I leave Liam to stew. The more I examine Samantha’s behavior, the more I see I’m not who she wants. I’m what she needs to get what she wants. The unfortunate part for her is that I don’t want her, and the Bradfords are the true power. Emma’s return stalled her plans. She still had the Selection to work things in her favor. However, we all fell in love with Emma, and that fucked her in the ass with no lube. It’s why she resorted to trying to get rid of Emma, and when that didn’t work, she helped orchestrate Karl’s kidnapping for the second time.
“I never thought of it that way. Sam’s been so in your face about wanting you. I thought you were her endgame, and the power would be a bonus,” Liam explains.
It’s what everyone thought, including myself. “You weren’t alone. We all did. I didn’t start examining Sam’s true motives until we found out how much she was doing.”
Walking over to my window, I peer out at the setting sun-frustrated that yet another day has ended and Emma’s still out of reach. I know we’re on the cusp of turning things around, but that doesn’t help me now, especially after hearing she’s not well. Each slight against her feels like our doing, and I hate it-I hate myself for my part in it. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure she doesn’t go through her entire pregnancy thinking we abandoned her for a lecherous leech.
My door opens for a second time, and Karl and August enter. “Are you sure we can’t replace her saline implants with cement and throw her in the pool?” Karl inquires, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall near my bathroom.
“No,” Sebastian replies, stepping inside and closing the door. “At least not yet.”
I rub the bridge of my nose, attempting to hold back my snicker at the imagery. August makes no such attempt. His raucous cackle fills the room.
“That’s how she has to die. Promise me that’s how she dies. Someone, please tell me we can make that happen,” August begs, and I lose my fight-we all do.
The whole room bursts into peels of laughter.
“Can you see it? Her tits would become an anchor,” Karl coughs, catching his breath.
“She’d be tits up because her tits weighed her down,” Sebastian jests.
This is almost as funny as what happened at the party over the weekend, but I’m not sure anything will ever pass that. Wiping the tears from the corner of my eyes, I refocus the conversation. “How is she?”
The room quickly quiets. “She’s resting. Her dad let me in to see for myself, but he wouldn’t let me stay,” August answers.
I clench my fists. My nostrils flare as I grind my teeth. I’m so over this whole thing. “Where is Teagan on the chip?” I growl.
Reaching into his pocket, Liam pulls out his phone. “Seventy percent there.”
My shoulders slump. We’re closer, but we’re still not there yet.
“We still have to play this like Senator Baker and Samantha are in control, but their time’s almost up,” Sebastian declares. “The night at Le Toucher is step one in their ultimate downfall.”
I shake off my sullenness at his words and hope they ring true. Our girl inches closer to her due date each day, and we need to be there to support her through it.
KARL
“You can suit up, Jefferson, but you need another week before you can take the field,” Charlie states as he directs me to follow his hand. Then he tips his head, signaling he’s finished.
Huffing, I hop down from the exam table. “You said that last week.”
“Well, considering it was only a couple of months ago that you had swelling in your brain, cracked ribs, and a concussion, I’d say erring on the side of caution makes the best sense,” he replies.
I want to argue, but I know he’s right. I was really hoping to get time on the field today. Football isn’t life to me like it is to Liam, but I enjoy being on the field with my brothers. It’s been too long since I’ve been able to do that.
“Still benched?” Rowan asks once I enter the locker room.
“Yup,” I grumble, reaching into my locker and grabbing my jersey.
August claps my shoulder and squeezes. “Now you can keep an eye on our girl. A little birdie told me she’s coming tonight since she’s off bed rest.”
I perk up at that news. My angel will be here. The wheels in my head are already churning.
“Just don’t get caught,” August leans in to whisper, and I smirk.
He can always read me like a book. One look, and he knows I’m plotting a way to get Emma alone. It’s not a want-it’s a must-have.
“I won’t,” I promise, then pull my jersey over my head and leave the padding behind, opting to wear my jeans. If I can’t play, it doesn’t make sense to suit up completely, especially not for what I have planned.
I’m putting my pads back into my locker when the coach calls for everyone’s attention. I’m only half listening to the pep talk. Something about winning the game to continue Lincoln-Wood Univeristy’s undefeated streak against one of our division rivals and making the alums proud.
He shouts for us to bring it in, and at this point, I’m just going through the motions-one step closer to who I want- my angel.
I run with the team through the tunnel, nearly gagging at the sight of the witch cheering with her squad. Samantha would be okay if she weren’t such a selfish, evil hag. She could be easy on the eyes or a ten for someone. Not us, but someone out there. Her brother, for instance.
“What has you grinning from ear to ear?” Liam inquires as he searches the stands.
Ignoring his question, I join him. It doesn’t take long for me to spot her. “Found her.”
Liam follows my gaze. “There she is,” he sighs, as lost as I am in her beauty.
She’s glowing. The color has returned to her face-Emma’s in the box seats with her father, Shay, and Shay’s parents. Tobias Bradford is absent for obvious reasons. Only a select few know he’s back in Calloway.
“Do you think she’s warm enough,” I mumble, elbowing Liam to look away. Samantha and her trolls are watching, and the last thing we need is for her to throw a temper tantrum on the field. It’s already suspicious that she hasn’t pitched a fit over her mother’s death.
Rowan and August approach as Liam responds, “Yeah. I’d say she’s warm enough between her sweater and the wool blanket Shay just pulled out.”
“I wonder if she’s wearing her new charm bracelet,” Rowan ponders out loud.
If I plan this right, I’ll get to see for myself and report back.
“Time for the team huddle,” Coach Briar barks, and the guys run it in. When I don’t move, he shouts, “Jefferson, get your boney half-broken ass over here.”
Grumbling, I jog over in time to hear our initial strategies depending on which way the coin toss goes. The defensive coach is still speaking when the ref blows his whistle. Our captain, who also is our quarterback, runs onto the field. The ref announces the rules for the coin toss before flipping the coin, and since Eastland University is the away team, they get to call it.
“Tails,” their captain yells as the ref catches the coin.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.