Chapter 14

14

Grace

Classes are going well and fall break is quickly approaching. Benji plans to go home and visit his parents for the break. Miles isn't going home to visit our mom and I decide to stay at the house, catch up on some studying. And most likely, miss Benji.

I pad into the kitchen. I love the days with early classes because Benji also has an early class. We take advantage of the few minutes we get to have together with a cup of coffee and a conversation over a bowl of cereal. We usually share a few quick kisses too, which always starts my day off right.

After our coffee, I give him a hug. "I've got to get going."

"You wanna ride?" Benji kisses my forehead.

"Nah. I'm good. I'll walk."

I grab my backpack and Benji laces his fingers with mine. "I'll walk you to the door."

He follows me into the laundry room. We wrap ourselves into a tight embrace. "Have a great day. What time will you be home from practice?"

"Around five tonight, I think. Maybe we can find a few minutes together later." Benji cups my butt with his hand.

I giggle as his fingers start to lift my skirt. "Benji," I giggle and try to brush his hand away.

Our mouths crash together in a heated kiss.

"Soon," Benji whispers against my lips.

I run my fingers on his chest. "Maybe this weekend?"

"We'll figure it out."

He gives me one more kiss and I head out the back door and make my way to my early class with a pep in my step.

I'm so in love.

Benji

I look out the back door and smile as Grace makes her way down the driveway and onto the sidewalk. I turn and my chest tightens when Kade stands in the laundry room door with his arms across his chest.

Fuck.

"What about this weekend?" Kade grins.

I rub the back of my neck. "What about it?" I walk toward him, and he won't let me get past him through the laundry room door.

"You and Grace, huh?"

"What're you talking about?" I scowl. "Don't be an ass."

"I walked in on you with your tongues down each other's throats. Don't bullshit me, man."

I punch him lightly in the stomach. "Move." He lets me pass, but he follows me into the kitchen where I pour a second cup of coffee.

"Give it up," Kade laughs. "I know what I saw."

"Keep it down, would you?" I take a drink from my cup. "Yeah. Okay."

"I knew it." Kade pops his fist into the air. "I've suspected it for a few weeks."

"What? Why ?"

"I heard her in your room one night."

"Oh fuck," I mumble.

Kade reaches into the cabinet and grabs a coffee cup. "I'm assuming Miles doesn't know since your balls are still intact."

I groan. "Not yet."

"You do know he's going to kill you when he finds out you're fucking his little sister, right?" Kade pours coffee into his cup and whistles. "If nothing else, you've got balls doing that right under his nose."

"It's not what you think." I dump the rest of my coffee into the sink.

"You're not fucking her?"

"Fuck off." I put my coffee cup into the dishwasher. "I care about her, asshole." I turn to Kade. "We're exclusive, okay?"

"Whoa, no kidding?" Kade plops down on the barstool. "Well, congratulations. When you plan on sharing your news with Miles?" Kade takes a sip of his coffee.

"Not yet, but we'll tell him when we feel like the time's right."

"How does Grace feel about Ava?"

I drop my shoulders and let out a sigh. "I haven't told her yet."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid she'll judge me." I shrug. "She's got a deadbeat dad herself and I don't want her to think I'm some loser who doesn't take care of his kid."

"You do what you can for Ava."

Even though Kade is busting my balls about catching Grace and I in the laundry room, he's being supportive about the fact I'm working as hard as I can to support my daughter. Kade is not only a teammate, but he's also a friend too and he's always had my back— both on and off the field.

I nod. "Thanks, Kade." I do appreciate his supportive words. "If I wasn't playing football, I'd have a job and could help more with the finances."

Kade grabs a breakfast bar from a nearby bowl. "Your parents help a lot, and you always go home and work for the summer." Kade shrugs. "You're doing the best you can."

"You can't tell anyone what you saw." I point to the laundry room.

Kade takes a bite of the breakfast bar. "I don't agree with keeping it from Miles, but I'm not going to say anything to him. Your secret is safe with me."

I let out a breath. "I mean to anyone ."

"I'm not going to say anything, but you've gotta be more careful. If I figured it out, you don't know that someone else here hasn't figured it out too."

I nod in agreement. "You're right." I grab a banana from the bowl on our counter.

Kade takes a sip from his coffee mug. "Shit, you've got it bad, don't you?"

I peel my banana and take a bite. "Not sure how it happened, but yeah…guess I do."

"When you decide to tell Miles, be sure and let me know."

I scowl. "Why?"

Kade smirks. "I'd at least like a chance to tell you good-bye before he rips off your balls and shoves ‘em down your throat." He shrugs. "Just saying, you know?"

"Thanks, asshole." I hoist my backpack onto my shoulder.

"Hey, what are friends for?"

He's right. I'm a dead man walking.

The weeks pass by in a flurry of football games, fall cookouts, and Grace. I go home for fall break, and Grace and I text each other constantly. My parents finally ask why I'm spending so much time on my phone. I miss the hell out of her, and I make sure to make it up to her when I get back.

We still haven't told Miles, but he's busy with school and practice like the rest of us and doesn't seem to be any the wiser. When Grace and I are alone, we try to figure out the best time to break the news to Miles. Grace is afraid of how he'll react since he's always been so protective of her. I'm worried Miles will think Grace is just another one of my conquests.

Thankfully, Kade has kept his promise and hasn't said anything about my relationship with Grace.

One day, Miles approaches me while I'm cooking my dinner.

"Hey," Miles starts as he leans against the counter.

"Hey, what's up?"

"I just want to thank you for everything."

I turn to Miles. "Thank me?"

"Yeah, for not parading a bunch of your conquests around the house in front of Grace." He shakes his head. "You've surprised me with your discretion. Not sure if you're sneaking girls up to your room or if you're getting it in the dorms."

I laugh nervously. "Maybe a little of both."

Why can't I just be honest with him? Maybe this is the perfect opportunity.

I rub the back of my neck. "Miles, about that. I've?—"

"About what?"

"About who I've been seeing… I think it's time you knew?—"

Miles' ringtone sounds. "Hello?"

He waves to me. "Talk to you later," he mouths and leaves me alone in the kitchen.

Well, shit.