The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“I know how it sounds.” She sighed. “But it’s the truth, whether you want to hear it or not.”

There was no use arguing with her. Aunt Ciara was a woman scorned, her heart still wounded by the young man who’d promised her the world and gave her nothing but a broken heart and countless black eyes.

“I don’t pick my friends based on the color of their skin, Aunt C. That’s not who I am.”

“And I wouldn’t want you to. You’re better than that. But the lines blur so easily, Mya. And boys like that Asher Bennet and his football friends are used to the people falling at their feet.”

I went back to stirring the tomato sauce. “We’re just friends,” I uttered again.

But every time I said the words, the lie coiled a little tighter around my heart. Because I wasn’t sure me and Asher were just friends. Yet, I knew we could never be more.

So where the hell did that leave us?

Asher

“Fee, baby, can we talk?” I jogged up beside Felicity, laughing when she gave me her deer-caught-in-headlights expression. “Chill, Jase is in the gym. He’ll never have to know.” With a wink, I slung my arm around her shoulder.

“Asher! You can’t do that. If Jason sees… you know how jealous he gets.” She batted my arm and it fell away, much like my bravado.

“So it’s like that, huh?” I pouted dramatically. “Fine. I’ll just have to go harass Hailee. At least she won’t—”

“I didn’t say we couldn’t talk.” Felicity smiled. “It’s just Jason is really wound up about the exhibition game. I’m worried about him.”

“Thatcher is off the team. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I know that, and you know that, but Jason is…”

“Jason,” I said, needing no further explanation. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Thanks. I tried to help him last night, but he didn’t want to know.”

“Are you sure you were doing it right?” I frowned, fighting a smirk. “Because it’s not that difficult, Fee, baby. You just put the p—”

“Asher, stop!” she shrieked, swatting my chest, her soft laughter washing over me. It wasn’t so long ago I’d work hard to hear that sound. But that was before I realized she was meant to be with my best friend. Now I loved her like a sister.

And I needed a sisterly favor.

“What do you want?” she asked, trading out some books in her locker.

“So this is going to sound weird but I don’t have anyone else to ask.”

“Okay.” Her brows bunched together as she glanced over at me.

“It’s about Mya.”

“Oh no; no you don’t.” She slammed her locker closed. “I’m not getting in the middle of whatever weird thing you two have going on.”

Weird thing?

“Did Mya say something to you about me?”

“I wouldn’t tell you if she did. She’s my friend. And you’re...” Felicity hesitated.

“Also your friend?” My lip curved.

“Well, yes, but it’s different. You’re my boyfriend’s best friend. And Mya is one of my best friends. I can’t be in the middle of this. Whatever this is.”

“I need to know what happened with her ex.”