Page 74 of Brandishing Betrayals
I wrapped an arm around Slade’s waist and sighed. “I just have to keep moving forward.”
The huddle on the field broke apart and Luke came running off the field. He stopped halfway to the stands, looking back and forth between Marcos and I at either end of the bleachers, wondering who he should go to first.
I smiled sadly and waved him toward his dad. “Go on!” I plastered a smile on my face, so he’d know I didn’t mind—even if my heart was breaking.
I wished so badly that things were different, that Luke didn’t have to choose.
Even though I told him it was ok, he still bounded over to me and Slade. “Slade!” he shouted, wrapped himself around her in a giant hug.
Slade laughed and hugged him back. “Hey Luke, buddy! Great game!”
“Thanks, Slade!”
“Nice touchdown, honey! That was awesome!” I said when Luke finally threw himself into my arms.
“Thanks Mom.” Luke grinned brightly and hugged me tighter before he let me go. “I’m gonna go say hi to dad and the guys.”
“Go head! I’ll be here.”
“He’s so grown up, it’s amazing to me,” Slade said, sitting back down on the bench while Luke walked over to Marcos and the guys.
I sat down as well. “Yeah,” she said softly.
“How does he feel about all of this?” Slade asked, looking over at me.
“He wishes things were different. He hasn’t asked me out right why I’m not with Marcos, not anything more than when he first asked last year and I told him that we just didn’t work out, but I know it’s coming. I can feel him needing to know more.”
“Yeah, it’s only a matter of time, especially when he has to submit to a cheek swab.” Slade sighed.
“Thank you for today,” I murmured, looking down at my hands. I twisted my fingers around a frayed edge of my cutoff jeans.
“No worries. I had fun. Want me to kick Marcos’s ass for you?”
I chuckled softly. “Nah… maybe Jason’s though.”
“Consider it done.”
My phone rang and I picked it up from the bench beside me and sighed when I saw my mother’s phone number. “Hey mom,” I answered the phone.
“Maya!” My mother screamed on the phone, frantic. “Maya, your father! He’s gone!”
I gasped loudly; fear immediately griped my heart as it sunk into my stomach. “What?” I asked in disbelief.
“You need to come home! Please!”
“Yeah, mom. I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone and snapped into action. “My dad’s gone.”
“Shit,” Slade swore.
“Yeah. I gotta go.” My eyes snapped over to where Luke was laughing with his dad and Jason and Nico. Nico’s eyes were on me, watching intently as I slowly stood up.
I steeled my spine as I descended the bleachers and walked over to Luke. Marcos looked up as I walked over and I watched the smile slide right off his face as he met my gaze. “Can I talk to you a minute?” I asked.
He nodded once.
I walked a few steps away from everyone and turned to Marcos. “Can you watch him today? Something just came up.”
Marcos’s eyes narrowed on me. “It’s not my weekend.”
