Mason laughed. “You would, if you weren’t too slow. You’re on the front line.”
“Whatever.” Matteo rolled his shoulders, seeming nonplussed. Two dimples winked back at Heather. “For real, my soul brotha connection must’ve been working both ways. Hello, friend of Sam’s that must be a friend of mine, too.” He stepped forward, his hand still extended.
I glanced at Channing, but he didn’t look like he cared. He was laughing with the rest of his friends. The reception was a lot less tense than it had been with Caldron. They knew Matteo wasn’t a threat, in any way, and a beat later, Heather confirmed it.
She looked at the hand, then turned to gaze at the crowd. “I think you might want to point that hand toward my boyfriend; his fighting is the main attraction tonight.”
“Oh.” Matteo withdrew his hand, looked around, and waved at Channing. “Hello, friend of Mason’s who I hope will be a friend of mine, too.” He jerked a thumb in Heather’s direction. “No disrespect. I’m a soul brotha here to help cover my man’s back, just off the field this time.”
Channing grinned, moving around a lawn chair. “No problem.” He nodded to Mason. “Just one?”
Mason lifted a shoulder, his eyes lingering on me. “It was last minute.”
“And who’s better than me? Huh?” Matteo added.
The others went back to what they’d been doing before: flirting, watching girls, or talking. Channing lowered his voice. I couldn’t make out what he said to Mason and Matteo, but both looked at me with serious expressions. I felt a nervous fluttering in my stomach.
“He’s telling them about Jared,” Heather said.
Jared? Oh yes. Jared Caldron.
“He’s bad news?” I didn’t need to ask. I already knew. I felt it in my gut.
“Oh yeah. Budd tried to rape Kate, remember? Who do you think gave him the idea?”
The fluttering feeling grew, and ice flowed through my veins. “Nice to know.”
“Don’t worry, though.” Heather lightened her tone. “You’re safe. The guys are just being cautious. Caldron’s had it out for Channing since back in school. Channing started the crew system to help push Budd and Brett out of the power they thought they had.”
“Crew system?”
“Yeah, it’s like a soft version of gangs. He had to. Once he formed his crew, others joined up and allied together. Budd lost a lot of power the end of his senior year. It wasn’t all about protecting Mason and you, but some of it was. Budd couldn’t take it out on Channing. If he did, he’d risk the wrath of all those crews. I think it was another reason he focused on hurting whoever Mason’s girlfriend was.”
The fluttering now grew into a full-sized rock, sitting right there at the bottom of my gut.
I let out a shaky laugh. “I’d forgotten what it was like that year in school.”
It’d been scary at Fallen Crest Public, but I knew it was way worse at Roussou. Their town didn’t have the factories and companies Fallen Crest did, which provided more money.
“Kate and those bitches.” Heather had been right there with me. “She’s still around, you know?”
“What?”
“Kate. She’s working at the salon in Roussou. She got alienated from her friends after that year, so she officially moved to Roussou. Transferred to Roussou from Fallen Crest for school and everything. I think she’s in the trailer court with her boyfriend now.”
I rolled my eyes. “Lovely.”
“I hate to say white trash because some might consider me white trash, but that girl really is. If she’s not doing hair, she’s at Channing’s bar or drinking in her trailer.” Heather thought for a second. “Or in front of the trailer. That court’s not bad either. I’ve got a friend who lives there, and she hates when Kate does that. Makes the whole place look bad, you know?”
“Channing has a bar?”
“It’s his dad’s, but he took it over this year.”
“Because it was time?” I wasn’t really thinking about the conversation, just going along until I heard her answer.
“No, because his dad’s in prison.”
That got my attention. “What?”
“You didn’t know?”
I shook my head. “You’ve never said.”
“Oh.” Her head lowered a bit. “Sometimes I don’t say things because I don’t want you to look down on me.”
“What?” That came from left field. “Why would I do that?”
She looked at Mason and then to Matteo, and I saw what she meant. Channing and his friends were fine, dressed in jeans and T-shirts, and Mason and Matteo weren’t dressed differently. They both wore Cain University shirts, Matteo’s without sleeves, and both had on jeans. But it was the look of them. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was obvious Mason had money. And Matteo stood out, as if he was a league above them or something.
I hated thinking like that, but this was how Heather saw them.
This was how Heather saw me.
“I’m not rich.”
She half-snorted, half-barked out a laugh. “You literally have a choice between which mansion to live in for the summer: your dad’s, his dad’s, or even your biological dad’s.” She held her hands up. “Nothing against money. I don’t look it, but we’re doing well with Manny’s.” She shifted, her hands curving around the truck’s edge as she leaned forward. “But we’re not in range with you guys. So yeah, I think sometimes I don’t say things because of that.”
