“I know you weren’t in your bed when I got home last night,” he said. “And those sources might have mentioned that you were with a certain redhead.”

Redhead?

Oh.

Amy.

My muscles relaxed in relief. He thought I was with Amy. I could deal with that, maybe even run with it.

My mouth lifted into a smile I wasn’t really feeling. “What can I say? Maybe your sources were right after all. She wanted the D, and I couldn’t resist.”

Couldn’t resist was fucking right. But there sure as hell wasn’t a redhead involved - only a sexy blonde with purple in her hair.

So fucking sexy.

“You’re a horn dog,” said Reid. “That girl is going to think you’re dating.”

“Nah,” I waved him off. “She knows the deal. It was a one-time thing.”

I’d forgotten whom we were talking about. I had no way of knowing what Kennedy would be thinking after last night, but I needed to make sure we didn’t have a repeat. I was supposed to hate her, after all, and after one night with her, I knew having more would ruin me. And hurt her. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to live with that guilt.

“I highly doubt Amy believes that. I just hope you wrapped it before you tapped it, brother. God knows where that girl has been.”

Right. Amy. That’s who we were talking about.

“Yeah, you know I don’t want any illegitimate kids running around,” I replied. Speaking about this conjured up the memory of how Kennedy’s eyes widened at the sight of my dick, and the apadravya piercing I had. She was fascinated by it, and when he brushed her fingers over the sensitive head, I almost lost it right there.

Fuck.

It was going to be a long day.

The more I thought about her, our night together, the tighter my chest became. I didn’t want to regret it or wish it away, but I couldn’t escape the feeling that it was a mistake.

Problem was, it was a mistake I knew was going to be hard not to repeat.

PRACTICE TOOK A little longer on the account of me forgetting the plays at home. I was completely off my game, but the guys on my team knew better than to bring it up. I was particularly annoyed with Chase, and Gavin, and didn’t even pretend not knowing why.

I’d called my mother to let her know I was going to be a little late, so when I walked into the coffee shop she was already waiting for me. Her honey blonde hair was tied in a bun at the base of her neck, and her make-up was impeccably done to match her outfit. It was all for show though, because beneath that was a woman struggling to move on with her life without drowning in her depression.

She saw me approaching her table, and her blue eyes flickered with life. It had been too long since I’d seen her, and she looked thinner, more fragile. An unwelcome pang settled in my chest, borne of self-condemnation and remorse. I should have been there for her more, but I was too busy keeping my own head above water. I wanted that to change. For Jewel.

“Sweetheart.” My mother stood, and I wasted little time to wrap her in a gentle hug. Her familiar Chanel perfume was a strange kind of comfort, bringing back memories of a happier time in my life.

“It’s good to see you, mom.” I kissed her head, holding onto her a little longer. She let go, and I took a seat next to her. A waitress took our order, and what followed was an awkward silence filled with everything I wanted to say but didn’t know how to. I had no idea how to start, and apparently my mother didn’t either.

She broke the silence once our coffee’s had arrived, and bent down to reach for something under the table. She placed a box wrapped in silver paper in front of me. “For your birthday,” she said, a soft, sad smile on her face.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I replied. I didn’t want to upset her, but I was grappling with too many emotions at once and was dangerously close to losing the internal fight for control.

“I didn’t,” she replied. “Open it.”

I ripped the paper off with little enthusiasm, and when there was nothing left it revealed a black box with the Rolex symbol on it. I flipped the lid and found a vintage Rolex watch perched in the middle.

I looked at my mother. “Mom, this is…”

“It was my grandfather’s watch, from 1930. I wanted to wait until you turned twenty one, but…”

Her words trailed off, but I knew what she was going to say. We’d had that argument many times in the months after my sisters’ death. My mother pleaded with me to make better choices, and live a better life because before we knew it, Jewel was gone, and if I carried on with my drinking, and lewd behavior, I would have had nothing to show for my life.

I stared down at the watch, and rubbed the face. It had a chrome steel case, with black leather straps that didn’t even look old. I thought it was quite fitting though; a harsh reminder that time was something we couldn’t take for granted.

“I love it.” I leaned over and gave my mother a peck on the cheek. “I’ll put it in a safe place.”

My mother shifted in her seat. “I’m sorry your father couldn’t make it. He had some business to take care of.”

Of course he did. He’d been working more and more, but I guess that’s just how he dealt with his own grief. I pursed my lips, and gave a brisk nod.

“He’s having some trouble with Anthony Monroe,” she added. “But that’s been going on for years.”

The mention of Kennedy’s father twisted my insides. From what I’d heard he was a shrewd businessman, and an even worse human being. Reid had let slip that Kennedy had been at her father’s house when she came home looking like a bloody wreck, and I tried to squelch thoughts of him hurting her that way. I didn’t have to protect her, but dammit, half the time I wanted to.

“Did you know Kennedy was back?”

My mothers’ question caught me by surprise, and her gaze spoke of understanding, the kind that told me she not only knew what Kennedy had meant to my sister, but to me too. It was unnerving.

“Yes,” I replied. I cleared my throat. “She goes to Brighton.”

“Have you seen her?”

“No,” I lied. The words came out too quickly, and my mother quirked a brow.

I rushed to defend myself. “I know Reid has, because Jade and Kennedy live together, but I’ve been too busy with classes, and helping Coach Ford to get out.”

I changed the topic and asked my mother what she’d been doing to keep herself busy.

“Oh, I’ve been redecorating the house,” my mother replied. She perked up, and I listened intently. I needed to escape thoughts and talk of Kennedy, if only for a little while. I’d be dealing with that…issue…when I got back to campus.

“That reminds me,” my mother added, “Your father and I will be away for Thanksgiving. Would you like to join us?”

I didn’t have to think it through before replying, “No, that’s okay, thanks mom. Reid invited me to his house this year.”

Her face fell, only this time I didn’t feel quite so guilty. I hadn’t spent Thanksgiving with my parents since my senior year of high school, and it had more to do with my father than the absence of my twin. We couldn’t be in the same room for more than ten minutes before fighting over one thing or another, and sitting around a table pretending to play nice wasn’t appealing.

“Oh, that’s okay. But promise me we’ll do this again soon? I don’t see you enough, and I miss you. I know your father does too, even if he doesn’t say it.”

I swallowed. “Sure, mom. I promise.”

We chatted for a short while longer until my mother said she had a few errands to get done before she had to go back home. We said our goodbyes, and I watched her climb into a town car and drive away before I headed home myself. The heaviness from earlier was still looming, and by the time I stopped in the lot outside our dorm, I knew exactly what I had to do.