Page 63 of The Betrayal You Serve

"Aw, missed you too, kid," I say, reaching over and messing up his hair.

We hit up a steak house on the edge of Maddison County before we head for our home in Rosewood. The building itself isn't much but it's the first actual house we've had and despite its less than desirable appearance, I kinda love it.

It's a white and blue painted bungalow, and Kyle's description of it being a granny house when I first took him there is quite an accurate description, but it's ours and that's all that matters. He got to restart his life there, he got to fall in love with Harley there, and be happier than I think he's ever been in his life, and that means everything to me.

"So what have you done with your girl this weekend?" I ask as we drive into Rosewood. The second we pass the sign welcoming us to town, I instantly relax. This place is like my safe haven. No one knows me, there are no Hawks, no Panthers or anyone who can judge me past my slightly rough exterior and the fact we live in a granny house. It's exactly what I need for a few days as I wait to discover what the outcome of my phone call this morning will be.

I pull up in the driveway, thanks to Kyle leaving his car out on the road and I let out a long sigh as I stare at our home.

"Glad to be back?" he asks with a laugh.

"You have no idea. I just need… peace."

He stifles a laugh at my comment.

"What?"

"N-nothing. Come on. I've got a surprise for you."

I narrow my eyes in his direction but climb from the car when he does, too curious as to what he's talking about to sit here any longer.

I follow him up the stairs to our porch and my eyes land on the swing in the corner. Memories of sitting there with a joint hit me. I guess I can do that again now, seeing as I'm about to be pulled from the team. No one will give a shit what I put in my body again.

"This surprise had better include a shit ton of beer," I mutter as he throws the door open and I march inside.

My steps falter the second I step into the living area and my eyes land on Letty sitting on my couch alongside Harley.

"Right, well…" Harley says, jumping from the couch as if it suddenly just burned her. "This has been fun, Sis, but I've got a date with my man, and so do you."

Before I know what's happening, the two of them are gone, leaving me alone with Letty.

"Uh," I say, lifting my hand to my hair and dragging it away from my face as I try to get my brain to catch up with what just happened.

13

Letty

Harley: Meet me at Kyle's.

Istare at my sister's message as I sit in the parking lot outside of the stadium that I just escaped from. The final whistle had barely blown before I was in the aisle and heading for the exit.

I was stoked that the guys won, of course I was. Especially after last weekend's defeat, but I was more than ready to get away from Maddison and chill out with my sister.

Me: Why? I thought we were hanging at Mom's.

Harley: Don't you trust me?

I roll my eyes at my annoying little sister and put my car into drive.

I find a space a little down the street from the house, Harley is obviously waiting for me because she bounces out onto the porch excitedly the second my foot hits the sidewalk.

"You're here," she shouts down.

"It's where you told me to be," I call back, reaching back inside to grab my purse.

"The Panthers killed it," she says as I climb the few steps to get to her.

"They did. Luc will be happy."