“Yeah. Totally.”

But it did matter, and Bryna couldn’t let it go.

It only got worse when Pace showed up at her condo later that night.

“Hey, sis,” he said.

He barreled inside, passing her, and she considered leaving to avoid him, but she couldn’t even stay with Andrew, who was holed up in some hotel.

“Don’t call me that,” she spat.

“Don’t tell me you’re not excited that I’m in town,” he said as if he didn’t know she hated him. “You’re going to have to get used to it because I have a feeling that I’m going to be here a whole lot more come January.”

Bryna’s face paled. “What do you mean?”

“Coach Galloway got the approval today. I’ll officially be an LV State football player in January. I’ll graduate high school a semester early and start classes in the spring. I won’t get to play for this season, but I’ll start practices.”

She rested her hand on the couch to keep herself upright. “You’re…moving to Las Vegas in two months?”

“Yeah. Dad said I could stay here until I got my own place.”

Pace’s smirk was so broad that she thought she might be sick. He was really serious.

“You cannot stay in my condo.”

“Technically, it’s Dad’s condo, so—”

“Stop calling him that! He’s not your dad!” she shrieked.

Pace dropped his bag in the middle of the living room and kicked back on the couch. He crossed his arms and stared up at her in a leering way she definitely couldn’t miss.

“Keep yelling all you want, Bri. I like it when you yell.”

Bryna’s grip on the couch tightened as she kept from screaming in rage. “Just stay away from me and my friends.”

“What? Think I know things about you that others don’t? How many people know about senior year, Bri? How many know about Jude?”

She shuddered. “Leave him out of this. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think I do.”

“Even if you did,” she ground out, “senior year is long over, and I’m already tired of having you around again.”

She stomped upstairs, trying to convince herself that she wasn’t fleeing her sleazy stepbrother. This weekend couldn’t possibly get any worse.

The next morning was a dry seventy-five degrees, and Bryna was cheering on the sidelines at the game. She could see Pace standing next to the team on the sidelines, and it infuriated her all the more. He hadn’t even wanted to come to LV State until he knew she was interested in attending. Last year, he had made it his personal mission to try to ruin her life, and she was not looking forward to his reappearance since nothing had changed between them. He still wanted to torment her and also get in her pants. She wanted to get away from the reminder of what her father had done.

Right before the end of the first half, the cheerleaders were jostled closer to the football team to accommodate the marching band and all the alumni members of the football team, band, and auxiliaries—dance team, flag line, and baton twirlers. A figure moved to stand next to her, and she glanced up, surprised to see Eric.

“What?” she demanded. She was already on edge, and she and Eric did nothing but argue. “I’m really not in the mood today.”

Eric frowned. “I was coming to see if your dad was here. Coach wanted to talk to him after the game, but he wasn’t listed with the alumni players.”

“Yeah, he’s not here.”

“All right. I thought you said he was coming.”

Bryna closed her eyes and breathed out before answering, “My stepmother is sick, so he couldn’t make it.”

“I see. I hope she’s okay,” he said with sincere concern in his voice.

She rolled her eyes. “I hope she falls into a vat of acid.”

“That’s pleasant,” Eric drawled. “What did she do to you?”

“Nothing. Broke up my parents, married my dad, and moved into my mother’s house.”

“So then, that’s your stepbrother?” he asked, pointing to Pace.

Bryna nodded. “Unfortunately. Why?”

“They’ve been recruiting him. I think he’s going to be here next year.”

“Don’t fucking remind me,” she grumbled. “I can’t stand the thought of that creep being here.”

“He’s a good ball player.”

“So was O.J. Simpson,” Bryna deadpanned.

Eric actually laughed out loud. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. His whole body seemed to relax with it. “That’s true.”

Suddenly, Bryna felt uncomfortable. She wasn’t supposed to be comfortable around Eric Wilkins. He was the prick who always picked fights with her. She knew his secrets, and he despised her for being that girl.

“Anyway, Pace is an asshole,” Bryna said.

“I noticed that.”

Bryna looked up at him in shock. Most people thought Pace was an angel. He put on a good act. She didn’t think many other people could see through it. Certainly, no one in high school had. Her own father couldn’t see through the bullshit.

“Well, have to go. Thought I’d check for Coach,” Eric said quickly before disappearing into the crowd of football players running toward the locker room.

Pace approached her at the end of the game after the Gamblers had come out victorious, and she did everything she could not to scratch his eyes out. Being around him made everything worse. She was going to have to find a way to get him to leave.

“Good game,” Pace said. “I’m really liking it here, sis.”

He blatantly leered at her in her cheer uniform, and she momentarily wished she were more covered up. He was so disgusting.

“Don’t get any ideas, asshole. You’re not coming here next year.” She hoped that saying it out loud would make it a reality.

“Oh, I have plenty of ideas,” he said, looking her up and down.

“You’re disgusting.”

“Babe!” Andrew cried. He appeared at her side in that moment.

Without a second thought, he threw his arm around her waist and crushed his lips down onto hers. She breathed in the kiss in slight horror because Pace was watching. He had made it clear that he was out to sabotage her all over again. She didn’t want him to sit around and watch everyone who was in her life.

She took a step back when he released her. “Hey.”

“Who’s this?” Andrew nodded his head at Pace.

“I’m her brother,” Pace assured him.

“Stepbrother.”

“Cool, man!” Andrew cried.

“I didn’t know Bri was dating anyone,” Pace said. He sent Bryna a questioning look.

“We’re not dating,” Bryna said automatically. She had been saying it since Andrew told everyone they were sleeping together.

Andrew seemed to believe her less and less.

“Same old, same old, huh, Bri?” Pace asked.

“Fuck off, Pace,” she snarled. “Come on, Andrew. Let’s get out of here.”

Pace laughed at her retreating back. “See you tonight at Posse.”

She shook her head and kept walking. She was not going to let him get to her any more than he’d already had.

“What was that all about?” Andrew asked once they were a safe distance away from Pace.

“Nothing. He’s an asshole, but he wants to play football here next year.”

“Cool!” Andrew said.

It was as if he hadn’t heard a word she said besides football. Ugh!

“Oh my God!” Stacia shrieked. She rushed toward them and attached herself to Bryna’s other arm. “Who was that guy? He’s mega hot!”

“Stepbrother, S. Don’t touch him with a ten-foot pole,” Bryna demanded.

She stuck her bottom lip out. “You ruin all the fun!”

“He’s still in high school anyway.” For two more months. If she could help it, he wouldn’t end up here.

Stacia shrugged. “Fine. Forget I mentioned it. Let’s find Trihn and get ready for Posse tonight! Sorry, Andrew, I need to steal your girl.”

“I am not his girl!” Bryna insisted.