Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

" H ey."

My mom's head pops up from where she's reading her book. This is the last day of our vacation time before I head back to school.

"Rylee." Her voice is soft and a little broken, eyes filling with tears.

It's killing me that we're fighting. I've missed her so much, and not spending time with her while I'm here has hurt, but I needed that space to think.

I step further into the apartment, closing the door behind me. "I've done a lot of thinking, and I'm going to tell you my feelings on everything."

She swallows and nods, lacing her hands in front of her.

"Okay."

"I'm pissed. I'm pissed that this whole time you knew who my dad was, who my grandfather was, and you didn't tell me. I'm pissed that you had a chance to make your life a little bit easier, by taking the help my grandfather offered, but you refused.

"I understand you're a prideful woman, but part of me feels hurt because we could have had a different life. You worked so hard, for so long, when you truly didn't need to. You did it because you wanted to.

"You missed things because of work, knowing damn well you could have asked for time off whenever and for however long you wanted.

"I've listened to the voicemails you sent me. I get it. I do. But I wish you would have thought about how all of this has affected me. Because secrets only stay secrets for so long."

"I know. And I'm so sorry. If I could go back and change everything, I would." I hate to hear the pain in her voice, to see her cry.

"The past is the past. We can't change it. And there's no point letting that eat at us. What we can do is do better. To be open and honest with one another."

"I'd like that." She smiles.

I'm across the room in seconds, pulling her into a hug that I've needed for so damn long. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from crying. My mom is my best friend, and despite everything, she was still an amazing mom growing up.

We sit down on the couch and spend the next few hours talking, laughing, and then finally, crying. I tell her everything about the guys, Missi, and the Dean. She was ready to fly down there and kick the fucker's ass.

I told her the guys have handled it, and everything will be okay.

I'm still shocked they were able to not only get him fired, but get Missi kicked off the cheer team too. To say I'm fucking thrilled is an understatement.

Now, I'm free to go back to school. And I pray to whatever God is listening that the rest of this year goes better. I just want to spend time with my guys, fall in love, and be happy. To get good grades, and do the one thing I love the most in the world: cheer.

I've been through enough, and now it's time for me to get my happily ever after.

After our tearful goodbye, I grab my bags and head down to the lobby. I'm about to order an Uber to the airport when my dad stops me.

God, that's weird to say .

"Rylee."

I look over my shoulder to see him standing there. His hands are stuffed into his expensive slacks, with this boyish smile on his face.

"Hi."

"Leaving?" he asks, nodding at the bags.

"Yup." I bob my head. This is so awkward.

"I was hoping we would get a chance to talk before you headed back to school."

"Yeah? I thought I mentioned that I needed some time." Okay, that was a little bitchy but I've already had to deal with so much these past few weeks. Can't I get a break?

"I know you did. But you can't avoid me forever, you know. I'm not going anywhere. I need you to understand that if I knew anything about your existence, things would have been very different."

"Well, the fact is, you didn't. And I'm almost twenty. I'm not a child. I'm grown, and I have a life of my own. I don't mean to sound like a bitch, but I don't know you. And I gave up on the idea of ever having a dad a long time ago. So, it's going to take me some time to get used to having one now. I'm not saying no to being in your life, I'm saying I need time."

"Alright." He nods. "I understand. But I just wanted you to know, I'm sticking around. If you need anything, and I mean anything, just let me know."

"Thanks." I give him a small smile, feeling guilty. He's not the one at fault. He didn't know about me. It's a big change for him, too. And I guess I could have gotten someone who was pissed off about the idea of having a child they knew nothing about.

But it's literally the worst time to have something as big and life changing as this be added into the already growing pile of bullshit that is my life.

"Hey, baby." Trevor's grin has me literally swooning.

The smile that breaks out over my lips is so damn wide, it hurts.

"Hi!"

I practically throw myself into his arms.

He chuckles, catching me. I lock my legs around his waist and squeeze him tight before leaning back to crash my lips down onto his.

The groan that leaves his chest has my belly growing warm. "I fucking missed you," he murmurs against my lips, his voice husky.

"I missed you too." I kiss him again, not caring that all these people are walking around us, probably watching this little show. Or the fact that I feel Trevor getting hard under me as I grind against him.

He swats my ass.

