The Winning Side Read online

  “It’s Coach.” Raven quickly sat up in bed and grabbed his boxers from the floor. He put them on before heading to the living room. “Hello? Yes, sir.”

  I crawled out of bed and slipped one of Raven’s white T-shirts over my head. A new scent encompassed me and I inhaled deeply, holding the fabric close to my nose. Glancing at his dresser, I saw the bottle of cologne I’d bought him for Christmas. He had opened it, and I couldn’t wait to smell it on him.

  After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I went to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of OJ. Raven paced the living room as he spoke to the coach. I tried not to listen to his conversation, but curiosity got the best of me.

  “Yes, sir. Of course,” Raven responded, his brows knitted together tightly.

  Instead of standing there watching him, I decided to make us breakfast. Returning to the fridge, I took out eggs, cheese, spinach, and bell peppers. Since I hadn’t eaten much over the past week, an omelet sounded good. Hopefully I could make it without creating a huge mess like I had last time. With one eye on Raven and the other one on the knife and peppers, I began preparing the vegetables for sautéing.

  “Not a problem. I can be there.” Raven stood up straight, some of the weight seeming to lift from his shoulders.

  Had the coach told him to play in the game? Was he giving him another chance? I slowed the knife as I tried to figure out what the coach was telling him based on his reactions.

  “Tonight at seven. I’ll be there. Thanks, Coach.” Raven hit the end button and let out a heavy breath. He started to dial a number but stopped, placing the phone on the coffee table instead.

  I turned to Raven, placing the knife on the counter. “What did he say? What’s tonight?”

  He walked into the dining area and leaned against the kitchen bar. His fingers gripped the edge of the counter as he pressed his weight against it. The muscles under his pecs pulsed and I found myself enticed by his heavenly body once again. One thing was certain, I’d never tire of appraising him from head to toe. I blinked a few times and forced myself to focus on the more important issue at hand.

  He pressed his lips together in a thin line and then said, “He wants me to attend a press conference tonight at the stadium.”

  “That’s good, right?” I bit my bottom lip, anticipating his answer. He really needed a break and some positive encouragement.

  Silence filled the air and his eyes glossed over. His jaw jutted outward and he took a hard swallow, as though fighting back the tears. I didn’t want him to cry, but at the same time, I welcomed it if it brought us closer and gave him a level of healing.

  “I still can’t play, but the coach feels like I should make a statement about what happened.” His grip relaxed as another layer of defeat coated his face. I hated watching him go through all these mixed emotions, but I had to remind myself that I was there to help him, to guide him in the right direction. I felt somewhat responsible for the mess my mother started, so it was the least I could do.

  “What do you want to do?”

  He glanced at the floor and his shoulders sunk. “I don’t think I have much of a choice.”

  “Everyone has a choice. It’s just a matter of making the right ones.”

  He let out a muffled humph, but didn’t look at me. Defeat was beating him deeper into his own trap. The deadly trap I had to steer him away from — for good.

  Fearing I might have said the wrong thing, I quickly walked out of the kitchen to the other side of the bar. Placing my hands on his arms, I turned him to face me. “Raven?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Look at me for a moment.”

  He placed his hands at my waist and pulled me close. His gaze met mine and I searched his eyes, wanting to unravel his deep, dark secrets; uncover the demons that haunted his mind and consistently tormented him. Why couldn’t he let them go? Why did he allow them to tell him to stop trying? To stop believing in himself?

  “It sounds like it’s the right thing to do. I know it might embarrass you, but I think if you want to show the coach and the school that you’re serious about straightening up and what happened wasn’t entirely your fault, you need to do it.”

  Raven leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine. He took slow, deep breaths, drawing me in with every inhalation.

  God, I love this man.

  I was willing to do anything to help him, but would he allow me to get close to him? Really let me in?

  The muscles in his arms tightened and his chest froze into a solid block, as though trying to hold it inside. He kept that invisible wall up and refused to release whatever it was that forbade him from moving forward, storing it deep within the grooves of his soul and protecting me from it. Why was he so afraid to share his problems with me?

