On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,45
We weren’t kids anymore, and I was older and wiser. I wasn’t a naïve boy, seduced by empty promises and a pretty face.
Grabbing a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, I dropped onto the stool and chugged it down. She made me fucking crazy. But Calli was right. Seeing her kiss Joel had lit a fire inside me.
I might not have wanted her anymore, but I sure as shit didn’t want him to have her either. He was a good guy. The kind of guy that would treat her right.
The kind of guy she could fall in love with.
My fist clenched.
Love wasn’t real. It was a lie people told themselves to feel better. Love didn’t make a person strong, it made them weak. It made them vulnerable.
If you weren’t careful, love had the power to ruin you.
A knock at my door made me groan. There was only one person who would turn up at my apartment this late, and I really didn’t want to deal with Victoria.
“What?” I barked as I yanked open the door.
“Nice to see you too.” She raised a brow, barging past me.
“Come in, why don’t you?” I mumbled, mentally noting to talk to my neighbor about them leaving the front door open for anyone to waltz into the building.
“Where did you get to?”
“I wasn’t feeling it.”
“We need to be strong, Zach.” She ran her finger along the edge of my breakfast counter. “People expect us to—”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
I’d left San Diego State and transferred to SU. I’d taken Declan’s position on the team. Taken his friends and reputation too.
It was messed up. The way Coach and the guys and my parents thought this was the best way to honor Declan. I wasn’t him. I was never going to be him. But I did it for an easy life. Because Timothy Messiah was not a man that accepted no for an answer.
“The team needs you,” she said around a tight smile.
“The team think they need me. They have other point guards, Vic. I’m not—”
“But you are. After what happened with Maverick last year and now Declan, it’s too much. They need hope, Zach. They need to win. You of all people should know that.”
Me of all people?
Because Victoria knew me so fucking well.
She only knew this Zach. The Zach after.
“If you only came over to bitch at me, you know where the door is.” I flicked my head to the hall.
“You know, sometimes, you’re a real asshole,” she hissed. “You’re not the only one grieving, Zach. I love him too.”
Bitter laughter rumbled in my chest. She was so far off the mark it was laughable. She’d lost her boyfriend, her future husband, the future father of her kids.
I might have lost my brother, but I’d gained his life.
A life I’d never wanted.
If it wasn’t for him, I’d still have been at San Diego. At least there, I had some degree of freedom.
Victoria’s eyes drilled holes into the top of my head.
“What?” I growled, finally lifting my eyes to hers.
“You’re so angry all the time. It isn’t good for you, Zach.”
“Neither is sniffing around your boyfriend’s brother.”
Her sharp intake of breath made me feel like shit. But I couldn’t help what came out of my mouth sometimes.
“I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”
“I’m sorry, okay?” I ground out. “I’m just so fucking sick of this crap, and the season hasn’t even started yet.”
Vic moved closer, laying a hand on my arm. “You need this, Zach. It’s in your blood, your DNA. You’re a Messiah, basketball is who you are.”
For fuck’s sake. She was starting to sound like my old man.
“Were you pleased with the fundraiser?” I asked, needing a break from the heavy stuff.
Victoria helped herself to a beer and joined me at the counter. “Yeah, it was a good night. I sense a few budding romances if some of the kisses were anything to go by.” Mischief sparkled in her eyes. “Did you see Joel and Josie’s friend? Holy shit, that was hot.”
My fist clenched against my thigh. “Can’t say as I noticed,” I gritted out.
“Are you blind?” Her eyes danced with amusement. “It was the hottest kiss of the night.”
Giving her a dismissive shrug, I drained the rest of my beer before going to get another one.
“You should set them up.” She suggested.
My head snapped around to her. “Me? Why the fuck would I do that?”
“Joel likes you and he’s so shy around the ladies.”