The Rulebreaker

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.

Chapter Two

“Hey, Mom.” I beam at the phone screen as my mother’s face becomes visible.

“Hey, baby. How was practice this morning?”

“Good. Tiring.”

“She stayed out way too late last night,” Maverick calls out from somewhere behind me.

“Shut up.” I shoot him a glare over my shoulder, but it only makes him chuckle.

“Hi, Ms. Bev,” he says quickly.

“Hey, Maverick,” she says with a smile even though she can’t see him from where I’m sitting around the kitchen counter. “Why were you out late, Rocky? Where’d you go?”

“I wasn’t out that late, first of all,” I say. “And I went to a party with Leyla.”

“Hm. How’s she doing?”

“Good. Same as always. Girl crazy.”

“I know that’s right.” Mom laughs. “Did you already have your online class?”

“Yep. Just finished it. I have to go to practice in an hour and then I’m going to work.”

“How are those girls treating you? Do they still talk back to you like you’re part of their squad and not their elder?”

“Nah, they’re nice to me now. I befriended Jos, and the rest of them kind of fell into place. I think they have a crush on Coach Dereck and therefore see me as a threat.” I roll my eyes.

“Is Coach Dereck cute?”

“He’s very freaking cute actually.” I laugh.

Mom laughs. “Well, maybe there’s something there.”

“Eh.” I shrug. “I feel like he would’ve asked me out by now if he felt that way about me.”

“How could anyone not feel that way about you, Rock? You’re the most gorgeous girl in the world.”

“You say that because I look just like you.” I smile. Mom winks.

I do look just like her. My skin is a shade lighter, but my pear-shaped face, plump lips, and high cheekbones are all her. She has dark, tight, ringlet curls that frame her face, and my hair is curly, but definitely not as curly as hers. I get that from Dad, as well as my light green eyes and the annoying freckles that dot my nose and cheeks. I hear movement behind me and see Maverick walking up to me in the camera I’m holding up. He looks so good, his glowing caramel skin making mine look lackluster. He has a pile of brown curls on his hair that he never bothers to do anything about, and when he grins at the phone in my hand, that sexy-and-I-know-it smile of his, I think I may just fall out of the chair. But I don’t and I definitely do not let him know I’m affected by any of this.

“When are you going to send us some food, Ms. Bev?” he asks, setting an elbow on the counter beside me and his chin on my shoulder.

“When is your momma going to stop sending you Uber Eats?” Mom raises an eyebrow. “Don’t think I don’t know about that.”

“Aw, does my mom go around telling everyone my business?” He shakes his head, standing upright. I laugh.

“Your business? That’s her money,” Mom says. “You better start working.”

“You know they don’t let us.” He taps his shoulder against mine.

“Well, you’re most likely going pro after this season.” I shoot him a pointed look. “Some of us want to get ahead of the game and have something good on our resumes for when the time comes.”

“That’s my girl,” Mom says. “Well, I have to let you go. Your father’s due home in thirty minutes and I want to make sure he’s fed before he goes back to the hospital for his shift.”

“Oh boo, I thought you guys were working the same schedule now?”

“No, honey, there’s been some drama in the hospital, so I had to take mornings and he’s working evenings. Don’t you worry about us. We’re both off on Sundays and will still make it to our Sunday ritual.” She winks. “Love you, baby.”

“Love you too, Ms. Bev,” Maverick says before I can answer. We both laugh. I bump his shoulder hard with mine.

“Love you, Mom!”

When we hang up, I sigh heavily.

“You miss her, huh?” Mav asks.

“Yeah.” I pout. “I miss having our Sunday rituals in person.”

“You’ll see her in a couple of weeks.” Mav puts an arm around me and gives me a side hug. “But if you need me to go to the movies with you, you know I will.”

“Yeah, right. You’re the worst.” I push him off with a laugh.

“I do not talk that much, Rocky.” He tilts his head.

“You talk before, during, and after.”

The door opens and closes and Colson comes into view as we’re talking.

“What’s going on?” He frowns.

“Who is the worst person to watch a movie with?” I ask.

“Maverick. Hands down.” Colson laughs, walking toward the fridge. “He doesn’t shut the fuck up.”

“Thank you,” I say proudly.

“Fuck you both,” Maverick says with a chuckle. “I’ll try to work on that.”

“I mean, imagine you end up with a girl who enjoys the movies,” I say. “That would be the deal-breaker for her.”