Page 127 of Wicked Savage Cruel
But Dom's parents are loaded and they've got plans for him to take over the family empire at some point. Only time will tell if he makes it playing ball before they drag his ass off the field.
I play cornerback for the Sun Valley Devils. And I’m good. Really good. But, I got offers for educational scholarships too. It helps when you get a 1340 on the SATs and carry a 3.9 GPA, not that I advertise that shit. I could rock the 4.0 if I wanted to, but I cut one too many classes and let's be honest, no one likes an overachiever.
Football has always been the plan for me. Getting a degree in engineering is just a backup plan. But with Luis, where does being a dad fit into things? Next year, I’ll have classes, training, my free time will be thin. If I took an educational scholarship instead, gave up on playing ball, I’d have more time in the day.
A rock forms in the pit of my stomach. No. I’ll figure something out. I don’t need to do the college scene. That was never the plan anyway. Fuck the parties and the booze. I’m going to college with one goal in mind, so I’ll have plenty of time if I keep my eye on the prize. Luis, football, school. That’s it. I can plan my schedule so it’s tight. Back-to-back classes with a break between them and practice so I can see my boy.
I don’t need to get a killer GPA in college. I just need to pass well enough to keep my scholarship. No one cares about your grades as long as you walk away with your degree. And fuck, if I get drafted, then my grades really won’t mean shit.
I can make this work.
I have to.
The bell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Allie’s gaze locked on mine. “Everything okay?” she asks.
“Yeah, Vanilla. Everything is good.”
Roman scowls but I roll my eyes. He isn’t the only one allowed to call her that. He pulls out his phone and reads an incoming text. “Practice is cancelled,” he tells us.
“Friday funday, fuckers.”
“For you, maybe,” Allie complains. “I have a shift at the diner.”
“You two coming over?” Roman asks Dominique and I as we all make our way out of the classroom. “I’m dropping Allie off at work and then I’ll be at my place. We can go over plays. Watch a few recordings.”
I shake my head. “Can’t. I’m heading to Bibiana’s.”
“Has she mentioned when she’ll be back?” Allie asks, and I hear the worry in her voice.
I suck on my teeth. “No, actually. It hasn’t come up. But she said she has it handled with her teachers.” I shrug.
Allie doesn’t look happy about my response. “I’m worried about her. She can’t afford to miss this much school. She was already struggling to meet graduation requirements.”
My brows pull together. “What are you talking about?” She hasn’t mentioned any of this to me.
Allie sighs. “It’s not really my pla—”
“Come on, Vanilla. Help a man out. Please.”
Her eyes soften. “Fine.” She runs a hand through her hair as we all navigate our way through the parking lot to our cars and I force myself to slow down my steps so she doesn’t have to increase her pace to keep up. She’s almost as small as Bibiana but not quit. “Her mom isn’t coming home until her loser boyfriend is either released or in jail, so she has no childcare.”
I stop. “What?”
“That should be any day now. Roman’s dad has enough to bring charges and his injuries are mostly healed since Aaron and Roman beat the crap out of him.” Roman smirks at that and not gonna lie, Aaron’s part in all this definitely makes it harder to keep hating on him.
Speak of the devil. “Hey,” Aaron calls out and we all turn to find him a few car lengths away with Kasey beside him. “I’m heading to the diner, want a lift?” His words are meant for Allie but it’s Roman who answers him.
“No. I can take her.”
Aaron comes closer as Kasey rolls her eyes and climbs inside his Subaru WXR. “Don’t be a dick, Roman. I’m working with her. I can take her to work and you can pick her up before shift ends.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Allie says, not letting Roman argue as she gives him a kiss on the cheek and turns to leave.
“Hold up. What all am I missing about Bibiana?”
She pauses beside Aaron. “Her mom isn’t watching Luis for her until things with her boyfriend are sorted.” Her lip curls in disgust. “I don’t know what is wrong with her. She’s acting like her boyfriend isn’t a rapist asshole when he is. When he could do to Bibi what he did to me.” She shudders. “It’s not my problem but I feel bad for Bibi and what she’s going through. It’s hard knowing that your mom is standing by someone like that.”
My jaw tightens. Shit. I didn’t know.