  “Raven?” I spoke softly, trying to wedge myself inside that wall. “It’s okay, babe. You can trust me. Tell me.”

  “Not right now, Lexi.” He gave a slight shake of his head. “But, you’re right. I should do it. Besides, I have to meet with admissions board on Wednesday. It will show a good act of faith.”

  “Don’t worry, babe.” I ran my fingers through his hair, wishing I had the power to diminish his pain. “Everything is going to be all right.”

  “I hope so. If the school kicks me out, then I can’t play.” Defeat weakened his voice and it slapped me with his reality. “I mean… is all this really worth it?”

  I stalled momentarily. He had a point. If all the love in the world couldn’t heal his pain, then I didn’t know what would. In all honesty, it was beyond me. Was I crazy for thinking I’d be able to pull him out of this pit? No. I shook the crippling thoughts from my mind. I wouldn’t allow Raven’s demons to defeat me, too. I at least had to try; otherwise, I’d never forgive myself.

  My love for Raven was worth the battle.

  I refused to give up and I wouldn’t allow him to give up either.

  Dreams and goals were worth fighting for — until your last, dying breath.

  “Don’t ever doubt that your dreams are worth the fight. It’s worth every struggle, every let down, and every victory until you get where you want to be.”

  A half-smile formed at the corner of his lips. “And where is it that I want to be?” His gaze bored into me, but no matter how hard I looked, I had no idea what he was thinking. His vision seemed to travel past me, and I wanted to know what he saw in his future. Was I included in that not-so-far-off picture?

  Because I wanted to be.

  More than anything.

  Being with Raven was all I ever wanted and I could only hope he wanted the same.

  “On that field playing for a pro team,” I reminded him. “Doing what you’re good at and what you love doing.”

  His face lifted and a huge smile stretched across his lips. My heart lifted and I was relieved my pep talk gave him what he needed to believe in himself once more. The question was, had I convinced him that I wanted to by his side?

  “So, I guess until that happens, baby, it’s just you and me against the world.”

  Σ

  .

  Chapter 4

  “Are you sure it’s all right if I go?” I slipped on a pair of black heels and then picked up a black blazer I’d borrowed from Delaney.

  “Yes. Mr. Marshall assured me it was fine. Besides, he said he wants to talk to you.”

  “To me?” I put one arm through the boyfriend jacket and stopped. “Why does he want to talk with me?” Several potential reasons ran through my mind.

  Raven eased into his suit jacket and adjusted his sleeves, making sure his cufflinks showed. The black material had an eye-catching sheen, and the purple dress shirt with matching tie made him look even more irresistible. Caught up in his model-perfect attire, I had to look away before I started drooling.

  “Relax.” Raven embraced my shoulders with his big, strong hands and my knees weakened. “He just wants to go over a few things with you.”

  “What if he asks me questions?” For w
hatever reason, I felt like I was the one in the hot seat.

  “Answer them.” Raven slid his hands underneath my hair and adjusted the collar of my jacket. Tiny sparks shot through me as he paid special attention to the way I looked, though he should’ve been more concerned about himself. The length of his neck brushed my lips and the scent of his new cologne infiltrated my airways. I backed up against the dresser, unable to stand upright, reminding myself that now was not the time to get excited. Raven had a press conference to attend and William Marshall, Josh’s uncle, was on his way to pick us up.

  After the coach insisted that he make a statement about what had happened, he’d decided it would be in his best interest to speak to Mr. Marshall. If Raven wanted to prove that the incident wasn’t entirely intentional, then he might have a chance to save his football career. Mr. Marshall served as Raven’s attorney last year when he was suspended for recreational drug use. After breakfast, they talked on the phone for over an hour. Mr. Marshall offered to be there while Raven gave his statement to the media, fans, and alumni. They would all be anxiously waiting for him to confirm whether the rumors were true.

