Page 36 of I Blame the Rival

My brother rushes in and crushes me into a hug.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” I squeeze him back, guilt washing over me.

“You can hide in your room or another building, but no more bathrooms okay?” Wesley pulls back and gives me a weak smile, “I fucking hate bathrooms.”

Nico shoves him aside and scoops me up, “I’ve got the perfect remedy for this evening. Three words, one football stadium.”

“A Cinderella Story?”

“You got it, babe.” Nico carries me over to the blankets covering the ground and plops me down right beside him. Throwinga blanket over my legs, he turns me into a burrito before making himself comfortable.

“It’s time to see if the real life version matches the charm of Chad Michael Murray.” Nico grins and tosses my brother the remote, “Do you have your earmuffs ready?”

Wesley flips him off before snatching a blanket and joining us on the ground. I lean against his shoulder and he pulls me close.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you, I just…” His voice breaks and I clutch him tighter, “I just don’t think I can stand seeing you hurt again.”

The stitches holding my heart together start to rip as the consequence of my actions fall apart beside me. Wesley’s shoulders shake as he holds me, the splash of his tears on my cheeks making my own start to fall.

“I’m not going to leave you.”

My voice is barely above a whisper, the pain of my past radiating through the person I love the most. When my ex-boyfriend hurt me, I didn’t even try to hurt him back. Instead, I did something so much worse.

I turned the pain onto myself and tried to leave everyone I loved behind.

Wesley squeezes me tightly, “You better not. I can’t be stuck with Nico for the rest of my life.”

Nico sniffs indignantly, “You would be blessed to spend the rest of your life in my presence.”

I laugh, wiping away my brother’s tears before my own. There’s been so many mornings when I’vewanted to give up and let the darkness take me, but seeing the impact it had on my family made me realize that sometimes you don’t live for yourself.

Sometimes you have to do it for someone else.

“Are you ready for a cinematic masterpiece, mon frère?” Pulling out the rustiest French accent I can manage, I give Wesley my best impersonation of a car salesman.

He grins, popping out a couple of dimples, “Mais oui. Nico, press le button.”

Nico groans, “Both of you, put the horrific French accents away. You’re giving me PTSD from our last code red.” He gives Wesley the stink eye, “When you ignored my pleas to stop.”

I smile, “Sounds like the perfect wingman to me.”

“I was phenomenal. Do you know how hard it is to get down on your knees when your assistant coach is waiting, buck-ass naked, in your doorway?” Wesley shakes his head, bringing up a hand to protect his heart, “That’s the real trauma right there.”

Nico smirks, “If you’re blessed to be in my presence, you were fucking baptized when you saw Mo’s fine ass. My man is hung like a horse.”

Wesley frowns, “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen bigger.”

I stare at him, “Why are you checking out naked men? You’re in a relationship.”

“Don’t be so judgmental. I’m a curious guy, that’s all.”

Nico snorts, “He likes to know where he falls on the size scale.”

My brother nods in agreement, “I like to confirm I’m above average. It’s good for the morale.”

Grimacing, I lean over and snatch the remote out of Nico’s hands.

“It’s time to end this conversation. Are you guys ready for the movie?”

---