Page 21 of The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders 4)

We fell into easy conversation. Time and distance didn’t sever our bond. If anything, our friendship was stronger than ever.

“So my mom is having a Thanksgiving thing,” Asher announced. “She’s keeping it low key. She wants to invite Kent and Denise; your mom, dad, and Xander,” he said to Cameron.

“Yeah, sounds good. What about Mya’s aunt?”

He let out a weary sigh. “It’s a work in progress. She

and Mya got into it the other week, don’t ask me what about. Probably me or the fact that Mya is getting too involved in her studies.”

“Isn’t that supposed to happen?” I asked.

“Yeah, but she’s volunteering at a community project and she comes home with all these stories about the kids...”

“She wants to save them all,” Cameron said, and Asher nodded.

“And she can’t, ya know? I’m just worried she’ll get too attached.”

“Nah, she’s strong,” I said, “and she wants to help. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Mya had grown up in a rough neighborhood. She’d witnessed firsthand what deprivation, crime, and drugs could do to a person. So the fact she wanted to be a social worker and try to make a positive impact was commendable.

“Says the guy who’s been spending more time with his team than his girl.” Asher’s brow quirked up.

“She’s always with tutor boy.” I bristled. Darcy’s name was becoming a regular mention in our conversation. I fucking hated it, but it wasn’t like I could complain, not when Asher was right. I was spending more time with the team than Felicity. But it was only for another few weeks. Once the season was over, things would settle. We could be us again.

“Dude, you’re not seriously jealous about a guy who enjoys talking about animal science all day?”

“You’re forgetting that Felicity also likes talking about that stuff.”

“He’s her tutor. You’re her... person.”

Cameron chuckled. “He’s right, you know. You and Felicity are going the distance. All couples have highs and lows.”

“Well being in a low fucking sucks.”

“You’re still... doing it, right?”

I gawked at Asher. “What are we, five?”

“I’m just trying to help.” He shrugged.

“Yeah, well maybe we should change the subject.” Dissecting my relationship with Felicity was making me cranky.

“If you make it as one of the Heisman finalists, we can take a trip to New York for the weekend to celebrate.”

“Seriously, Ash, the chances of me getting shortlisted are almost non-existent.” I rubbed my jaw.

“Still, I’ll ask my old man if we can reserve the penthouse for the weekend. That way, even if you don’t shortlist, we can still go, but it can be a commiseration instead of a celebration.” A shit-eating grin tugged at his mouth.

“There’s something very wrong with you,” I grumbled.

“But you love me.”

Yeah, I did. He might have been like sunshine on a fucking rainy day, but Asher was my best friend. Cameron too. Almost fifteen months had passed since we left Rixon for college, but they were still my guys.

Always would be.

He pulled out his cell phone and I frowned. “What are you doing?”