  “What do I say? I mean… is there anything I shouldn’t say?” I buttoned the next-to-top button on my blouse and made sure my shirttail was tucked into my pants. Thankfully, Delaney had some nice clothes for me to borrow since the majority of mine were still at my parent’s house.

  His fingers dropped to my chest and he undid the button I’d just fastened. “I told him everything I told you.”

  I shot him a confused stare and started to button my shirt again when he stopped me. “You look good like this.”

  Glancing down, I noted the slight cleavage that peeked from my shirt. With a raised brow, I said, “Are you sure? I don’t want to flash everyone.”

  “Lexi. Lexi.” Raven laughed, planting a kiss on my forehead. “You’re not showing too much cleavage. Trust me. You look gorgeous.”

  “Okay, if you say so.”

  I turned and looked in the mirror, giving myself a once over. Delaney’s clothes were a little loose on me and it looked like I’d lost some weight over the past ten days. My face appeared thinner and my cheeks a little sunken, but at least the black circles around my eyes were fading. It felt good to wear makeup and fix my hair. By the widening of Raven’s eyes, I could tell he liked it, too. He embraced me from behind and I folded my arms over his.

  “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” He stared at me through the mirror.

  “I’m sorry it took something like this to bring us back together.”

  “Me, too,” he sighed.

  I smiled at him, trying to easy his worries. “Everything is going to turn out fine.”

  “I hope you’re right, baby.” Raven pressed his cheek to mine and I reached behind me, cupping his face with my palm.

  “Have some faith, Raven.”

  His phone buzzed, vibrating against the dresser. We glanced over and saw that it was a message from Marshall Law Firm. Raven picked up his phone and swiped the screen.

  “They’re downstairs. You ready?”

  “Yes, let’s go.”

  We walked out of the apartment and descended the stairs. The sun was setting and the warm, winter day was turning into a brisk, cool evening. A shiny, black Cadillac SUV was parked curbside, waiting for us. A short guy, probably in his early to mid-thirties, wearing navy-striped dress pants and a white, button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, greeted us.

  “Raven,” he stuck his hand out, “good to see you again.”

  “Steve.” Raven shook his hand.

  Steve turned to me. “You must be Lexi.”

  I shook his cold hand. “Yes, Lexi Thompson.”

  “I’m Mr. Marshall’s assistant, Steve Langevin. Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.”

  Steve opened the door and we got into the SUV. A husky, balding man immediately turned and greeted us. “Raven.” He stretched his long arm across the backseat.

  “Mr. Marshall.” Raven gave him a hefty handshake and then turned to me. “This is my girlfriend, Lexi Thompson.”

  Mr. Marshall craned his neck, trying to get a better glimpse of me. His forehead tightened and his nose wrinkled as he struggled to turn his stocky body in my direction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His strong Texas twang fit him perfectly.

  I leaned forward, meeting his gaze. “Nice to meet you, too.”

  Steve got into the driver’s seat and shut the door.

  Mr. Marshall huffed and then grabbed the overhead handlebar, adjusting himself in his seat. “I had Steve prepare your statement. When you sit down with Coach Anderson, don’t be afraid to refer to it if you need to. It’s better to read it than to say something incorrectly.”

  Steve handed Raven a brown folder. “Thank you.” Raven took the folder and opened it, glancing at the professional typed-out statement on blanch-white paper with the Marshall Law Firm logo at the top.

  “Do you have any questions?”

  “I think I’m good.” Raven closed the folder and set it between us. “You’ve prepared me and I remember to say no comment when I’m not sure how to respond.”

  “You learn quickly, son.” Mr. Marshall let out a deep, throaty laugh. “You’ll do just fine. And if things start to get out of control, I’ll step in as your advisor and attorney while Steve escorts you out of the room.”

  “Sounds good.” Raven clicked his seatbelt and motioned for me to do the same. After I fastened my belt, Steve pulled out of the apartment complex and headed toward the freeway. As we passed the university, a sad, empty feeling overcame me and I wasn’t sure why.

  “Now, as for you, Miss Thompson, I’d like to cover a few important rules.”

