The Win: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 4)

As soon as I see the guys, I burst into tears. I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much as I do right now. It’s like seeing the house, seeing them, cements in me that this is real. That I’m home.

Hunter is the first to get to me. As he lifts me out of the car, his arms tighten around me and he spins me in the air. “Lala, your back.”

And I realize, in that moment, how scared he must have been. “I’m back, and I’m never leaving again.” I kiss him and he keeps spinning me around. We’re kissing and half laughing, as if this is all a dream.

Then he starts to cry. I try and wipe the tears, but at the same time, mine fall. I cry that I made him cry, and it becomes a vicious cycle until Asher grabs for me.

“Mila, welcome home,” he says and holds me to his chest as I wrap my arms around him, not wanting to ever let go.

I look up, and he cups my cheek and kisses me. When he smiles, I can see the darkness hasn’t left his eyes. So, I reach out and trace my fingers along his jaw, to his lips, and he smiles then bites the tip of my finger. I laugh.

But it’s Jace on the sidelines, watching, that causes all the floodgates to open at once. I’d been mad at him, and for no good reason in the end. Because anything can happen in the blink of an eye, and then all the what ifs seep in.

After what happened to me, I’ve decided to take chances. I’m not going to fight what I have with Jace anymore. Because I’m in love with him. As much as I loved teasing him . . . I want him to be mine.

Asher slowly peels away from me, and I stand there, breathing deeply as Jace takes a step toward me. I run at him, launching myself as he grabs my hips, and I wrap my legs around his waist and peer down at him.

“Mila.” I can see the unshed tears in his eyes, and I wipe away all of mine before I grab his face.

“I love you, Jace Montero. I always have,” I whisper as I take his mouth with mine. Kissing him feels like I’m finally complete.

His tongue sweeps my lips, and I open for him. It’s like I’ve awakened the beast inside each of us, it happens so fast . . . like we’ve been starving for each other all these years.

And I have been. Starving.

He pulls away, licking his lips, and he has a cocky grin that I want to wipe off his face with another kiss.

“God, you taste amazing. Like tears and heaven.”

I chuckle. That’s not what I expected him to say, but it makes my chest feel light and happy.

“I love you, Mila Hart.” And he takes my mouth again, groaning as I run my hands through his hair and grip it tight. The butterflies dance in my belly. Jace spins us as we kiss, and I open my eyes to see Roman, Hunter, and Jace watching us, grins on their faces.

I’m finally home.

My dad, I haven’t really seen him in weeks. When he found out I was being released to him, he told me he would come get me. But I didn’t want Roman to drive all the way alone. Joe said Roman could drive me back if dad agreed. And he did.

Dad clears his throat, and Jace drops me to my feet quicker than I thought possible. Maybe he didn’t want Dad to catch him kissing me. Well, it’s too late for that. But at the sight of my dad, I turn into that young girl who wants the protection and unconditional love of her father.

“Daddy.” I run to him, and he wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.

He smells like the same aftershave he’s always worn, the same one his father wore, and I let out a small sob. I thought I had lost him. I’d started to think I wouldn’t see him again, and I’m so close to the age he was when he lost his mom and dad. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have my dad.

“Baby girl,” he coos, and I sob louder into his polo.

Why is he always dressed for football? I don’t know, but it’s Dad and I love that about him. He never changed. He’s always the man I can count on when things get bad.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble into his chest, and he holds me tighter.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I overreacted and freaked out. If anyone has to apologize, it’s me.”

I shake my head. I get it. I would freak out if I caught my daughter going down on her stepbrother. That would be a shock for all.

“Mila.” Kate rubs my back from beside him.

I break apart from him and wrap my arms around her. She hugs me tight, and I’m so grateful that she doesn’t hate me for what she saw me doing with her son. Kate’s so forgiving and understanding. She’s the perfect mom, and Asher and Madison have been so lucky.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Let’s get you inside and get you a hot chocolate.”

I burst into another set of tears. Only these are different. These are for the mother I wish I’d my whole life, and the woman who treats me like I’ve always been hers.

Madison is at her side, and I grab her, holding her with us as we hug each other on the front lawn, only lit by the streetlamps and porch light.

“Come inside,” Dad says gruffly. I think he’s trying to hold back tears. But he shouldn’t have to—there’s no harm in crying, in showing emotion.

I turn back and look at the four boys waiting there behind me.

They all stand together, watching me and talking to each other. They smile, Roman ruffles Jace’s hair, and Hunter laughs at something Asher says.

I’m so happy to be back with them.

Three days in my own bed, my home.

If feels surreal, like the past month was just a bad dream. I opened all my Christmas gifts. I didn’t have any to give, which I’d been upset about, so Kate took me shopping. I may have bought the guys the same T-shirt and told them all to wear their gifts to Hunter’s place on Saturday. They have no idea they’re about to be matching, and I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces.

I haven’t been back to school. I’m just not ready yet. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. I have spoken to Dad, and he told me the ball’s in my court. I thought he would be mad that I didn’t want to return, but I think working in a school has made him realize how hard it will be for me to return now. Even if I transferred to Lakeview, it wouldn’t stop the whispers.

Everyone knows what happened in New York. I’ve never been one to run from bullies and gossip, but I don’t think I can move on from this so easily. It’s too big, and I need a fresh start.

I’ve been thinking about my future, anyway, and I want to do something with art. Roman’s been with me during the day. He hasn’t returned to school, and I know he mentioned getting his GED and working for Ronnie. That makes sense. He loves tattoos and they’re his passion. Ronnie told him to come back next week and start full time.

I’m proud of Roman.

I’m going to miss him wearing that red jersey, but this is what he needs. It’s perfect for him.

He’s here all night too, having practically moved into Kate’s house, and Dad’s not impressed.

“Roman sleeps with Asher,” was what he told me that second night back.

I agreed. As much as I love having Roman with me all the time, it’s good to get a little bit of space at night. Neither boy is allowed to walk in my room after eight p.m., and the door has to be open at all times.

I agreed to that as well. The last time I had a door closed with a boy behind it . . . well, I don’t want to think about that.

Madison and I have been doing girls’ nights from eight till ten, painting each other’s nails, talking about boys, and making some Tok-tok’s. My being away for a month didn’t change anything between us. I like how easily we fell back into our little routine.

We tried to get Asher and Roman to dance in our Tok-tok. Asher, now he can move; he’s good. Roman, not so much. He’s a great football player, but that’s as much as skill as he has when it comes to moving his body. He can’t dance to save his life. But that’s okay. I love him anyway.

“Do you think, one day, I’ll have four boyfriends like you?” Madison asks, looking up from the pink nail polish she’s applying to my toes.

“Do you want that many boyfriends? I honestly think I’m crazy at times. They are all so different from each other, yet also the same.”

She glances at my door, where across the hall, Asher and Roman are. “Like, Roman’s very protective of you and doesn’t want to let you out of his sight?”

I nod. “That’s part of it, but I love that too. I don’t know what my future holds, but I hope it will always include them.”

“Is it weird that Mom and your dad are getting married, and Asher is gonna be your stepbrother?”

With a laugh, I drop back onto my bed, put my hands over my face, and groan as Madison giggles. “It’s weird, and that’s why I tried so hard not to love him. But then it just became too much, and I’m glad.” I sit up and look down at her. “Because if Dad hadn’t met your mom, then I wouldn’t have met you and Asher.”

“I’m glad they did. I love having you as a sister.”

My mom is having a baby. My . . . sister.