Spending time with my older brother Luke has always been one of my favorite things. Being so close in age he really has been my best friend. We’re shooting hoops at the park by his apartment and this is the first time I’ve seen him since I got home from college last week. Aiming for a three-point shot, I toss the ball. Swoosh.

“Nice shot!” Luke says as he grabs the basketball, dribbling it back to the free throw line to take one last shot for himself.

“Thanks, pretty sure I just kicked your ass with that last game,” I laugh as we walk toward the park bench to grab our waters.

“It’s good to have you home,” Luke says taking a long pull from his water bottle.

“It’s good to be home,” I say pausing as I use my t-shirt to wipe the sweat off of my forehead. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” I take a quick sip of water. “I’m not going back to Arizona in the fall.”

“Oh yeah. Why not?” he asks rather abruptly, taking another drink of water.

“Honestly, football isn’t going to be my career. I’ve given this a lot of thought—meaningful thought.” I pause for a moment before I tell him, “I want to apply to the fire academy.”

“Seriously?”

“Dead serious. I’m not going back to Arizona.”

“Told Mom and Dad yet?” he asks with a chuckle and a raised eyebrow.

“Nah, soon. I wanted to talk to you and tell you first.”

“So you’re just going to walk away from the scholarship?”

“I am. I just know this is what I want to do,” I respond. I know he thinks I’m stupid to walk away from the scholarship with only one year left, but I have my mind made up.

“You know I’ll support whatever it is you want to do, and I’d love to work with you little brother.”

“Thanks man, I appreciate that. I’m going to head home and take a shower. Catch up with ya’ this weekend?”

“Sounds good,” he says, as we grab our keys and head toward our trucks. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that I have Luke’s support, now it’s telling Mom and Dad.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Ava, noticing her bedroom floor covered with papers.

“Just finished setting up the gym for tomorrow’s graduation. Took us twelve hours because those asshats didn’t follow the directions I left them yesterday. What does it matter to you anyway?” she bites at me.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I just didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Well, here I am.”

God she’s so fucking pissy tonight. “Where’s Jess?” I ask casually.

“She went to Xavier’s party with Max and Adrian just like we talked about this morning. Did you lose your memory old man?” she says without even raising her head to look at me. She’s in a fucking mood, and I can’t deal with her attitude when she’s like this.

But now I’m pissed off, my blood boiling. I told Jess not to go to that fucking party, but she went anyway, alone, without Ava. Walking across the hall into my bedroom, I grab a set of clean clothes and quickly change. All I can think about is what that fucking asshole Xavier will try to do with her. I’ve heard the stories firsthand of how Xavier gets girls drunk and takes advantage of them. Over my dead body will he fucking touch her.

The last place I want to show up is Xavier Garza’s apartment, but I’m going to go get Jess even if I have to drag her out of there kicking and screaming.

“Why didn’t she listen to me?” I mutter to myself.

Grabbing my wallet and keys off of my dresser I head out the door. Pulling into the apartment complex, I can hear the music coming from the patio on the ground floor. I let myself in through there instead of going inside and using the front door. I immediately see Jess inside through the patio door talking to Max and Adrian. When I see her smile a sense of relief washes over me, but fuck if my pulse won’t settle down. She looks amazing. Her hair is down and wavy, flowing down past her shoulders, to the middle of her back. She’s wearing jeans and a tight black shirt. She’s stunning. Xavier is mixing drinks at the counter, and I watch him walk over to Jess, handing her a red plastic cup before walking away. My pulse quickens when I see her bring the cup up to her lips. That’s all I needed to see.

Stepping through the glass sliding patio doors into the main living area of the apartment I hear, “What’s up, Garcia?” from Xavier. Everyone turns to watch me as I walk through the living room toward the small kitchen, including Jess who look surprised to see me.

Giving him a curt nod, I respond with my intentions of being here. “Not much man, I just came to pick up Jess,” She squeezes the red plastic cup in her hand as she glares at me.

“Dating your little sister now?” Xavier laughs, taking a drink of his beer. Most of the room starts laughing at his remark, and it’s taking great restraint for me to not fucking snap his head off his body right here in his own apartment.

“She’s not my sister Garza, and who the fuck I date isn’t any of your business, got it?” I say through clenched teeth. My tone is aggressive and I’ve positioned myself inches from his face.

“Settle down Garcia, just giving you a hard time man,” Xavier responds, still laughing. He backs off slightly because he knows I don’t like him and that I’ll knock him out right here. I’ve done it before, and he knows I won’t hesitate to do it again. I’m still in his face when I feel a gentle hand on my bicep. I don’t take my eyes off of Xavier until I hear Jess whisper,

“Calm down, let’s just go.” Her hand is warm as her fingers tighten around my arm. Turning, I reach for her hand and start walking, pulling her toward the patio door that I just came in through. I see her wave and offer a tight smile to Max who just nods his head at me as we leave. The party is silent now; everyone is watching us leave.

“Adios Garza,” I shout over my shoulder.

“Asshole,” I hear him respond quietly. I can’t help but smirk. Still holding Jess’ hand I don’t let it go of her until we’ve reached my truck.

“What the fuck was that?” Jess asks as slides into the front seat and slams my truck door shut. “I am not a toddler. I can take care of myself, plus nothing was happening in there. You embarrassed me in front of my friends,” she scowls; her cheeks are flushed with anger, which upsets me.

“They are not your friends?” I question and point towards the apartment.

“Max and Adrian are.”

“Yes, Max and Adrian are. The rest of those assholes aren’t.” I say with a raised voice.

I’m feeling a bit of remorse for the way I pulled her out of the party, but that remorse fades as I remember why I came to get her.

“Listen to me for a minute. Xavier is an asshole. He’s hurt girls before—intentionally, he gets them drunk and takes advantage of them.” I pause as heat roils through me. I think about what could have happened to her tonight. “It’s happened more than once, and I know this because I know someone it’s happened too. I know you’re friends with Adrian, but his brother is a dick.”

Her head drops slightly forward, her hair falling over her shoulder. She looks so innocent, so pure. Watching her fidget with her hands, I make a vow to myself that no one will hurt her. Ever.

“Why didn’t you just tell me that this morning?” She asks quietly, turning to look at me. “I wouldn’t have come if I knew that.” she whispers.

“Look, what’s important is that nothing happened, and I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”

“Thanks for coming to get me.”

“You’re welcome. So, can I buy you dinner? Peace offering?” She nods her head as she gives me a small smile.