Blurred lines, p.10
Blurred Lines, page 10
“What a deluded bitch,” Ashleigh hissed.
But there was no denying how good they looked together.
“It’s customary for the King and Queen to have one dance together,” Principal Kiln added, “if you would like to make your way to the dance floor.”
“I’m going to go to the bathroom,” I whispered, trying to untangle myself from Ashleigh. But she tightened her grip on me.
“No, you are not.”
“Ashleigh, please. I just need to—”
“Actually, Principal Kiln, I’m afraid that’s not going to work for me.”
I froze at the sound of Avery’s voice.
“I-it’s not?” The principal stuttered.
“No. You see, there’s only one girl I’ll be dancing with tonight, and that’s my girlfriend, Miley Fuller.”
Kendall’s expression turned murderous as Avery lifted a hand to his face and searched for me in the crowd.
“I see. Well, I guess there’s nothing that says you have to dance together. Kendall, do you perhaps have a date you can—”
But she stormed off the stage with a face like thunder.
“That was so freaking cool,” Ashleigh whisper-shrieked.
“What do you say, Miley?” Avery said with conviction. “Will you dance with me?”
The room was silent save for the wild beat of my heart. Ashleigh gave me a small nudge forward and the crowd parted, leading me right toward Avery. He came off stage and stood before me. He looked so freaking handsome in his slacks and black shirt.
“You’re not wearing your crown,” I said.
“Don’t need it.” He shrugged. “Not when I have a much better prize waiting for me.”
“You do?” I glanced around, making a show of looking for something.
“Miley.” He banded his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Stop.”
“Okay,” I breathed. “Is this the part where we dance?” I was vaguely aware of a song playing in the background.
“This is the part where I tell you how crazy I am about you.”
“You are?”
Avery moved closer, brushing his nose over mine. “I am. I’ve fallen hard…” He swallowed, his eyes darkening.
“I guess it’s a good thing I’ve fallen hard too then, isn’t it?”
“Yeah?” He grinned.
“Yeah,” I said.
And then I kissed him.
Avery
“Here he is,” Coach said, welcoming me into his house. “The man of the hour.”
“Thanks, Coach. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re damn right there, kid.” He smirked. “Miley, it’s good to see you. I hope you’re keeping this one out of trouble.”
“I try.” She squeezed my hand.
It was the Sunday after Homecoming and I’d finally told my parents about Notre Dame yesterday. I knew Ashleigh wouldn’t be able to keep a secret and I wanted the news to come from me.
“Well, come on in, everyone’s already here.”
We followed Coach into his huge open plan kitchen. My parents were standing with Felicity over at the counter. Mrs. Bennet and Asher were here too. I spotted the twins sitting outside around the fire pit with Lily, Poppy, and my sister.
“No Ezra?” I asked.
The Bennets shared a look. “He’s… not feeling so good. Congratulations, Avery. We’re all very proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Bennet.”
“Oh please, we’re not in school now. You can call me Mya.”
“Son.” Dad approached me, pulling me into a hug. “She’s right. We’re proud, kid. So fucking proud.”
“Cameron!” Mom gasped, and everyone chuckled.
“It’s not every day your kid commits early to one of the best football programs in the country, Hailee. I think I’m allowed to get a little emotional.”
“You can get emotional without the cussing.”
“This looks great, you guys.” I changed the subject, glancing over at the huge spread of food Coach and his wife had laid out for me.
“Well, it’s a great reason to celebrate. Now all we need is to bring home that championship and my work here is done.” Coach smirked again.
“No pressure then.” I chuckled.
“You’ll do it, babe.” Miley leaned over and kissed my cheek and I swear all the moms in the room swooned.
“You two are just the cutest, and so lucky to be attending schools a stone’s throw from each other.”
“Oh, I won’t hear back from Northwestern until the spring,” Miley said.
“No, but you’ll get in.” She had to. Because spending four years without Miley close was not an option.
“I’m sure it’ll all work out.” Mom smiled.
They’d been so great about everything. Notre Dame. Miley. It had only been a couple of weeks since we walked into school that morning and surprised everyone, but I couldn’t imagine life without Miley now. Some of the guys didn’t get it. She was still a traitor in their eyes. But her second article had gone some way to repairing the damage done.
Micah had surprised me the most. He gave the word that Miley was my girl and that was that. If anyone had a problem with it, he took it upon himself to set them straight. I think it was his way of apologizing for what went down at his party. And maybe because he’d always suspected there was something between us.
Either way, things were good.
Better than good. Life was pretty fantastic.
Lily was doing better at school. Ashleigh was as annoying as ever. The team was on a winning streak. And I had the girl of my dreams by my side.
I had everything I needed.
And I couldn’t wait to see what the future held.
* * *
Three years later…
Lily
“Hey, you,” Mom joined me outside. I was curled up on a garden lounger, reading a book.
“Hey, Mom.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“You know, school starts in a week.”
“I know.” As if I could forget. It was senior year.
It only felt like two seconds ago, I was starting Rixon High as a shy ninth grader.
“You’ve come so far, baby. I have good feelings about this year.”
“It’ll be fine, Mom.” It was my go-to response when things started to feel too much.
I’m fine.
It’s fine.
Everything will be fine.
Mom knew, they all did. But they didn’t push. I think over the years, it had gotten easier not to push. To just let me be.
“Has Dad found out what’s happening yet?”
“He’s on a conference call with Principal Kiln and Principal Mendoza right now. But whatever happens, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She leaned over and squeezed my knee.
Over the summer, there had been a fire at Rixon East High School. Luckily no one was injured, but the damage was too extensive to repair in time for the new school year. The school board decided that kids would be shipped to the three nearest schools, including Rixon High.
