Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(63)

“And what about Brooks and Estaine?” I ask.

“They know the risks,” Jake says.

“Do you?” I ask, looking at Estaine, then Brooks.

“You know I do,” Estaine says. “But I’m not worried. I trust your secret service guys.”

I trust them, too.

Like, completely. They rescued me once. Certainly they can again, if it comes down to it. I hope it doesn’t, though. I don’t think I could handle starting over again. It was hard enough the first time, but now that I’ve made friends, it would be even harder to leave East Raven.

I look at Brooks, waiting for his response.

“I’m only here ’cause you’re supposed to be some kind of ninja MMA girl,” Brooks says, grinning at me. “You’re supposed to be protecting me.”

I just laugh and shake my head.

I hope he’s joking.

“She did take me down. Quite a few times, actually,” Estaine says. “I’m pretty sure if the guys on the team knew, they’d never let me live it down.”

“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t tackle you during football practice?” I ask.

“I wouldn’t say I’d mind that. Pretty sure that would make all the guys jealous,” he says.

I roll my eyes when he says this. I find it hard to believe that any guy at East Raven Academy finds me attractive. I guess they do, because I saw the texts all the guys sent Estaine after we started dating, but I don’t get it.

It must be because I’m new. There is, literally, no other explanation. In a few more weeks, they will forget about me—Estaine and Brooks included.

No, not Estaine. We’re friends. I think we’ll stay friends. I’ll let him break up with me in a public way and we can continue being friends. But Brooks... he will be gone. He’ll realize I’m not worth the effort. Plus, by being with me today, he could literally be putting his life in danger. That’s a really scary thought.

“Hey, are you okay?” Estaine asks.

I really need to work on my poker face.

“I’m fine,” I say.

But really, I’m not, and I won’t be... not until my family and I are safe.





1pm.


What just happened?





Since Estaine’s father is the senator of Massachusetts, we got really good seats to the game. Box seats. We’re away from the crowd, we have catered food, and we can escape quickly if we need to. I have a feeling that is the only reason Jake and Uncle Matty let me come.

To be honest, I’m not a huge baseball fan. But it does beat sitting around my dorm room. It feels good to be off campus.

“This is my first baseball game,” I tell Brooks and Estaine.

Yep. I’m sitting right between the two of them. Again.

At least Uncle Matty and Jake aren’t close enough to hear the conversation. They’re keeping watch, making sure the area is safe.

“How can you say you’re American if you’ve never been to a baseball game?” Estaine asks.

“How have you been alive sixteen years and never been to a baseball game?” Brooks asks.

Wow.

They agree on something.

I shrug. “I was an only child who preferred soccer. And then, when my mom married Rick, Charlie wasn’t into baseball. He liked surfing. I’ve been to a lot of surfing events. I’ve even gone to professional surfing events. I love it. Besides, I have been to a baseball game now. Estaine, be sure to thank your dad for me.”

“I will,” Estaine says. “My dad supported the guy who was running against your dad. Do you think that’ll make your dad like me less?”

“Your dad’s a politician?” Brooks asks.

I look up to see if Jake or Uncle Matty heard. They’re both focused elsewhere, so I’m guessing they didn’t.

“Estaine, you’ve really got to watch what you say,” I say.

“Sorry,” he says. “I keep forgetting that Brooks doesn’t know.”

“I should know,” Brooks says.

I just shrug. “It’s not up to me to decide.”

“But it’s your life. And you told Estaine.”

“To be fair, I practically forced her to,” Estaine says.

“You and I both know that nobody forces Phoenix to do anything,” Brooks says.

Yeah, right.

Everything is being forced on me right now.

New identity.

New school.

Not being allowed to leave said school.

Even today, what feels like a little freedom isn’t freedom at all. Jake and Uncle Matty are here, monitoring my every move. And I get that it’s all for my safety, but it’s still my life. Am I ever going to get to truly live it again?

I sit there, watching the game. I’m surprised that Brooks and Estaine are actually talking to each other. Like, they’re being friendly. I honestly thought the two of them would either argue, or just pretend the other wasn’t there. It’s a happy surprise.

“How do you like the game?” Brooks asks, as half time starts.

“It’s okay,” I answer. “I don’t understand a lot of what’s going on, but it’s nice to be off campus.”

“Not as good as a surfing tournament?” Estaine asks.