  Rules? What type of rules?

  “Yes, of course, sir.”

  “I’ve already advised Raven of what I’m about to tell you, but let it serve as a reminder to him as well. Watch what you post on any and all social media sites. It will come back to bite you in the ass and then we’re all screwed. When you’re three sheets to the wind with beer bottles in your hand, smiling half-naked for the camera, it makes my job ten times harder. I don’t want to have to figure out how the hell we’re going to get out of that situation.”

  I shot Raven a confused look. Who the hell was naked on Facebook? I picked up my phone, ready to access my Facebook page, but decided it wasn’t worth it. If Raven had been half-naked, I’m sure he was smart enough to remove that picture.

  “Do you understand?”

  “Um, yes, sir. I understand.” I held up my hands in surrender, making sure to keep them hidden from Mr. Marshall. Raven shrugged his shoulders, just as confused. Maybe he hadn’t posted a naked picture of himself on Facebook after all. “We’ll stay off social media sites.”

  Mr. Marshall cleared his throat a few times. “I don’t want you to disappear from them, especially Raven. He needs his fan support. So continue life as normal, just post pictures that show Raven on his best behavior.”

  Best behavior? Are you kidding me?

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Raven, what do you think would be acceptable things to post?”

  Raven shot me a look that said, “Help!”

  “Maybe Raven working out at the gym?” I suggested.

  “Excellent. Show that he’s not giving up on his dream.”

  I’ll gladly take that shot.

  “True.” Raven shot me a quick wink. “How about me with my family at dinner?”

  “Good choice.” Mr. Marshall nodded his head. “Anything else you can think of?”

  “Um, Lexi and me studying?”

  Thinking about how some of our study sessions had turned out, I wasn’t sure if that would be a good idea. Then again, it did sound enticing.

  “Perfect.” Mr. Marshall’s voice lilted in joy. “Go to church with your family, take pictures with them. Go to some fundraisers. Hell, I’m invited to several every month. In fact, I’ll have Steve re
spond that you and Lexi will attend in my honor. Show that you’re cleaning up your act.”

  “Got it, Mr. Marshall.” Raven nodded while running the palms of his hands over his knees. At the apartment, I was the one who was nervous. It seemed like I had transferred that emotion to him. I reached for his hand and he wrapped his fingers tightly around mine. With light, feathery strokes, I rubbed my thumb across the top of his hand, trying to calm his wound-up nerves.

  “And by God, stay away from the damn parties. Especially Jared Harrington’s place.” Mr. Marshall struggled to turn around. “If I get word that you’ve stepped one foot in that shithead’s place, I’ll rip your legs off myself.”

  Raven’s eyes widened. “Yes, sir. I’m staying far away from him.”

  “Good.”

  “Rule number two,” Mr. Marshall took a deep breath before continuing, “no talking to the media.”

  “Understood,” I replied, making a mental note.

  “Now, there’s no need to be ugly or a bitch if they confront you. But you just tell them no comment,” Mr. Marshall and Raven said in unison.

  Mr. Marshall hooked a thumb, pointing it at Raven. “See, he knows.” A deep, belly laugh belted from his mouth followed by a hacking cough. I hoped the guy wasn’t going to die from a heart attack anytime soon.

  “Rule number three, don’t get caught doing something with Raven that will get him in trouble. Or you, for that matter.”

  “Got it.” I smiled at Raven, assuring him that I was one-hundred percent on board with helping him. “Behave ourselves in public.”

  “Basically, or don’t get caught with your panties around your ankles or his jon hanging out of his pants.”

  My jaw hit the floorboard. Was he serious? Did he take me for one of Raven’s hoes? I shot Raven a look that told him he better set Mr. Marshall straight.

  “That won’t be happening, Mr. Marshall.” Raven placed his hand on the back of Mr. Marshall’s seat, giving it a slight pull until the attorney made eye contact with him. “Lexi is a well-respected woman. I would never do anything like that to disgrace her and she would never do anything to dishonor me.”