
But even his most sardonic scowl can’t hide the pride lingering at the edges of his mouth.
Even if I don’t end up fulfilling his dream, at least I’ve finally shown I’m capable of standing up for what I believe in. Perhaps that’s all he ever really wanted.
“Sorry to interrupt this Oscar-worthy performance,” Knight drawls, looking between us.
I’d be mad at him if I didn’t see the relief on his face. “But can we get back to the topic?”
“Your erection commercial?” I blink.
“Tom Ford,” Knight corrects. “And I maintain it was barely a semi.”
Dad pats his back. “It’s okay that you got a little excited, Son.”
“What are you gonna do about Dixie?” Knight growls.
Dad’s face falls. “Undecided.”
“Well, decide in the next week, or I’m telling her to cut off all communication with you, myself,” Knight threatens.
I believe him too. And if there’s anyone who could attest to Dixie’s loyalty, it is him. “One week, Dad. That’s all you’re getting.”
He nods solemnly. Dad raises the acceptance letters in his hand. “Can we burn these in the backyard?”
“HOW DID YOU KNOW!” I’m laughing because that’s what I’ve been wanting to do each time one came in the mail.
Dad locks my head in his arm, ruffling my hair as he leads us out. “Burning shit down is a recreational activity in this cul-de-sac. Just ask Uncle Vicious.”
CHAPTER 32
Lev
I show up at Grim’s doorstep the same night, a knot of nerves in my throat.
He lives in a Spanish colonial revival mansion with palm trees, a kidney-shaped pool, and all that jazz.
I knock on his door. His mom flings the door open within seconds, wearing a full-blown Hermes suit and a slight frown. She looks deathly serious, and again, I’m reminded how he’s under so much pressure from his family to take over the family business.
“Mrs. Kwon.” I smile and nod. “Is Grim around?”
She gives me a quick once-over, toes to face. “Why, isn’t he expecting you?”
“No,” I admit. “Actually, I’m not sure if he wants to see me. Which is exactly why I’m here.”
“Weird logic. Let me ask him if he’s accepting visitors.” She slams the door in my face, and I can’t help but chuckle a little. No wonder he’s such a hard ass. It runs in his DNA.
Somehow, I know he’ll see me. Grim is no cop-out, and even if we have our disagreements, he meets every challenge head-on.
Which is exactly why he’s the right owner of the captain title.
The door opens again. This time, I see Grim, wearing a No Fear hoodie and a tie-dye sweatpants, like it’s the nineties. He frowns at me. “Thought I took the trash out earlier.”
“Bro.” I raise my palms up in surrender. “A few words?”
“Actually, there’s only one I need to hear.” He folds his arms over his chest. “And you know what it is.”
“I’m sorry.” The words slide out of my mouth easily.
I know when I fuck up, and I definitely screwed up with Grim. “I put my ego before your happiness, which is a shitty thing to do to your best friend. I was so high on being golden, my principles turned to rust. I knew how much you needed this win to be able to unchain yourself from your family’s grip, and still, I did the wrong thing.”
“Then why did you do it?” Grim’s eyes narrow.
He’s not letting me off the hook. Not yet.
Hell, he didn’t even invite me in. “Why’d you put me through all this crap?”
I let out a breath. “Because I wanted to make my dad and brother happy. Their approval meant more to me than my own dreams. Being an All Saints High football captain was a family tradition, and I didn’t want to break it. But it turned out that it broke me.” I rake my fingers over my head, looking at my feet. “I did it to make other people happy, and I ended up making everyone miserable. You and I included.”
Grim sucked his teeth, considering my words. “Yeah, well, you’re gonna have to make up for that.”