The Game: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 3)

It’s been a surreal few days. I keep waiting to wake up from this dream, that I went to the house of Alessandro Amato. Met his son and made a deal with him, only for him to take care of our problem, just like that.

Only it’s not a dream because he just texted me and I have no idea what to reply or do.

Mobster son: Mila. Need to talk to you and the boyfriends. When can we meet?

I swallow as I read it for a third time, then put my phone down and pace my room. What does he want? Is he trying to tell me that Carlos and Johnny are on the loose and gonna come after me? Or that they are dead? Or…

“Mila, can you come to the living room?” dad calls out from the hallway. I freeze, staring down at my phone.

“Mila?” he calls again. I turn to my closed door. Fuck.

“Coming, dad.” I call out. I grab my phone and open my bedroom door. Asher’s standing at his doorway. He gives me a small smile. I point at him.

“We need to talk.” His smile grows, and I realize he might think it’s about something else… something I’m still avoiding. “It’s about Alessandro Amato.”

“Why?” he whispers. I show him the message on my phone and he lets out a deep breath.

“Fuck,” he rubs the back of his head. “I will call hunter. You go deal with what James wants.”

Jogging down the stairs and to the living room, I pause at the doorway where he sits. This looks… bad. I’m worried he is gonna ground me harder than he already did, especially since he knew I left the house on Saturday.

Hell, he would put me in a straight jacket if he knew where I had been when I left. But Asher told him we both broke out to get ice-cream. And somehow that was all forgiven.

Slowly, I tiptoe into the living room, not sure what I’m going to be met with. He raises his brows at me and I shrug.

I’ve been following his rules. Trying hard at least, but it’s Roman’s birthday tomorrow and I want to go to the laser tag place today like we had all planned. I told dad about it, but at the time he was a little upset about me just sneaking out on Saturday. As much as I want to rebel against my dad, I also don’t. he’s the only actual parent I have left, and I don’t want to disappoint him.

“Hey, dad.” I say as I sit on the other side of the room. He rolls his eyes at me and I smile.

“Gosh, Mila. Just come sit over here. I want to talk.” I look down to my phone and see it’s just after seven. He should be off to work by now. I move to be closer to him and he smiles.

“Is everything okay?” I ask and he nods, reaching for my hands and taking them in his.

“Look, I know, being grounded sucks, but I didn’t know what else to do. The things that were happening scared me and I did the only thing I thought would keep you safe. But staying around the house all day every day is also killing your spirit.

“Madison said you barley talk to her and Asher… well, the two of you don’t seem close anymore. I’m worried I messed up the friendships you were building with them both.”

Oh, God. I don’t want to tell my dad the real reason behind Asher and me. Crap. I smile and pat his knee.

“Asher and me are cool now, we went to get ice-cream. remember?”

He chuckles. “How can I not remember? You both were grounded, and you both left the house for ice-cream? Kind of seems pointless to keep you here. so…” I bounce where I’m sitting.

“I’m un-grounding you.” I squeal and wrap my arms around his shoulders and hug him. He hugs me back.

“Don’t get excited. I don’t like all the bad stuff that’s been happening to you either, so I would prefer that Asher or one of the boys is with you at all times. Preferably Asher or Jace. They seem like a good choice to me.”

He takes a deep sigh and I squeeze his hands.

“Dad, I get it. I understand. I don’t want to upset you or scare you. I just miss my boyfriend’s. And I can see where you choices are going with Asher and Jace. But I need you to understand that I love Hunter and Roman. I know it’s not the normal relationship that you know. But it works for us.”

He holds my hands a little longer. He’s been slowly getting used to the idea of me having two boyfriends.

“I get it. You’re young and you have so much history with them both. I’m glad that you chose one to be your boyfriend. Sorry two.” He shakes his head.

“Its gonna take a bit to get used too. My little girl is all grown up and got boyfriend’s and all. But I would like to have a word to them about dating you, respecting you and treating you like the princess you are.”

I chuckle. “Dad, they do already. I wouldn’t have wanted to be their girl if they didn’t.”

“I just want to ask one question.” I nod, a little worried dad is gonna do the sex talk or something. “How do they just not get jealous and fight? I know those boys and they would fight over candy when they were kids, but I could never share Kate with another man. I would want to hit him.”

Well… um. This is weird. “So they both know where they stand, everything’s equal. There is jealously, but we talk it out, or I can see when it’s happening and we make it work.”

He smiles and nods as he looks at the coffee table.

“That’s very mature of you all. That’s the perfect answer. Communication.”

“So does this mean I can go to laser tag tonight?” He nods and I jump up. “Yes.” I fist pump the air.

“But tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I want you here for lunch. But I know it’s Roman’s birthday, so if he isn’t having something at Hunter’s, you can invite them both here and Jace. Madison and Asher will be here. We are going to Kate’s parents’ house for dinner.” He gives a small smile.

“Are you okay? Do her parents not like you or something?” I ask. I love Kate. She is kind and warm, but I never thought about what her parents are like. Are they like my mom?

“I want to ask you,” — he clears his throat and shifts on the couch — “I have been meaning to ask you for a few weeks now, and I put it off because of everything. But…” I nod, encouraging him to say it. “I want to ask Kate to be my wife. How do you feel about that?”

My mouth drops open even though I could see that was coming. It’s just so exciting to hear it from my dad. He looks so scared and worried that I’m gonna say no. why would I do that? Kate makes him happy.

I smile and hug him.

“I think I know why you’re scared to visit her parents.” He chuckles and I hug him again. Only now I see Asher standing at the dorr. And I realize there is one big complication of my dad asking his mom to marry me. He really will be my stepbrother. That makes what’s between us even harder and more important that we make the right decision.

If I was to date him, if he were to be mine and we broke up. How would that be? It’s not like I can just stop calling him. I would see him for the holidays and stuff. Forever. And if it’s not a nice break up. Fuck.

I close my eyes and by the time I open them, he’s gone, and my phone is going off in my pocket. He must have called Hunter already.

I let out a deep breath. One thing at a time.

Let’s work out what Alessandro wants, then I will work out what I want with Asher. And how to tell my dad that I want to date my stepbrother too. Pretty sure Kate will not like that.

But they heart wants what the heart wants.

Only my heart is so greedy.