Page 44 of Cruel Love

“It’ll be limited, though. You know that, right?” He pressed his lips into a straight line. “He’s making a run for the NFL, which means long hours at the stadium, practicing, watching film, working out, and striving to improve himself.”

I understood what it took to be an elite athlete. As it was, football took up about forty hours of his time when he was at school. And that didn’t include classes and homework. “Yep. I swear it feels like the universe is trying to pull us apart sometimes.”

“Or test you.” Max winked. “Don’t get discouraged. There’ll be lots of bumps in the road. Show the universe what you’re made of. Go after what you want.”

I laughed. “You’re crazy. You know that? And shouldn’t you be taking your own advice? A certain apartment with your boyfriend and his sister comes to mind.”

“Yeah, I’m just going to need lots of moments with you when I struggle with having his sister there.”

“You never know. You may like her.”

“Debatable. Jaxon hasn’t brought her around, and she didn’t even come over here while I was here.”

It wasn’t a good sign, but I didn’t want him to be discouraged. “Then ask him about it when you guys are alone. There has to be an explanation.”

“You’re right.” He ran his hands through his hair, disheveling the dark strands. “I see Riley and Sky heading over here.”

They’d paused by another student’s display and were talking to them, so I guessed I had a little more time until I joined them and walked around too.

“I’m going to take a stroll around the library to see what everyone else has done.” Max echoed my thoughts. “Want to go with?”

My phone pinged, and I caught sight of Phoenix’s name. “In a minute. I’ll catch up with you after I take a few pictures.” I waved my phone so he could see who they were for. “And don’t force an introduction. Give him space with her for today.”

He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Fine. But hurry up. I’ll go slow so you can catch up, especially if you don’t want me to do something self-sabotaging.”

I laughed. “Okay. No more than five minutes, and I’ll find you.”

When he left, I took a few pictures, one distance shot so he could see how everything was set up and then a few close-ups.

Instead of texting me back, he called. I picked up on the first ring.

“Hey.”

“Aspen, your artwork looks amazing. I’m so goddammed proud of you. And I hate that I’m not there by your side.”

Everything in me went soft. I loved how supportive he was, a happy byproduct of the accident for both of us. Before, I hadn’t tried to make things work between us either. I couldn’t lay all the blame on him. A majority of it, yes, because he did have a tendency to be an asshole, but as we’d gotten to know each other without our defenses, I no longer categorized him that way. I’d been integrated into his inner circle, the people he would do anything for. It was heady stuff. “Thanks. And don’t even think that way. You’re still in recovery from the procedure. I don’t want anything else happening to you.” I could hear the TV in the background and Cole cheering at whatever game they were watching.

“Come over tonight.” The tone in his voice sent a shiver through me, and I could imagine what we would be doing. “I miss you.”

His mom was cool about me staying over, but it still felt strange. “Things will wrap up here in a few hours, and after I pack up my artwork, I’ll head over.” It was weird to sleep under the same roof as his mom, but I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to fall asleep in his arms. I was seriously addicted to him in the best possible way.

We chatted for another two minutes about what he and Cole were doing and how stir-crazy he was when he wasn’t doing what he called his “limited plan” workouts. It wouldn’t be long until he returned to school and resumed classes and football. We both looked forward to that, but I enjoyed our time together at his house more than I ever thought I would and worried that we wouldn’t have time for that once things got back to normal.

Cole cheered again in the background and distracted Phoenix. I laughed. “Go watch the game.” I didn’t care what it was. It was sports, and that told me all I needed to know. “I want to catch up with Max, Sky, and Riley and see the rest of the exhibits anyway.”

We said our goodbyes, and I hauled myself out of the chair as a group crowded the space. I could see Riley and Sky coming from the other direction, and I threaded through the crowd to meet them then catch up with Max.

I waved to them, wearing a wide smile on my face. No matter how tired I was from the stress of the exhibit and wondering what my final grade would be, the day felt like a turning point. I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead for all of us.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

PHOENIX

One month later

I sat across from Coach in his office. The meeting was important, and I needed things to go my way. Coach was a large, bald man. He was the one who’d believed in me the most out of all the other coaches, and I needed to ask for his help.

Grandad wouldn’t come around to our way of thinking. He knew best—"the ravings of a lunatic” was what Mom had said, but she agreed that he would eventually get it and stop his insanity.

---