"Play fair," he growls playfully.

"Never." I grin against his lips.

He puts me down and grabs my bags. "How was your flight?"

"Not bad." I follow him out of the airport. "Finished a book."

"I bet that was the only time you've had to read this whole vacation, wasn't it?" He shoots me a grin.

"Well, being kicked out of school and then finding out about my long lost father takes up a lot of free time." I try to joke but his face falls.

"Rylee." He stops, giving me a pitying look.

"Nope." I shake my head. "Do not look at me like that. I don't want pity."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Would you be mad if I said not right now?" I ask.

He gives me a soft smile. "No." He shakes his head. "You've been through a lot. And if you want some time to forget about it, I understand. But, I'm here to listen whenever you're ready to talk."

"You're amazing, you know that, right?" I smile and lean up onto my tip-toes to kiss him. "I'm glad I'm back. I missed you," I tell him again.

"I missed you more." He smirks against my lips, his hands falling to my ass.

"You're corny as hell." I laugh. "But I love it."

He kisses my nose, and I all but melt into a puddle at his feet. "So, the guys filled me in on everything with the Dean."

I groan. "God, I can't believe this has been my life." I sigh and place my forehead against his chest.

He holds me and rubs my back. "I'm sorry any of that happened to you." His voice is laced with anger. "It never should have. That man is a predator. I just hate that it took so much to finally get him fired. They should have done it a long time ago."

"I'm just glad he's gone. Now, we just have to get rid of his bitch of a daughter from the school."

"At least she's no longer on the cheer team. That should make your life a hell of a lot better."

"Agreed."

We head back to school, but when we get there, we don't go to my dorm. "Ah, Trevor?" I blink over at him. "Babe, you're going the wrong way."

He smiles, not looking at me. "No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are. The dorm is that way." I point over my shoulder.

"You don't live in the dorms anymore."

"What?!" My eyes widen. "What is going on?" I narrow my eyes at him.

"They will tell you," he says as he brings the car to a stop.

Looking out the front window, I see that we're at the Cheer house. Brows furrowing, my eyes drop to the front lawn, where all of my guys are waiting.

Once the car is in park, I'm out and over to them in seconds. "You all better tell me what's going on."

"Well, hello to you too, Cherry." Donny chuckles and steps forward to hug me, but I put out my hand to stop him.

"No. No one touches me until you tell me what's going on."

"Relax, babe." Mateo rolls his eyes. "What's going is that you live here now."

"I'm sorry, what?" I blink a few times. I thought it would be a little bit before I was completely moved.

"You didn't think that now that Missi is no longer living in the house that we weren't going to move your fine ass in." Donny grins.

"So, you took my things from my dorm and moved me in here without my help? I know you mentioned something about me moving in, but you did it all without me."

"I told them it wasn't a good idea," Colt says. "I said we should involve you."

"Oh, fuck off," Mateo growls. "You're so damn pussy whipped."

Colton glares at Mateo, flipping him off.

"You're on the cheer team, you belong here. Also, if you want to keep Peaches, this is your best bet," Lennox says.

"Yup. Every day living in the dorm was one day closer to someone finding out about her, and the school making you get rid of her, remember. But here, we're allowed pets. Remember, Rylee, you're doing it for Peaches." Donny pouts.

"Oh, you all fucking play dirty." I sigh.

"But you love us." Lennox grins. "You said so yourself."

I can't help but smile. "Damn it."

"Don't worry," Alex says, coming down the steps. "I'm going to miss you, but honestly, being able to fuck my girl without having your little cheermates listening will be nice."

"Alex!" Serenity slaps his arms.

"What?!" he says. "It's true."

"So, you two were in on this?" I narrow my eyes at my friends.

"What?" Serenity bats her baby blues at me. "You're not excited to be roomies?"

"Wait, really?" My eyes widen and I smile. "We're rooming together?"

"Yup." She grins wide. "We did a bit of moving around, and some other girls took Missi's old room. So it's me and you, babe."

"When she's not in one of our rooms," Mateo adds.

"Yeah, sorry, Ren. Don't think Rylee will be sleeping in her bed much." Donny shrugs.

"Keep pulling shit like this, and I'll never know what any of your beds feel like." I glare at them all.

