Page 43 of The Wicked Love

I nod, agreeing with their choice. Although anything that takes us away from Keanu and Hermès right now is good in my book. A few flashes strobe in the corner of my eye, and I sigh, knowing this trip will now be slapped on the cover ofPeoplemagazine.

A weird tingle of warmth swims through my chest at the thought of their reaction when they see their surprise. But shortly following the happiness is a wave of guilt. The same feeling that always hits me after moments of happiness.

How can I be allowed to be happy when both my parents are dead and I’m all alone?

Deana would be scolding me for even letting that thought break through. Maybe I’ll keep that one to myself when we meet this afternoon.

THIRTEEN

Callum

“Go get cleaned up and enjoy your break. The next time you get one will be after the season ends.” Coach whistles, dismissing us.

Rhett, Chance, Dawson, and Donovan all hang back a second, waiting for me.

Picking my helmet up off the ground, I notice Rhett has a crooked smile on his face—the same one that is often seen right before a disaster happens.

“What are you planning?” I ask him with a sigh.

Rhett flashes a smile. “Tomorrow night, ten o’clock, don’t make any plans. The boys are going out.”

Oh fuck.

In a short time with my roommates, I have learned one very true thing about each of them.

Chance is the goody two shoes, the dad who looks out for everyone before having fun himself.

Dawson is the player, who has a new girl in his bed every single night.

Donovan is the comedian and the muscle of our group. He could probably whoop any of our asses any day of the week. Although, I’ll never let him really believe that.

And then there’s Rhett, who I think should have been named Chaos. Because it either seems to follow him everywhere or he is creating it out of thin air himself.

With Rhett leading tomorrow’s plans, it’s inevitable that we’ll end up in a strange place or jail … or both.

My phone starts vibrating in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see it’s my mom.

“I gotta take this. I’ll catch up in a second, all right?” I announce to the boys as they continue the walk from the field back to the hotel.

I slide the Answer bar. “What’s up, Mom?”

“Can you and a few of your sports buddies help move all your grandmother’s stuff tomorrow?” she asks.

“What the fuck are you talking about? What did you do?” I blurt out. But I can’t help but notice that she called my teammates mysport buddies.I’ve been playing football since seventh grade. This isn’t a new concept. My jaw clenches before I say, “Where are you moving her?”

Mom sighs. “To Chemir.”

My heart drops. “You can’t be serious, Mom! Chemir is facing, like, eighteen lawsuits for suspicious deaths in their facilities. It’s been all over the news.”

Silence.

My throat is tightening and my eyes begin to burn.

“Mom, come on. You can’t do this to her,” I beg.

She huffs out a breath. “We have no choice. It’s the only one we can afford.”

“Bullshit. It’s just the most you’re willing to pay,” I snap and hang up.