The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“That’s good news, right?”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t keep the pain out of my voice.

“Hey, it’s almost spring break. We should totally hit the city. Girls’ trip. It’s only weeks until graduation and then college will be calling your name and I’ll never see you.”

“Shona…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. We can’t all be brains like you. But I’m proud of you, Mya. I’m so fucking proud you got out and made a life for yourself, even if you do live in some hick town in the ass crack of nowhere.” Her laughter soothed the ache in my chest. “I know things suck right now but soon this will all be behind you.”

“I know.” But the idea of leaving Rixon, of leaving my aunt, and the place I’d come to call home, didn’t fill me with joy. Because Asher is here, a little voice whispered. But come the summer he wouldn’t be here. He’d be in Pittsburgh, moving on with his life.

Moving on from me.

“Listen, Shon, I need to go start dinner. But I’ll call you soon.”

“You’d better,” she warned. “Laters.”

Pocketing my cell, I got up to go into the kitchen, but a knock at the door made me pause. Traipsing back into the hall, I checked the peephole before opening the door. “This is a surprise,” I said to Felicity who stood on my aunt’s porch.

“We’re going out.”

“We are?” My brows knitted together.

“Yep. I miss hanging out with you. I know things are awkward, but you’re still one of my best friends, so get ready and let’s go.”

“Flick, I’m not sure…” We hadn’t been out since the Ice-Ts incident.

“Ten minutes. You have ten minutes and then we have to get Hailee.”

“Where are we going?”

“Worry less about that and more about what you’re going to wear.” She frowned at my work uniform. “Is that tuna fish I smell?”

I sniffed myself and realized she was right, I stank. It must have been when I’d cleaned up a spillage in aisle three. “I’ll need to take a quick shower,” I said.

“The clock’s ticking.” Mischief twinkled in her eyes.

“This is just like old times,” I said, half-mockingly. When I’d first arrived in Rixon and she’d taken me under her wing, we’d gotten into all kinds of trouble together. It felt comforting to know that after everything, she was still here.

“Eight-and-a-half minutes,” she grumbled. “Let’s go, Hernandez.”

But as she started marching me up the stairs, I was sucker punched by her words.

Hernandez.

No one ever called me that.

No one except Asher.

Bell’s was crammed. I couldn’t believe I’d let Felicity talk me into coming here. But I couldn’t deny there was a part of me that wanted to see Asher. To witness his easy smile once more, and to know he was okay.

That’s all I’d ever wanted.

“Breathe,” Flick whispered to me as we moved deeper into the bar. The whole team was here with their friends and girlfriends. I spotted Kellie and the gymnasts straightaway, and the cheerleaders holding court the other side of the room. It looked like the entire senior class had come out to celebrate the Bennets’ good news, and my heart swelled for Asher.

“Look, Cam saved us a seat.” Hailee pointed to a booth away from the football team.

“I hope you’re going to marry him one day,” I said, hardly surprised that he would do such a nice thing for me.