But, I follow them up into the house and check out my new room. I have to admit, it's nice. And it's a lot bigger than the dorm. Besides, rooming with another girl is so much better than having to deal with Alex's gross boy stuff.

The next week goes by fast. It feels like I never left, but also seems so new and exciting. School is going well, my classes are awesome, and cheer… Yeah, that's going to take some getting used to.

With Missi gone, I'm actually having fun, since I'm not having to look over my shoulder all the time to see what she might do or say next.

"Come to my place tomorrow night," Trevor says as we walk hand in hand through the courtyard.

"Ah, okay, but why?" I ask. He doesn't live too far from the school, but I've never been to his place before. He stays at the football house during the week, but goes home on the weekends.

"We're having our usual Sunday family supper. I want you to come and meet my mom and step-dad."

I stop and look up at him with slightly widened eyes. "Really?"

"Of course." He kisses my palm, smiling against it as I shiver in pleasure. "You're my girl, and I know we haven't been together long, but I'm certain you're it for me. So, I want them to meet you and see just how amazing you are."

"Are you sure?" I ask, biting my lower lip nervously. "Don't you think they'll be unhappy about me and the whole ‘dating a bunch of guys' thing?"

"Doesn't matter what they think about that." He shrugs. "It's not their life to judge. And I'm an adult, I can live how I please. If they love me, they will respect that."

"Damn, you're so sexy when you talk all mature and shit." I laugh.

"You should see me when I do my taxes." He winks, and I roll my eyes at his bad joke. "But seriously, come over this weekend. Please?"

"Okay."

"Really?" he says with a bit more excitement.

"Yeah. I'll come."

The next day, Trevor picks me up. I'm wearing a pretty deep-green sundress with my hair down and curled. Nothing too fancy, but I didn't want to just show up in jeans and a crop-top. I want to look nice for them.

"Did I mention how beautiful you look tonight?" Trevor asks as we walk up the steps to his house.

No, sorry, it's not a house. It's a fucking mansion. I knew he had money, but damn, this is…a lot.

I shouldn't be surprised. Most of the kids at my school come from money. Hell, two of my guys are loaded.

"Yes, but I don't mind hearing it again." I grin. My phone pings and I glance down at it, relief filling me when I see it's not from my dad.

He texted me the other day, but I didn't open the message, so I don't know what he wanted. I'm not there yet when it comes to talking to him, mentally or emotionally. I'll open it when I am. If it was something important, I'm sure he would call. Not that I can be certain I'd pick up though. This whole thing is still all really weird.

When we step inside, my eyes are instantly looking all around, taking in the elegance of the place.

"They should be in the dining room. I'm a little late, but that's fine. They knew I had to pick you up," he tells me as we walk through the house.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have gotten ready a lot earlier."

"It's fine." He chuckles. "It's just a supper we have every week. There's no special occasion. I often miss them lately anyway. Life has been pretty busy with school and football."

I nod my head, taking a deep breath.

"There you are," a woman's voice says in a cheerful tone when we step inside the dining room. "Come in. Sit. Supper is ready."

I smile over at her. She's pretty. Well, more like gorgeous. She's got long hair—black, like Trevor's—and kind eyes. I can tell the smile on her face is genuine too.

"It's nice to meet you," I tell her as we sit down.

"Trevor can't stop talking about you. Hi. I'm Lucy."

"Where's Dad?" Trevor asks.

"He's just grabbing the chicken."

A door on the other side of Lucy opens, gaining my attention. It takes me a few moments for my brain to register what the hell I'm looking at.

"Rylee." The man smiles, looking surprised. "I'm so glad you took me up on my offer for supper."

"Wait, what?" Trevor says. "Rylee, what is he talking about?"

The man looks down at Trevor. "You two know each other?"

"Yes." Trevor looks confused. "This is my girlfriend, I told you I was bringing her."

The smile falls off of his lips and we just stare at each other. His face is a mask of confusion, and I'm freaking the fuck out.

This cannot be happening. What the fuck did I do in another life to keep having all this fucked up shit happen to me? This is a dream—no, a nightmare. And a sick one at that.

"Rylee, are you okay?" Trevor asks. "What did he mean when he said he invited you? Do you know him?"

"Yeah," I say, my voice coming out hollow. I blink a few times before meeting Trevor's worried eyes. "He's my father."