The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

He was deluded.

Completely and utterly deluded.

Mya didn’t love me because of my family’s wealth. She loved me in spite of that.

But he saw all relationships as business transactions. What one person could do for another. In fact, I was pretty sure there was a dollar sign right where his heart was supposed to be.

“I’m done,” I said, moving toward the door.

“You’re making a terrible mistake, Son. Mark my words, one way or another, that girl will ruin you.”

With a final shake of my head, I walked away from him. From the one man I should have been able to look up to and go to for advice. But Andrew Bennet was no more of a father to me than Cam’s dad or Jason’s dad had been. It wasn’t any wonder, I craved the affection he’d never afforded me. And now I’d had a taste of it, I wasn’t sure I could ever give it up.

My father’s warnings be damned.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mya asked me for the third time since I’d picked her up. As if my mood wasn’t bad enough after my conversation with Dad, her aunt had scowled at me from the window, her disapproval burning into me.

“I’m good,” I said tightly, stuffing another fry in my mouth. I’d brought her to Bell’s for some food and then the guys were going to join us with Hailee and Felicity.

“Ash... if something happened when you got home—”

“I said I’m good,” I snapped, then let out a heavy sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. My dad ambushed me; it wasn’t pretty.”

“Let me guess,” her expression fell, “he’s not happy about us?”

“I don’t give a flying fuck if he’s happy or not. I’m happy, you make me happy.” I reached across the booth for her and Mya laid her hand in mine. “Five months,” I said gruffly, her touch already soothing the tension coiled tightly in my chest. “We just have to survive another five months and then we can escape to college and not have everyone breathing down our necks.”

“Asher, I still haven’t decided which college I’m—”

“Asher, my man.” Grady and Merrick approached us when all I really wanted was to tell them to fuck off so I could beg Mya to say she’d choose Cleveland.

I needed her to choose a school close to me.

“Didn’t expect to see you here.” His eyes flicked to Mya in question.

“We’re meeting the guys,” I said. “They’ll be here soon.”

“Jerry will need to hang a sign soon.” Grady snorted.

“Come again?”

“First Cam, then Jase, and now you. Shit, man, these girls must have golden fucking pussies or—”

I was up and out of the booth in a second, my hands fisted in Grady’s sweater. “What the fuck is your problem?”

“Whoa, Bennet, relax,” Merrick came to our teammate’s defense. “He’s just goofing around.”

“Yeah, well I’m fucking sick of it.”

Grady shoved me off him and the two of us squared up to one another, eyes narrowed, jaws set.

“Asher...” Mya had gotten up too. I felt her move to my side. “He’s not worth it.”

“You think just because Bennet’s showing you some attention, you’re special?” Laughter rumbled in Grady’s chest as he tried to save face. We had an audience now, everyone including Jerry watching.

Mya inched forward, her lips pressed into a thin line as she went toe to toe with the Raiders defensive end. “Jealous, Grady?”

“Jealous?” he stuttered over the words. “Why the hell would I be jealous?”