Page 117 of The Betrayal You Serve
With each game they played, it was clear to see the disappointment and tension in each and every player. But I guess that's how it goes, just because they made it all the way last year, it doesn't mean they'll be able to do it back to back.
Because of their lack of success, it did help to seal Luca's fate so that he's able to finish college before entering the draft, much to his father's irritation I'm sure. I haven’t spoken to him about it, but I know from Leon that he is glad he's getting his own way with at least one aspect of his life.
Luca and I have talked, briefly. But with his focus on his quickly depleting season, he's not really made any effort to fix things between us, but as the weeks have gone on, I've noticed him paying more attention to me in class and I can't help but wonder if the time is coming where we can rediscover our friendship and for him hopefully to accept that Kane is it for me.
"Okay, what do you think?" I ask, turning to look at him where he's sitting on the couch with an amused expression on his face. "What?" I sulk.
He chuckles, pushing from the couch and stalking over to me.
We moved into our new apartment two weeks ago. We packed both our cars up with as much as we could fit in them and we moved in about thirty minutes after getting the keys in our hands. We had no furniture but we didn't care. It was officially our first home together and we weren't wasting any time in getting settled in.
Kyle and Harley had a couple of weeks together in the house in Rosewood before they handed the keys back and moved in with Mom. They've not complained once and I know it's because they understand, but at the same time, I can only imagine how frustrated they are losing their solace after weeks of alone time. But they've only got a few months and they'll be heading to college, hopefully here, if their plans work out.
"It's Christmas Eve," he says with a smile.
"I know, hence—" I gesture toward our small tree that I've just finished decorating.
"We're heading to your mom's first thing in the morning."
"I know, but I wanted our first Christmas together to be special," I say, ripping my eyes from Kane's amused ones to our twinkling tree.
Truth is, I didn't really need to spend money on a tree or decorations but we're only spending one night at Mom's and then we've got the rest of the holidays here thanks to my new job at a coffee shop not far from campus. I've been working as many shifts as I can, needing to help out financially and not having us to rely on Kane's savings and scholarship.
"It will be, baby. We're together." His hand wraps around my neck and he brushes his lips over mine.
My entire body sags into him.
"Wait here," he instructs, taking a huge step back and removing his touch from me.
"But—" I pout.
"It'll be worth it, I promise." He rushes from the living room and I stand awkwardly beside the tree waiting to see what he's up to.
Things between us over the years might have been hell at times, but right now, I've never been happier. Kane is… Kane is everything. The man I've discovered who was hiding under all that anger and resentment is nothing short of incredible.
Finally, he's beginning to really accept the losses he's experienced in his life and he's truly managing to move on and really look to the future.
Victor is far behind us, although the Harris brothers are still a big part of our lives, just like my old roommates.
Right now, we're both living our best lives and I can't wait to see what comes next for us.
"Whoa," I say, my eyes wide when he walks into the living room with a big wrapped box. "What's that?"
"Your gift."
"Kane," I warn. We'd agreed not to exchange gifts this year but to put the money toward things for the apartment that we're still missing.
Mom helped us out with some of the more vital pieces of furniture, like a bed, but there are still so many things that we need.
"I know, I know. I was going to wait but I couldn't."
"You're in so much trouble for this." Truth is, I got him something too, although it's only small and more just a sentimental thing than anything, but still. I want to be the one breaking my own rules, he wasn't meant to.
"Come and sit down," he says, placing the box on the coffee table.
"Okay." I rush over, more than ready to discover what he's got me.
I tear at the paper like a woman possessed and pull the lid off the first box.
