Page 57 of Hot Receiver

My lips twist, and I shove open the door leading to my parking spot.

And he’s made it clear he never will be again, so maybe it’s time for me to stop deluding myself and just?—

“You must still be riding high after that last play, yeah?”

I stop short at the sound of the voice. My stomach roils at the thick and scratchy sound. Too many years of smoking have taken a toll. A loud, guttural cough makes my insides shudder.

Rusty walks around the side of my truck and leans against it with his shit-kicking boots against the back tire. His lips stretch into a menacing smirk, one that promises, not threatens, danger. His cheek is full of chew. He spits, his pale blue eyes narrowing.

“What are you doing here?” My voice is low, eyes scouting the quiet space. Dammit, I really should have fucking stuck around for longer.

He takes a few steps closer, the stench of stale beer and cigarettes clinging to him like maggots on rotting meat. “Seems like the girls have pulled a disappearing act. You know anything about that?”

My brow furrows. I have no idea what he’s talking about since Mom just told me a few hours ago they had no plans to go anywhere.

I shrug. “The fuck if I know.”

Rusty spits again and pulls a set of keys from his pocket. “You know what I can do to your dad, Harrison? To your wholefamily?” He sweeps his mess of dirty, stringy red hair out of his eyes. “I have eyes on your pop, that fucking thief. And I can end him with one little phone call.” He holds up his phone. “I hit send and give the order, and he’s dead.”

Then he holds up one of the keys to make sure I see it and scrapes it across the quarter panel of my truck and through the paint. My ears ring, the urge to clap my hands over them so fucking strong. The sounds, the words. I want to pretend I didn’t hear any of it.

A laugh rumbles in his chest, turning into a hacking cough. “I can kill ‘em all. Your whole fucking family. Your father won’t get away with stealin’. He’s fucking dead when I find him. And you have no idea what’ll happen to those girls if he doesn’t come up with what he took from me.”

Panic grabs hold of my heart and squeezes.

“I’ll pay you. Whatever he took, I’ll pay the debt and make it right.”

But Rusty shakes his head. “Nah. I don’t want your money this time, Harrison. I want blood. His blood.” He flashes a smile, exposing yellowed teeth. “And that’s only the beginning of what I’m gonna take.”

Chapter 24

Zak

Asmile. The first one I’ve seen on Mom’s face in weeks.

My shoulders relax as I recline on my couch after the game. I have the same smile plastered on my face ever since Matt landed in the end zone a couple of hours ago.

I wanted to see him afterward, but forced myself to leave with Ryan because I knew if I saw Matt, I wouldn’t be able to control all the emotions bubbling inside of me.

Actually, truth be told, the smile was on my face the second Matt barged into the impromptu press conference and basically told Brett Travers that the Crusaders were taking the win today.

Then, he made it happen.

He gave me so much in that short amount of time, but most of all, he reminded me of who I want to be, not the guy I used to be. That guy was weak. He let himself get bullied, harassed, and tormented.

But I don’t like the guy I became in response to that treatment, either. He’s reckless, lonely, and full of rage with a chipthe size of North America on his shoulder. Because of him, I missed out on a huge part of my life with my dad. I let my emotions get twisted and tangled in all the anger that’s plagued me for years and lost one of my most important people.

I don’t want to miss out on another one.

I became a bully to self-protect.

I sent Matt away to self-protect.

I realize now that if I want a life I look forward to living, I have to be open to some degree of pain and discomfort. I can’t shield myself from everything and everyone because I don’t want to be alone.

All the money and success in the world can’t bring me the happiness I crave. It doesn’t amount to shit unless I can be happy with myself and my choices.

And I also know that I can’t control the actions of everyone around me. Matt may not want to bash down his own closet door, but he showed me what I could have if I was open to letting someone in.

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