It was all Ashleigh and Peyton, my best friends, had talked about all summer. I guess it was a big deal. Kids from Rixon East and Rixon High didn’t exactly mix. The rivalry wasn’t as bad as it was back in my dad’s day, but there was no love lost between our two high schools.
“Sucks to be them,” I said.
“Lil,” Mom warned.
“What?” I shrugged.
She rolled her eyes. “Remember how you felt starting Rixon High in ninth grade? I imagine it’s going to be scary and unknown for a lot of kids. A little compassion would go a long way, baby.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her, that it wasn’t them I was worried about.
It was me.
I could already feel the gnawing teeth of anxiety closing in around me. But I’d been doing so much better, and Mom and Dad were finally loosening the strings and giving me more freedom. I didn’t want to ruin everything.
So I smiled and ignored the little voice in my head.
Everything would be fine.
Just then, Dad came outside and headed toward us.
“Uh oh,” Mom said. “He looks pissed.”
His eyes were narrowed, and his jaw was clenched. Oh yeah, my dad was definitely pissed.
“What did they say?” Mom leaped up.
“It’s a fucking mess.” He glanced over me and grimaced. “Sorry, Lil.”
I waved him off.
“Since we’re the better football program they want to transfer all their best players here. But like I told Principal Kiln, I already have a full roster.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll make it work.” She rubbed his shoulders. “They lost everything, Jase. It’s the right call.”
“Yeah, I know.” He blew out a long, steady breath. “But Kaiden Thatcher is on that list.”
“Lewis Thatcher’s son?” Mom frowned, her expression darkening. “I see.”
“Who’s Lewis Thatcher?” I asked.
“No one you need to worry about, Lil,” he said.
But his face said otherwise. His face said Lewis Thatcher was someone to worry about.
Which probably meant, his son was too.
* * *
Thank you reading.
You can read Lily Ford’s story in Off-Limits, available here
Playlist
Hopeless – Halsey, Cashmere Cat
Worst of You – Maisie Peters
Monster – Shawn Mendes ft. Justin Bieber
Dandelions – Ruth B.
Everybody Loves You – Charlotte Lawrence
Skin – Sabrina Carpenter
Wonder – Shawn Mendes
Collide – Rachel Patten
Acknowledgments
I am SO excited to be back in the Rixon world, and I hope you enjoyed a little taster of things to come. Lily, Poppy, Ashleigh, Sofia, Aaron, Ezra, and Xander have so much coming your way, I hope you’re ready!
Huge thanks to my beta team: Nina, Annissia, Heather, Cassie, and Amanda for all their input. To Darlene and Athena for fitting me in for a last minute proofread. To Andie, Tracy, and Anna for keeping me sane during these strange times we live in.
And a huge shoutout to every blogger, bookstagrammer, and reader who fall in love with my OG Raiders and gave me the encouragement to move onto their kids’ stories. I really hope I do them justice.
* * *
Until next time,
L A xo
About the Author
Angsty. Edgy. Addictive Romance
* * *
Author of mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.
* * *
Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.
* * *
L A loves connecting with readers.
* * *
The best places to find her are:
www.lacotton.com
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Did you love Blurred Lines? Then you should read Off-Limits by L. A. Cotton!
From USA Today bestselling author L A Cotton, comes an opposites-attract sports romance. Angst... drama... friendship... and football. Will you survive senior year?
Lily Ford has always been a wallflower.
But it's senior year, and she wants nothing more than to try and push her boundaries and embrace the last year of high school.
Kaiden Thatcher has always been the star on the football field.
But now he finds himself in enemy territory forced to prove himself to his new coach and teammates.
It starts with a dare. Seven minutes of heaven in a boat shed. But it quickly turns into something neither of them saw coming.
He's everything she should resist.
She's everything he shouldn't want.
But neither of them are willing to walk away because together, their demons seem that little bit easier to silence.
There's just one problem ... Lily is the coach's daughter.
And one hundred percent off-limits.
Read more at L. A. Cotton’s site.
Also by L. A. Cotton
Black Hearts Still Beat
Rush: Eva & Rafe's Trilogy Book 1
Rise: Eva & Rafe's Trilogy Book 2
Rule: Eva & Rafe's Trilogy Book 3
Ruin: Levi Hunter's Story
Riot: Hudson Ryker's Story
Raze
Chastity Falls
Loyalty and Lies
Salvation and Secrets
Tribulation and Truths
Affliction
Redemption and Regrets
Penance and Promises
Absolution
Darling Hill
These Darks Hearts
These Dirty Lies
These Dead Promises
These Defiant Souls (Coming Soon)
Rixon High
Blurred Lines
Off-Limits
Tragic Lies
Reckless Games
Ruined Hopes
Broken Ties
Missed Notes
Forever Goals (Coming Soon)
Rixon Raiders
The Trouble With You
The Game You Play
The Endgame Is You
The Cabin
Steinbeck U
Des Bonbons ou un Sort
Steinbeck University
Trick or Treat
The Wicked Bay Series
Wicked Bay: Part 1
Wicked Bay: Part 2
Verona Legacy
Angel of Tears
Prince of Hearts: Nicco & Ari Duet #1
King of Souls: Nicco & Ari Duet #2
Villain of Secrets
Savior of Regrets
Wicked Bay
Wicked Beginnings
Wicked Rules
Wicked Lies
Wicked Games
Wicked Needs
Wicked Surprise
Wicked Hearts
Wicked Promises
Wicked Truths
Wicked Forever
Standalone
Lucky Penny
Chastity Falls: Box Set
Black Hearts Still Beat: Eva and Rafe's Trilogy
On The Rebound
Rock
Watch for more at L. A. Cotton’s site.
L. A. Cotton, Blurred Lines
