Page 65 of Too Safe

At the front of the room, Decker and Kendrick are still cheesing it up for the camera and putting on what I now realize is a very convincing act. “So people pay just to meet them or get their autographs?”

Kylian shakes his head. “Not people. Companies. Brands. The Boatyard, for example.” He waves his hand. “A few thousand people will come through here today because of the guys, and the beer sales alone make it worth it for the owners.”

As if Decker Crusade needs another reason to pump up his almighty ego.

“All this just because they’re good at football?” I quip.

Locke scoffs and rests his forearms on the table. Kylian cocks an eyebrow. They’re both silent for several seconds as my flippant remark just sort of hangs between us.

Finally, Kylian replies. “Decker and Kendrick aren’t just good at football, Jo. They’re literally the best of the best. Without a shadow of a doubt, they’ll be among the first picks in the draft next spring. If Decker follows in his dad’s footsteps—”

“Oh yeah. My uncle mentioned this. Decker’s dad plays football, too, right?”

Locke barks out a laugh.

“Seriously?” Kylian regards me. “I don’t always register sarcasm. Are you joking right now?”

My blank stare answers that question.

“Decker is the son of Thomas Crusade. QB1 for the Carolina Cougars? The GOAT of quarterbacks with seven rings to his name?”

I blink once. Then twice. It sounds impressive, but it doesn’t mean much to me.

“You really don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into with us, do you, Hot Girl?”

Locke’s comment eats at me the rest of the night.

Because I really don’t.

Chapter 25

Josephine

Istayedupuntiltwo in the morning Googling.

Internet creeping makes me nauseous. I know firsthand just how misrepresentative and twisted that shit can be, but after the revelations at The Boatyard, I felt way too out of my depth to walk around this mansion completely unaware any longer.

I need to know what I’m dealing with. AndwhoI’m living with.

There wasn’t a ton of information about Kylian or Locke. Scholarships and academic achievements in the local paper for Kylian. A few pictures from high school featuring Locke on the football field.

Kendrick’s search results were more fruitful. I found football news. Blog posts. National media coverage. Promotions for a ton of sports brands and athletic companies he’s done endorsements for or been tagged in.

His reaction when I caught them at the med spa makes a lot more sense now, given his notoriety.

And then there’s Decker.

Prodigy. Golden boy. Legend in the making. The number of articles I combed through regaling his ability and raw talent started to go tomyhead. It’s no wonder the guy walks around thinking he’s god’s gift to football.

And then there’s his dad. Everything Kylian said was true. And now that I really think about it, the name Thomas Crusade is familiar. I’ve never followed sports—I was literally banned from attending extracurricular functions at my own high school after my junior year—but I have enough common sense to recognize that the man is a big deal.

Once in a generation. And also the father of the next prodigal son.

The most recent articles talk about Thomas and Decker as a unit: father and son. A story of hope birthed from tragedy. I was already wondering about his mom when I stumbled upon the first clip.

Because that’s what it was. A video clip. A grainy shot on an outdated cell phone with hundreds of thousands of views.

A young Decker at his mother’s funeral. Little Decker next to her casket at the gravesite.

---