The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,38

thought their destinies were already decided for them. I wanted to show them there was always another way.

“I already told you, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”

Rolling over, I stared up at Asher. He was so handsome, his features older and wiser, a young man on the cusp of great things. Turned out, Asher was whip smart like his father. He’d never wanted his father’s life, but since starting his business degree two years ago, Asher had come to love the very thing he’d once resented.

“But what about your dad’s business?”

“We’ll figure it out. He’s been wanting to expand. This could be the perfect opportunity. We have time.” He kissed the end of my nose.

But two years was nothing. Once we threw ourselves into classes and the football season, junior year would pass us by in the blink of an eye, and we’d be one step closer to making the big decisions.

“Hey, Mya,” Bella beckoned me over. “How are you... after, you know...”

“I’m good, thanks.”

She nodded. “Have you seen Faith yet?”

“No, but honestly, it’s not a big deal. She’s entitled to her opinions, so long as she doesn’t keep trying to—”

Bella widened her eyes and I turned just in time to greet Faith. “Hey,” she said around a sheepish smile. “Can we talk for a second?”

“I’ll just...” Bella left us to it.

“I’m sorry about last night. I had no right to—”

“No, you didn’t,” I said flatly. “Mine and Asher’s relationship is just that, Faith, ours. I won’t justify my decisions to you, and I don’t expect you to judge me for my actions, the way I won’t judge you for yours.”

“You’re right, you’re totally right.” She ran a hand through her silky red hair. “I’m just trying to be more in control of my life and sometimes it spills out. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“Good.”

“Did you find Asher?”

“Yeah.”

“He probably hates me now, huh?”

“He doesn’t hate you, Faith. He just doesn’t understand you sometimes. Max was a good guy. I know you two had your differences, but I think the poem threw Ash for a loop.”

“I can see that. To be honest, I think the poem was less about Max and more about me and the pressure and expectations I put on myself.”

“You’ll get there, Faith. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

I wanted to graduate and become a social worker, but not the same way Faith wanted it. She lived and breathed it, out to prove to everyone that she could make it. Her tenacity was inspiring, but I also wondered if it was impacting on her personal life. Asher hadn’t been wrong, Max was a great guy. Solid and dependable with plans for the future. Most girls dreamed of meeting a guy like that. But not Faith, she’d run the second things got too serious.

“You’re a good friend, Mya.” She took my hand in hers. “Asher’s lucky to have you.” There was something in her eyes that looked a lot like regret, but I didn’t ask.

Faith needed to work things out for herself.

“Come on,” I said. “We should get to class.”

Asher

“You made a quick exit last night,” Diego said as we worked out next to each other.

“Yeah, we had shit to take care of.”

“I bet you did.” He shot me a knowing grin and I managed to flip him off.

“You know you’re punching above your weight with Mya, right?”

“Fuck you, D.” I chuckled. Of course I knew Mya was too good for me. But she was mine, and I didn’t plan on giving her up for anything.

“I’m just busting your balls, she’s a good girl. One of the best. She volunteering again at the center this semester?”

“Yeah, her field practice isn’t until senior year, so she’ll want to get all the hands-on experience she can.”

“She’s a better person than me. Some of those little punks would be cruising for a bruising with the way they talk to the staff there.”

“It's what she wants to do,” I said as if was that simple. And in a way, it was. But Diego was right, the New Hope Community Center worked with some of the most challenging kids living in and around Strawberry Mansion.

“Don’t you ever worry about her being there?”

“What kind of question is that, D? Of course I fucking worry. She’s my...” Everything.

Mya was my everything.

But she wanted to make a difference. She wanted to try to break the cycle of crime, drugs, and poverty so many of the kids in Philly found themselves in. It was