On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,20

with assholes.”

Her first and only boyfriend had ripped out her heart and stamped all over it right before they left for college, after they’d decided to do the long-distance thing. He was also a basketball player, the high school team captain to be exact. And although I’d wanted to give Finn the benefit of the doubt—because while they were together, they did make a cute couple—deep down, I knew he’d hurt her.

Ballers couldn’t be trusted.

They were too invested in the game, in the high of the win, the popularity and fame that came with being able to throw a ball through a hoop.

“Have you spoken to him?” I asked.

“What? No. No! I have nothing to say to him. Besides, I already met a cute guy called Toby who I think is the perfect rebound guy.”

“Madison,” I sighed.

“Relax, I’m not going to catch feelings. But I am going to let him help me forget all about Finn and his empty promises. And if you know what’s good for you, babe, you’ll do exactly the same.”

She made it sound so simple. But I didn’t want a rebound guy.

“Well, just be careful.” I knew my best friend, and I knew that despite her strong façade, she wore her heart on her sleeve.

Unlike me, who kept my heart locked away so tight no one could touch it.

After Zach, I hadn’t dated. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t put myself through that again. Then Mom had gotten sick and everything else took a back seat. Because I was all she had, and I didn’t walk out on the people I love.

But was Madison right?

Was this a chance to finally get some closure?

A chance to show Zachary Messiah—and myself—that I’d finally moved on.

“I’ll tell you what,” she said. “I promise to be careful, if you promise to take a risk now and again.”

“I... okay.”

“Okay?” Surprise coated the word.

“Yeah, okay.” I’d already gone against everything I knew and abandoned my father, along with the chicken and vegetables.

I had this.

It was college. Time to spread my wings and live.

“Atta girl,” I heard the smile in Madison’s voice. “She’d be proud of you, ya know. The second you realized Zach was at SU, you could have run, and you didn’t. That’s huge, Calli.”

It wasn’t, not really.

It wasn’t like I had anywhere else to go.

But I knew what she meant, and for a second, I’d wanted to hide. To barricade myself in my dorm and figure a way out of this mess. But I hadn’t.

Because Madison was right.

I needed closure.

I needed to know why Zach hated me so much.

Then, and only then, could I finally be free.

Zach

The Pivot was a sports bar just off campus. It wasn’t really my scene, but it was the preferred hangout for the team. And since I was a member of the Steinbeck Scorpions, I was expected to be present.

The season didn’t start for another two months, but it was important for the team to bond, to practice, and spend time in the gym.

According to tradition, it was also important to get the freshman recruits fucked up and watch them do a bunch of stupid shit. After a serious incident with the basketball captain a few years ago, SU had a zero-tolerance policy toward hazing. But this wasn’t hazing. It was just some good old-fashioned fun. No one would end up hurt or humiliated. Well, no more than usual where a bunch of college students was concerned.

“What do you think of the new guys?” Brad asked me. He leaned back against the bar, watching as they went head to head in a shooter contest.

Trev, the owner, was cool. An ex-Scorpion, he was happy to let us hangout in the back. It had some pool tables, a few booths, and an old jukebox. The walls were littered with Scorpion and NBA paraphernalia.

I took a long pull on my beer, shrugging. “Time will tell.”

“That kid, Kaiden, seems okay.”

“The kid’s got skills,” Joel added. “I saw some footage of him on the court. He could give you a run for your money, Messiah.”

“Fuck off.” I was the best. It’s why Coach Baxter had agreed to my parents’ fucked up proposal. I had natural talent, just like Declan. Just like my father. But what I had in talent, I lacked in ambition. Basketball was their dream, not mine.

“Is that Josie?” Joel groaned and all our eyes went over to where he was staring.

The back room didn’t have a door, it had a big archway that led into the main bar