Chapter 48
Riley
“I’m so proud of you, you know that?”
I eye him warily. “Because I cried all over you?” I ask dryly.
He smiles. “Well, yes. I want all parts of you, Ry—the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. But what I meant is that you were the first to forgive your mom.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I am in awe of who you are. You are the kindest, most loving person I know.”
I shake my head. “You’re just trying to get me in bed with those kind of words.”
His growl is immediate, and he tugs me forward. “Don’t test me.”
There’s a knock at the door, and I groan when I scent Zane because this time I know I can’t ignore him.
Reid smiles at me and takes my hand before opening the door so Zane can come in.
Zane steps inside and closes the door behind him.
He crosses his arms over his chest. “How can you forgive her so easily?”
His words don’t really surprise me. Zane is so loyal. That’s what makes him an amazing brother and mate to Evie, but it will also be his downfall if he can’t learn to forgive. I study my brother a moment, wondering what to say. It comes to me easily. “What if it were Evie?” I ask.
“What?”
I ask him again. “What if it were Evie? What if she slept with another man before she met you? Could you forgive her?” He stares at me with dark eyes, and I lift an eyebrow. “Well?”
“You know I would.” His words are gruff.
“Okay then. There’s your answer.”
“But dad,” he starts, and I shake my head.
“Don’t take up a reproach for Dad, Zane.
Dad already forgave her.” I glance at Reid and take his hand in mine.
“We all make mistakes, and sometimes, those mistakes end up hurting the people we love.” I feel Reid squeeze my hand.
“But it’s what happens after those mistakes that make or break us,” I say gently.
“We’re family; we have to choose to forgive.
Was mom wrong? Yes. But she apologized. She admitted that she was wrong, and she’s trying to fix it.
And because we love her, we will forgive her.
We do it not because she deserves it, but because it’s the right thing to do.
This time, it was mom. But there will come a time when it’s me or you that needs forgiving, and we will want that same forgiveness granted to us. ”
Zane stares at me a long moment. “So, what do we do about the sister that we have somewhere?”
“We start looking for her,” I say without an ounce of hesitation. “I have a feeling we might be the only family she has.”
Zane sighs deeply and surprises me by pulling me in for a hug. “You’re too good, Riley. We don’t deserve you.”
“No, we don’t,” Reid echoes.
I feel my eyes tear up. “I don’t deserve you guys either.
” I lean back and look up at my big brother.
“I need to tell you something.” Shadows line his eyes, and he braces himself.
I continue before he thinks it’s something like what my mom confessed.
“I know things are changing now that Reid is my mate, but I just want you to know that you’ll always be my big brother.
” I swallow and find the words more difficult to say than I thought I would.
“And you’ve been the best big brother a girl could ever ask for. ”
His own eyes tear up, betraying his tough guy exterior. “Aw, Riley.” He tugs me against his chest again. “I love you too.” I pull back after a moment, and he looks over my shoulder. “I meant what I said. We don’t deserve her.”
“I know. I meant what I said too,” Reid says from behind me.
“And if you hurt her, just know, they will never find the body.”
My mouth drops open in shock. “Zane! Reid’s your best friend.” I expect him to laugh and say he was just teasing; he does neither.
He shrugs. “You’re my sister.”
And I lose the battle to tears all over again.
____________
I wait in the tunnel with my teammates and try to control my nerves.
No matter how many games we play, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this feeling before a game.
There are no words to describe it. Elation probably comes closest, and even that falls short.
“You ready to play the best game of your life?” Star asks from right behind me while we wait.
I turn around, curious. “Why is it going to be the best game of my life?”
She grins evilly, and I already regret asking. “Because you just got back from a weekend away with your boyfriend. So, how was it?” she asks.
My smile nearly splits my face. “It was really good.” She laughs, and I just shrug because it’s the truth.
Reid and I just got back from our long weekend away.
Not only was it better than I thought it could be, we also spent hours talking about everything that’s happened.
I didn’t realize how much I needed the time with him just to process things.
There are no words to describe our time there, and I won’t ever try.
That was a special time just for the two of us, but I did tell Star that we went away together for a few days.
I wanted to tell somebody, and she’s become a really good friend. “Did you spend Christmas with Cameron?”
She bites her lips and then grins. “I brought him home to meet my family.”
I squeal and hug her. “Was it amazing?” I ask as soon as I pull back.
“It was; he’s such an amazing guy.”
I laugh. “You are smitten, Girl.”
“Look who’s talking?”
I just grin. They announce us, and it’s time to go. “Ready?” I ask her.
“Ready.”
We run out with the rest of our team. Star must have been on to something because I play my best game to date.
I put up thirty-five points, four rebounds, and five assists.
I’m named MVP after the game and get to do a press conference, my first. I sit behind the table and try not to bounce my leg.
I’m so nervous, I could throw up. But just before the first question is asked, there’s movement in the back of the room.
A tall figure slips inside and takes the last seat in the last row.
His eyes lock with mine, and he smiles and nods his head. You got this, he mouths to me.
I smile, and confidence blooms, not because I have this...
but because he’s here. With me. And that’s all the confidence I’ll ever need.
I answer the questions the best I can, but I’m sure somebody will write something about the goofy freshman who couldn’t stop beaming the entire time.
As soon as it’s over, I stand on shaky legs and start to make my way towards my mate, who’s waiting for me at the back of the room.
Before I can get there, Coach Parella steps into my path, stopping me.
“Riley.” I feel my smile fade a little, and I wonder what I did now.
She stares at me with a hard expression on her face.
“I saw tapes of you playing high school ball. I sent a scout to record you as well. I already knew you could play, and I knew what position you played. What I didn’t know was if you could be coached, if you could be pushed and challenged outside of your comfort zone.
I thought you could, and I’m glad I was right.
As long as you want to play for me, you’ll have a position on my team. ”
I swallow hard. “Thank you, Coach.”
“You keep at it, and you could be facing down an offer to play professionally after college.”
“Really?”
She nods and is right back to business. “Don’t slack off; stay focused.” She turns on her heel and walks away, and I stare after her.
Strong arms wrap around me from behind. “You good?”
I relax against Reid a moment before I turn around in his arms to face him. There’s concern on his face as he wipes away a tear. “What did she say?”
I still can’t process her words, but I share them anyway. “She told me she thinks I’ll have an offer to play professionally after college.” I stare up at him in shock. “That’s the WNBA, Reid!”
He chuckles. “I know, Baby.”
“Doesn’t that shock you?”
“Nope, not in the least. I always knew you could if you wanted to.”
I wrap my arms around his waist. This guy. I swallow and try to regain my composure. I love you, Reid.
And I love you, Riley.
“Let’s go celebrate your win.” He threads his fingers through mine, and we walk out together. I can’t stop my smile as I lean my head on Reid’s arm as we walk.
“Life is really good, Reid.”
He wraps his arm around me and pulls me close to his side. “Yeah. It really is, Baby.”
“I know it’s not perfect, but...” I look up at him. “It’s really good.”
He nods. “If there weren’t hard times, the good times wouldn’t be as good, Ry.”
I nod. “Yeah. We’ve had enough hard times; it’s time for some good times.”
He squeezes my hand. “Let the good times roll.”
I can’t stop my grin. As cheesy as they were, I agree wholeheartedly with his words.