Page 1 of GOAT

PROLOGUE

Cameron

Istared at my computer screen, a frown pulling at my lips. My fingers drummed a steady beat on the armrest of my chair, irritation swimming through my veins. How the fuck was a guy supposed to get experience somewhere when no one was willing to hire me so I could get that experience? All these jobs required a damn bachelor’s degree, which I had—graduated top of my class even. But they wanted fucking experience, too. For a goddamn beginner position.

What kind of bullshit was that? How the hell did that even make sense?

I rubbed at my tired eyes before eyeing the eviction notice laying on my desk beside my laptop, a blaring red fucking reminder that my life was falling to shit. A life I’d worked hard to carve out for myself. I’d put myself through college, applying for scholarships every semester and working myself to the goddamn bone every single day just to put food in my stomach and cover my books and the tuition that scholarships didn’t pay for. But when I graduated, I had to have somewhere else to live. I’d thought my three jobs could cover the rent on this place until I could get a job in my field, but nope. No amount of bartending, stocking, and serving could cover the cost of living in Seattle.

Because despite my education and working an internship, I wasn’t fucking qualified.

What a load of shit.

My phone vibrated on my desk, and I leaned forward just enough to grab it before slumping back in my chair again. I frowned at the number, not recognizing it. It wasn’t from the area. But just in case it was someone giving me the chance to attend an interview, I answered.

“Hello?”

A man roughly cleared his throat. “Cam?”

I blinked. Then blinked again. Because I sure as fuck couldn’t be hearing things right. I hadn’t heard from him in years. Not since he left the foster system and graduated high school when I was thirteen. He’d said he and Konrad had made a promise to Jax—that they’d leave and chase something better than the town we’d lived in. And I couldn’t fault them, though it had made me a bit angry and upset with Jax for forcing our family apart, for leaving me and Ace to fend for ourselves.

As I got older though, I realized Jax was right. There was nothing there for any of us. So, when I’d aged out, I’d left, too… left Ace behind just as Jax, Shaw, and Konrad had left us behind. In some ways, I was no better than them.

Konrad and Shaw had deposited money into a bank account for me every month, but I hadn’t touched any of it. Didn’t feel right. I was independent, and I needed to make my own way. Besides… part of me was still bitter about being left behind. To fend for myself and for Ace.

Fucking Ace.

We’d all left Ace behind, but I’d been confident enough in his ability to take care of himself that I hadn’t worried too much. Ace, despite being openly gay from the moment he figured he was, as he put it, “all about dick”, had been a hard ass. His mouth was quick, but his hands were even faster. Ace was small, but he was deadly. He knew how to take care of himself.

“Shaw?” I rasped.

He sighed. “Yeah, Cam. It’s me. I, uh, I’m in town. With Konrad. Wanted to know if you could meet up with us?”

I glanced at my computer, then at the red eviction notice, and then at the computer again. Blowing out a harsh breath, I stood and closed my laptop before moving away from my desk. Wasn’t like I could magically make job listings I was qualified for appear out of thin air. If I could, I would’ve done it a long time ago. Fucking months ago when I graduated.

Besides… I sort of wanted to see Shaw and Konrad again, even if it was just for a little while.

“Sure,” I told him. “Where at?”

“Uhm…” His voice trailed off, and I heard him quietly talking to someone—more than likely Konrad—before he came back on the line. “We’ve been awake for a while and could use some caffeine. You know a good coffee spot that has some baked goods?”

“Yeah,” I told him, searching for my keys in the mess on my desk. “There’s a little spot down the street from me—Beans and Things. I’ll head there now and get us a table.”

“Thanks.” He paused for a moment and then grunted. I mentally fist-pumped when I found my keys. “We’ll see you in about ten minutes.”

I hung up the phone and shoved my feet into my old sneakers before heading down the stairs of my apartment building. The elevator had been broken when I moved in here, and despite the landlord claiming it was going to get fixed when I signed the lease, it still wasn’t.

The walk to the coffee shop didn’t take long, and by the time I had my coffee and was sitting down, Shaw and Konrad were walking through the door, a boy with bleached blonde hair trailing in behind them. I frowned when I saw Shaw say something to him, and when they all looked in my direction, I choked on the sip of coffee I’d just taken.

Ace.

Ace was still short and scrawny, but there was a hardness to his eyes that didn’t used to be there. Sure, he’d been a hard ass little brat, but life hadn’t kicked him down that badly.

Looking at him now, it was clear life had been absolute shit to him after I’d left. Guilt swirled in my gut.

I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have abandoned him like Konrad, Shaw, and Jax had abandoned us.

I immediately stood up, and Ace walked over to me. He frowned at me for a moment, and when I reached forward to hug him, he flinched away. My fingers curled into fists as I dropped my arms back to my sides, my gut churning. Ace used to be such a cuddler, and now…

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