Page 134 of Off Limits
I get to my feet. ‘You’re always tryna sell these college girls to me!’
‘I’m not trying tosellanybody to you. All I meant was that a man in your position, you need to be careful of other people’s ulterior motives.’
‘Serenity doesn’t have any motive! She just wants to be with me! I told you, I’d find my own girlfriend.’
We stare at one another for a moment in the kitchen, as though this is a face off.
‘It’s true, Ma,’ River pipes up. ‘He’s really happy. And I, for one, cannot wait to meet her.’
Mom hasn’t moved. She looks down at her fingers. ‘And what about me… and your father. Are we worthy enough for an introduction?’
She emphasizes that last sentence, not meeting my eyes, as though questioning whether they would be.
I grin at her. ‘Of course you are, Mom. I can’t wait for you to meet her.’
I abandon my untouched food and wrap my arms around my mother, the woman who raised me. The woman who got me where I am today.
‘I got a lotta stuff I need to tell you, Ma,’ I say as she holds me tight.
That’s the moment I know that I need to take this to the higher ups. On Monday, when I get back from the game, I’m going straight to Hank Conway. Make things official with Serenity, whether the owner of the Mutineers likes it or not.
I refuse to keep our relationship a secret anymore.
Chapter Thirty
Serenity
Saturday morning, walking through the Danube Stadium parking lot in advance of practice, I see Jewel up ahead. ‘Jewel!’ I call out. ‘Wait up!’
‘Hey, Ren,’ she says when I reach her, though her tone is subdued, and she doesn’t quite seem herself. ‘Did you walk here?’
‘I took the bus,’ I say, out of breath. ‘Car engine is busted. Can I talk to you for a minute? In private?’
Jewel frowns. ‘I mean, I guess? I’ve barely seen you lately.’
‘That’s kinda what I wanted to talk to you abou—’
I squeal when one arm goes around my middle and Harmony’s chin comes to rest on my shoulder. ‘Hey, girls. Jewel, can I borrow Serenity for a sec?’
Harmony doesn’t wait for an answer, just twirls me around and links her arm in mine. I glance back and Jewel’s got irritation written all over her face. I give her an apologetic look, yet I don’t want to wait too much longer before telling her about Jake.
‘You and I need to have a talk,’ Harmony says, as we head for the staff entrance, keeping her voice low but tense with excitement. ‘Ally said it went well last night.’
‘I mean… he got the message. Plus, I got Persia’s uniform back. It’s in my bag. Just need to figure out how to return it so nothing looks amiss.’
‘Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.’
It’s only then that I notice something different about her. She doesn’t look as turned out as she normally does. Her hair is tousled, and there’s a mischievous glint in her eye and it makes me smile.
‘So, you and I might be in the same boat,’ she says, leaning over and whispering in my ear.
We both giggle. ‘I figured you might be. What happened?’
Before we enter the CMC locker room, Harmony checks who is following, then pulls me to one side.
‘Thursday night, Hudson was so mad.’
‘I remember.’