My tongue had never felt heavier than it did at that moment. “My mom used a wire to perform her own abortion. She threatened to turn Mason in for having sex with me so he’d be classified as a sex offender when we were in high school. There’s nothing that makes me better than you. Trust me.”
“I know. I do. And I know you don’t think that at all, but…” She paused, sighing heavily. “Sometimes it’s intimidating.”
“What is?”
I was getting whiplash. I’d never expected any of this from her.
“Watching how far you’re going to go with Mason and Logan, and knowing I’m going to be in the same place can be…humbling sometimes.”
Humbling? I was honestly floored. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” She gestured to the guys beginning to gather together. Channing broke off to join them as Mason headed our way. “The first fight must be starting.”
“Heather.” I touched her arm.
She hopped off the truck’s bed as Mason arrived. “Nothing. Forget what I said.” She gave Mason a smile. “I’ll give you two some space.”
Matteo stood behind Mason, and she clasped him on the shoulder. “Come on, lover boy. I’ll introduce you to some friendly girls you can get to know.”
“I knew there was a reason I was attracted to you.” He looked her up and down again, but the lecherous gleam was gone. “You’re a home girl, aren’t you? You get guys, in here.” He gestured to his chest.
Heather tipped her head back, her dirty blond hair rippling, and she winked at him. “More like down there.” Her eyes dropped to his groin. “I grew up with my dad and two brothers. I understand guys.”
Matteo groaned, his hands coming to his chest. “I’m feeling the ache right here. Why do you have to be taken, and by someone who seems cool as shit?”
She laughed. “Come on. You like the name Tiffany?” Her voice faded as she pulled him around to the front of the group.
I knew she did that to give Mason and me more privacy, and the humbling feeling she’d mentioned now landed smack on my chest. I felt grounded to the steel of the truck beneath me. I reiterated some of what she’d said to Mason.
“She’s a good friend to you. Loyal.”
“I don’t feel good enough for her. Not anymore.”
“And that’s why you’re a good friend to her.” He dropped a kiss to my forehead, his hand curving around and resting on the small of my back. “Come on. We can talk later. Just stick close to me.”
I angled my head back to stare
up at him. “We’re staying? I thought you wanted to go right away.”
He shrugged, glancing to where Channing was standing. “I kind of want to see him fight.”
There was no ‘kind of.’ He wanted to. I could hear it in his voice, and I knew a part of Mason missed those days. It felt simpler back then. They could fight and not care about the consequences. Things were different now. Futures had to be considered. Decisions made now could harm someone’s career.
I slipped my hand into his and squeezed. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For coming here and not thinking about what I was going to be walking into.”
He shrugged again. “It’s okay. I got Matteo here and we’ll deal with whatever happens.”
I saw how he was watching Channing. He wanted to support his friend and I glanced to my friend from the reminder. I didn’t feel like the good friend to her.
“Come on.” He pulled me off the truck and his hand rested snug on my back.
He started for the fighting tent, but I stopped him. “Heather doesn’t talk a lot about Channing or even about Roussou with me. If there’s any part of you blaming her for bringing me here, don’t. It’s my fault. I should’ve known, and a part of me didn’t because I don’t talk to her about this part of her life. I haven’t been a good friend to her.”
Mason’s eyes held mine, sparking a different feeling inside. The nerves were still there, but they mixed with another kind of tension. We’d returned home, and now that we were here, we needed to face the music. It didn’t make sense to me, but what I’d said was true. I couldn’t be friends with Heather if I only got half of her. That wasn’t being the true friend I thought I was.
My mouth felt dry, and I didn’t say any of those words to Mason, but he’d been watching me. And as if he’d read my mind, as I was sure he could, his eyes softened.
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I know, but I can’t lie. I don’t like owing someone else for covering my back. It’s nothing against Channing. I like him. I respect him, but he’s not family. Logan and Nate are, and neither one is here.” His fingers laced with mine. He started forward, leading me. “And I have to be very careful what I do. Any leaked video could be the end of my career.”
That was the feeling I had—the other kind of nervousness. My stomach dropped to my feet, with the rock and everything.
Looking around, I noticed again how many people were paying attention to us. I’d felt like this when Mason was in high school, and it had only gotten worse in college, but standing here now, among this rougher crowd, it was different. People wanted to know Mason so they could use him at Cain. It wasn’t like that here. These people wanted to hurt him.
And I was one way for that to happen.
I’d been so stupid.
