“Any drugs found on any of the Tide

“Any drugs found on any of the Tide players will result in instant expulsion from both the team and from the school. We run a zero tolerance drug policy at this college, and exceptions will NOT be made.
“The problem seems to be increasing, and you mark my words; you boys are role models for this school, for this community, and I won’t have a scandal while I’m in charge. We’re a good Christian student body, and our reputation will not be sullied by the use of illegal and, potentially, lethal substances.
“Am I clear?” the dean demanded. All the time, he concentrated on me and my reaction.
Rome had been slouched beside me on the bench in the locker room, no doubt seeming relaxed to the dean and anyone else looking, but the guy was anything but. I got from his subtle side-glances that he was pissed Axel was continuing the dealings on campus—risking my place in this year’s draft. Jimmy-Don shook his head in annoyance too, but they just didn’t understand. Only reason Mamma got to stay in that rich-ass hospital these last few weeks was due to Axel and Levi’s income.
Rome turned to me after the dean had left, but before he even opened his mouth to talk shit about my brother¸ I shut him up with a firm shake of my head.
As usual, Rome got pissed at me and took it out on the weights before he had to split and go check on Molly, who was apparently sick.


The sound of the doorknob turning had me glancing back from my place on the sofa in front of the unlit open fire. A second later, Lexi entered, dressed in a long black dress with a huge knit sweater over the top. The clothes were drowning her, but it was her face that had me jumping up and almost running across the room. Lexi’s pale face was weary and concerned.
“Pix, what is it?” I asked.
Her mouth opened, but she couldn’t speak.
“Pix? Has something happened?”
Lexi shook her head slowly as I guided her to the couch, careful not to lay a finger on her back.
Lexi’s huge green eyes looked upon me and she said, “I’m not supposed to tell you.”
I smirked. “Another secret?”
Lexi’s red-painted lips twitched, but she replied, “This time it isn’t mine to tell.”
I sat back and tried to think of what it could be. My eyes narrowed as I stared at Lexi nervously playing with the sleeves of her black sweater, and Rome’s hasty exit from practice immediately came to mind.
“Something’s up with Molls,” I said, less of a question and more a statement.
A whoosh of breath left Lexi’s mouth, and I knew I was right.
“What’s up with her?” I pushed.
Lexi shut her eyes for a second and slowly exhaled. “She’s pregnant.”
Fuck. I wasn’t expecting that. That meant Rome… Rome was gonna be a daddy? Fuck!
“Promise you won’t say anything. Let Rome tell you himself when he’s good and ready. Molls is kinda freaking out about it, and Rome was a mess when we left them alone.”
“I won’t,” I assured. Lifting Lexi’s hand to my mouth, I pressed a kiss to her palm.
I caught the blush on her cheeks, and I couldn’t help but feel for the pixie. Weird to think that a twenty-one-year-old still blushed at a kiss to the hand.
“Well, I’m sure they’ll deal, Pix. Right now, I just wanna forget everything out there for a while. We don’t need anyone else’s problems weighing us down. We have enough of our own.”
Almost on cue, my cell started blaring from my pocket. Tipping my head back to the ceiling, I blew a frustrated sigh.
“You gonna get that?” Lexi asked, and I shook my head.
“Let the world turn without us for a while.”
No sooner had my phone cut off, than it started ringing again. This time I did pull it out. Axel only ever called twice if it was urgent.
“Axe?” I asked as I answered the call.
“Kid, shit’s going down here tonight, and Mamma’s in pain and needs her meds.”
“What shit? Where are you?” I barked out, and Lexi immediately stilled as I pulled my hand out of hers and began to pace in front of he fire.
“We’re at the Heights. The Kings have just done a drive-by. Two of the guys are down,” Axel stated as though it was nothing—day-to-day life in the Heights.
Blood rushed to my head. “Where the fuck’s Levi?”
It felt like a lifetime before Axel answered. “Little fucker got outta the way damn quick. He’s in the trailer with Mamma. Told him to stay inside until you got here.”
I nodded my head as if Axel could see me.
“She ain’t doing good today, kid. Her meds need picking up. I filled out the script. They just need collecting.”
“I’m on it. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Slamming the END button on the phone, I spat out, “Fuck!”
A soft hand lay on my back, and I spun around to see Pix looking at me, fear all over her face. “What’s going on, Austin? Is your momma okay?”
Her voice had a slight tremble to it. I leaned forward and pressed a hard kiss to her mouth, surprising us both. I just needed to kiss her.
“I need to get Mamma’s pain meds to the trailer park. She’s having one of her bad spells.”
“Okay…” Lexi said, and her eyes were demanding more.
Clenching my fist, I added, “There’s been a drive-by at the Heights. I gotta go check everyone’s okay.”
Lexi’s tiny hand slapped my bicep and her fingers dug in. “No! You can’t!” she shouted.
Ripping my arm from her hand, I snapped, “Yeah, I have to, Pix. That’s my family in there, like sitting ducks to the Kings!”
She didn’t say anything in response. I brushed past her to get to the door and instantly halted my step.
“Shit!” I spat out loud, and I heard Lexi behind me.
“What’s wrong now?” she asked tentatively.
“I need Rome’s truck. I need to get there like yesterday, and I haven’t got the time to catch three buses home.”
Lexi moved closer and, reaching into her purse, pulled out the keys to her Prius. I breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the keys, but Lexi snatched them back.
“I’ll drive,” she said forcefully.
Laughing in her face, I quickly lost my humor and replied, “I don’t fuckin’ think so!”
“You need to get your momma’s meds and, right now, I’m the only one who can get you there without you having to go explain your situation to someone else. And I know you’re not gonna do that. Rome’s with Molly. They can’t be disturbed. So I’m about all you’ve got!”
My blood boiled at her stubborn attitude. So I stepped closer to her, towering above her tiny frame, and met her eyes. She needed to get this ‘situation’, as she called it, straight in her head.
“You get that this ain’t no vacation park, don’t you, Pix? You get that two street gangs are fighting for turf and you could get shot. Shot! Drive-bys are real. People die. Are you getting all that?”
I caught Lexi’s long, hard swallow, but she tipped her chin and said through gritted teeth, “I know what your home situation is like. You’ve already told me, many times. But I wanna help your momma. I like her, and I’m the only one to get you there right now. So let’s go,” she said and walked straight out of the summerhouse, leaving me standing in the middle of the room like a dumbstruck pussy.
Clenching my fists, I almost punched a hole through the glass wall. I never wanted Lexi getting anywhere near that part of my life. It was fuckin’ embarrassing. And her, a willing deer walking into a den of lions, she was taking that choice away from me.
But she was my only way there, and I had to get home.
Fuckin’ A.
This day was just getting worse by the damn minute.