Hazed (Palm South University)

I can see how hard the next swallow is for Skyler, how her eyebrows furrow together, her bottom lip quivering. But she still manages a smile, and she reaches over to squeeze my arm. “You’ll be amazing no matter where you go. And hey, gives me an excuse to visit. I like Pittsburgh, too.”

“You’re welcome anytime, honey,” Mom says from her side.

Coach blows the whistle, and then he waves to where we are on the sideline, calling us to come onto the field where Clayton is jogging over.

“Great job, son,” he says when we’re all gathered, clapping Clayton on the back. My little brother is absolutely drenched in sweat, his hands hanging on his hips, chest heaving as he attempts to catch his breath.

“Thank you, sir.”

“And you’re not even done growing yet,” one of the students who was running drills with Clayton says. “You’re going to be one massive receiver.”

“Big and fast,” Clayton says with his megawatt smile. “I want to be untouchable.”

Coach chuckles, squeezing his shoulders. “I think you’re well on your way. Listen, you’re a little too young to give a full-on offer to. It goes against scouting laws. Besides, we need to see how the next season goes, see what our team is looking like, too. But, as far as I’m concerned? You keep playing like this…” He nods toward where the drills were being run. “And I have full faith that come your senior year, I’ll be in the stands at your first home game with a scholarship offer in hand.”

Clayton’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. “A scholarship?”

Coach grins. “With skills like that, kid? I won’t be the only one offering. So I just hope your heart stays set on PSU.”

“Oh, trust me, sir,” he says, smiling at him first and then at me. “This is the only university for me.”

“Atta boy,” coach says, then he turns to my mother, extending his hand. “Ma’am, you’ve raised a fine young man. It was an honor to spend some time on the field with him.”

“Well, thank you, but it’s his older brother here who gets the credit for the way Clayton has turned out. He’s always been his role model, and I haven’t always been around.”

Coach looks at me, then, and there’s something in his eyes, a level of understanding, maybe, as he shakes my hand next. “Well done, son. And might I ask why I never saw you at try outs?” he adds, eyeing my size with a smirk.

I grin. “Too busy partying, I’m afraid.”

“Can’t win ’em all.” Coach tips his hat at us. “I’ve got to get going, but it was a pleasure meeting all of you. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

“You too,” we all chime, and when he’s gone, Clayton turns to face us with his hands laced on top of his head.

“DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT SHIT?!”

“Language, Clayton!” Mom says at the same time I high-five him and say, “Hell fucking yeah, I saw it!”

I throw my arm around his shoulder, steering all of us back to the Omega Chi house so he can shower before the Omega Chi family dinner.

We’re all rambling as we walk through campus, and eventually, Mom and Clayton pull ahead a little, Mom smiling as Clayton excitedly tells her about everything coach said. Skyler falls in step beside me with a soft smile on her face.

“I can’t believe how much he’s grown.”

“You’re telling me. I can’t stop seeing him as ten years old. I don’t know why, but that’s where he stopped growing in my eyes. I don’t think I’ll ever see him past that.”

Skyler chuckles. “I’m glad they could all be here. You must be over the moon.”

“It’s weird,” I admit. “But yeah, it’s cool, too. Please tell me I get to see your parents this weekend?”

“Dad couldn’t get off work, sadly, but they did promise they’d come for your graduation.”

I frown. “They don’t need to do that.”

“Are you kidding?” Skyler nudges my arm. “You’re my best friend, Bear, and practically my brother. They wouldn’t miss it.”

I smile, throwing my arm around her shoulders. “You’ll be right behind me in the fall,” I comment. “How are your entrepreneur classes going? Still think this is the right move?”

Skyler gives me a genuine smile at that. “Without a doubt. I’ve actually been thinking about telling Kip that I’ll come out to Los Angeles with him and try my startup there.”

“Wow. California. Really?”

She nods. “There are so many opportunities for events in that city, and if I build my company up the right way, I can get in with the elite crowd. Can you picture it? Charity casino events with Hollywood’s rich and famous?”

“You’d better be careful. You’re the kind of gorgeous that they’d be talking you into a movie role before you know it.”

Skyler scoffs. “Yeah, I don’t think that life is for me.”