The heat was almost suffocating when we got inside, and Heather waved us over to their corner. They’d taken up position near an opening in the tent, so a small breeze wafted in, giving us some respite. Channing wasn’t there anymore, but his friends moved in around us. Or mostly they moved in around Mason and me. All of them, Mason included, glanced around, and I had to kick myself again.
I’d forgotten how much he was hated.
As if reading my mind, Mason gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I slipped my fingers between his, and despite the heat, he pulled me in front of him. We stood like that, holding hands, my back resting against his chest. I caught Heather giving us a grin as a loud cheer rose up.
A guy wearing a white robe hopped into the makeshift boxing ring. As the crowd continued to cheer, he thrust two fists in the air, and they really let loose. He began bouncing around, doing a little jig with his feet until a guy yelled from the sidelines and tossed him a microphone. The robe guy stopped and caught it, and then suddenly the tent grew quiet. He pulled his hood up, standing smack in the middle of the ring, and gripped the mic. We could hear him breathing.
“Are you guys ready?” he whispered first.
There was silence. A guy yelled out, a beat later, “Yeah!”
“Are you guys ready?” he asked, a fraction louder, not quite a whisper.
“Yes!” The same guy yelled back, joined by others.
Fists started shaking in the air and more called out, “Let’s go! Let’s start.”
“I said—” He shoved his hood back and raised his face. “Are you READY?!”
“Fuck yes, motherfucker!”
I jolted, bumping into Matteo, who stood next to us.
The guy behind us had roared that, and when he noticed my reaction, he flashed me a grin. “Sorry. I get heated.”
I nodded. “Noted.”
The announcer yelled something into the microphone, but I couldn’t hear him. The crowd drowned him out, but I gathered he’d announced the first fight.
After a fast knockout, he introduced the second and third fights the same way. I had to step outside to see if the ringing in my ears would go away when the volume decreased, or if it was permanent.
I still wasn’t sure ten minutes later when Heather motioned me back in. The last fight was starting, Channing’s fight.
The crowd was insane. The bloodier the matches, the better. The announcer stepped back into the ring. He held his hands up, and the crowd quieted. Mason gripped my thigh, and I stepped back into him. Just feeling him steadied me.
Heather looked over her shoulder. I followed her gaze, and there was Channing. He wore no shirt, and his black sweats hung low from his hips. Channing was a good-looking guy, and I could see what the others were seeing. He was ripped. But as he stood there, swinging his arms back and forth and jumping lightly up and down, it wasn’t him that I was seeing.
I saw Mason.
He was the one getting ready to fight.
He was the one everyone was watching.
He was the one everyone wanted to fight.
I could feel an underlying pressure from those around us. People kept glancing at Mason, and I knew Caldron was glaring from across the ring. People really did want to see Mason fight. Yet another wave of self-loathing came over me. I shouldn’t have come here. What was wrong with me?
A new roar rose from the crowd, and I turned to see Channing heading for the ring. His opponent climbed in from the other side. After another round of announcements, the fight began. I still couldn’t shake the sensation of Mason being involved.
As Channing ducked, I saw Mason ducking. He hit the other guy with an undercut, and I could almost feel Mason’s hand tensing. Channing danced back, evading punches and returning with his own. This went on until eventually, the other guy wore out. Then Channing went in for his win. He ended the fight in one round, delivering a knockout punch right before the bell rang.
The guy fell, and he didn’t move.
Channing was the winner.
The crowd went nuts, and I saw lust in Heather’s eyes. Her lips parted, and she gave her man a slow and seductive grin. He was watching her as well, his own eyes already darkened. If I hadn’t been sure before, I was now. Heather was in love, and she was never going to leave his side.
I leaned back against Mason. His hand held my waist, anchoring me to him. All my friends were settling in, finding the ones they loved. Logan had Taylor. Heather was finally done with the back and forth with Channing, and I’d found my soulmate long ago. We’d all dealt with hurdles and obstacles, and now it was time to get ready for the future.
We left the tent and waited as Heather congratulated Channing on his win. I slipped my hand inside Mason’s front pocket. He looked down at me, a soft smile on his face. He knew what I was feeling.
I was ready to go home. I was ready to feel him inside of me.
We waited, though. Channing’s friends wanted to celebrate some more, and Channing greeted others who were still coming up to offer their own congratulations. Matteo had a girl in his arms. I had no clue where she’d come from, but her hands were wrapped around his waist, and he’d thrown his arm around her shoulders, holding
her tight to his side. Heather was next to Channing. She wasn’t sticking to him like glue, but after seeing a few wolfish looks shared between the two, I knew we could go. Heather wasn’t going to be ready to leave any time soon.
I squeezed Mason’s hand.