End Game_Bellevue Bullies Series Read online

  Fucking hell.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Yes, there is,” she says, setting me with a look.

  I shake my head. “I messed up on a pass, and I can’t let it go.”

  “Well, that’s dumb,” she declares. “Why are you doing that?”

  “’Cause maybe I’m a perfectionist?”

  She scoffs. “No, we hate to fail. But what did Dad always say?”

  My chest tightens up as I glance down to her. She looks so much like him. Her eyes are just like his. While she has the classic Adler blue eyes, they’re not as narrow as Mom’s and mine. Amelia’s are wide and full, her lashes so long and dark, kissing her cheeks when she blinks.

  “‘Accept what it is. Let it go, and have faith in what it will be.’ Or in Shea’s words, ‘Leave it on the ice, mat, or stage.’ Depends who he is talking to.”

  I quirk my lips. “I know.”

  “So stop being a grumpy ass and let me meet your linemate.”

  I’m confused by the change in subject. “Excuse me?”

  “Moon?” she asks, looking out at the crowd of people on campus. “He lifted the cage of his helmet, and holy hot hell, he is yummy. Hook me up.”

  I just blink. “Go home.”

  “Ryan!”

  “Go home now,” I demand, and I’m met with her laughter.

  “Don’t be such a baby! I’m a woman.”

  “Ew, you’re like ten.”

  “Eighteen!”

  “Same thing,” I say, yet she follows me to my truck.

  “Come on, Ryan. Guys are intimidated. I swear they look at me like I’m a kid. But if I have you introducing me, I’ll be good.”

  “No and no,” I say simply, looking seriously at my baby sister. “I will not hook you up.”

  “Ugh. You suck.”

  “You’ll thank me when your heart stays intact. Guys suck.”

  “So? It’s part of the experience.”

  “Experience? Are you insane? Go home.”

  “No, please.”

  “No, plus Moon has a girlfriend.” He doesn’t, but I’m not telling her that.

  She’s deflated for maybe a second before she asks, “McNeil. He’s huge—”

  “Go home, Amelia.”

  She whines playfully. “No, drive me home.”

  I give her a dry look. “You live not ten minutes from here.”

  “I know, but I wore heels, which I know is dumb. But Sofia is like stupid gorgeous, so I had to look good.”

  I raise a brow. “Hot, huh?”

  She laughs. “Please, she’s so out of your league.”

  “Rude.”

  I open her door for her.

  “You’ll see tomorrow. She’s insanely gorgeous, and guess what?”

  I shut her door, but my windows are down, so I can still hear her. “What?”

  She just grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ll never hook you up because you won’t hook me up with your buddy.”

  I roll my eyes. “Not that I want you to, let’s be honest…”

  “Why is that?”

  Her question catches me off guard. “Huh?”

  “You never date.”

  “I don’t have time. I’m busy.”

  “Are you gay?”

  My jaw actually drops. “Excuse me?”

  “No, really. You know I love you, and so do Shelli and Posey, but we’re all wondering what is going on. You haven’t had a girlfriend in, like, ever. I don’t even remember one.”

  Is this really happening? Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “Just ’cause you don’t see me with anyone doesn’t mean I’m not hooking up. I am very straight. Like, totally straight. I love women.” She doesn’t seem convinced, and for some reason, that annoys me. “Robin.”

  She pulls her brows together. “Robin? What about Robin?”

  “I was with her all summer.”

  Now it’s her turn for her jaw to drop. “You were dating—”

  “Screwing.”

  “Ew!” she yells, smacking me. “You were screwing my ex-boyfriend’s sister?”

  I shrug, a grin pulling at my lips. “She’s hot.”

  “I am appalled.”

  I laugh. “And as I was saying, if I did want you to hook me up with your so-called gorgeous roommate, you need to remember who decides who gets to come to our parties.”

  Her smile drops in an instant as she leans back, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff. With a satisfied grin, I head to the driver’s side with a little pep in my step.

  I may have sucked on the ice, but anytime I go one-on-one with my sister, I win.

  Chapter Four

  Sofia

  Pushing my hair out of my face, I lean back in my bed as I look at the ceiling. “Did you get the money?”

  “Ah, bella, yes, thank you.”

  My mom sounds a little stressed which, in return, stresses me out. I’ve been staring at my laptop screen trying to write this stupid paper that is also stressing me out. I really don’t need to stress; I have a meet tomorrow. Yet, here I am.

  “Good. I was worried you hadn’t gotten it since I hadn’t heard anything.”

  “Yes, sorry, I’ve been busy.”

  “Busy? Doing what?”

  “Working, bella. Ya know I gotta work.”

  I love my mom so much, but her stubbornness sets my teeth on edge. She was supposed to quit her jobs when I left. I’ve asked her every single time I’ve spoken to her since coming to Nashville to quit her jobs, but she won’t. “Ma, you don’t need to work all the time. Quit the hotel.”

  “No, I love it there.”

  “Fine, then quit the day care.”

  “But I’ll miss the kids. They love me, and you know if I don’t clean, they won’t.”

  I know darn well she won’t quit the restaurant since her sister owns it. “Then the restaurant. Tia will understand. You’re tired,” I say, just for shits and giggles at this point.

  She laughs at me. “Nah, bella, I’m fine. Don’t worry so much.”

  “Ma, you sound tired.”

  “Well, I am, but it’s okay. I get bored, you know that, and with you being gone, I need something to do. Plus, we’ve almost paid off all the medical bills. When we do, I’ll quit. I promise.”

  I swallow around the lump in my throat. The medical bills she speaks of are nowhere near almost paid for, but I refuse to argue with her on that. Not while I’m so far away. “Okay. I’m holding you to that.”

  She laughs once more, and I can’t help but smile. “Tomorrow is the big day, yes?”

  The first meet of the season for the GymBulls is tomorrow, and I’m pumped. Tickets have already sold out, mostly to the student body, and that’s huge. Damien and Melissa weren’t sure what kind of support we’d have, but apparently, we have a lot. The students have wanted a gymnastics team, and they are about to get a stellar one. Man, I’m excited. “Yup. I’ve landed all my full twisting layouts.”

  “Of course you have. You’re the best.” My grin grows as she goes on. “You’ll make sure to tag me on the Facebook?”

  “Of course, Ma.”

  “And you’ll send me pictures in the morning? Of you and that friend of yours.”

  “Amelia.”

  “Yes, Amelia,” she says but with more flair than my friend’s name needs. “I love her blue eyes.”

  “Me too. She’s great. Though, I think she’s mad at me.”

  “Why?”

  “I said I’d go to her brother’s hockey game tonight, but I had a paper to do.”

  “When’s it due? Next month?”

  I smile. Mom knows me best. “Next week.”

  “Ah, you should go out. Have fun, my bella. Let your hair down.”

  I scoff. My hair is a curly hot mess that takes me hours to straighten. I’m not letting this mess down. “Ma, I can’t let my hair down. It’s a disaster all the time.”

  “More of a reason,” she gushes, a