THAT FIRST BREAK (Broken Redemption Prequel 1)

Chapter 1

Lucas

1 Year Earlier

For the first time in months, I can finally relax. With the stress and pressure of junior year behind me, I feel lighter. Free.

This year was a big one. The year to impress colleges, not just on my academic merits but on my extracurricular ones. I had to maintain my perfect GPA while leading the team to a state championship, which included working my ass off to stand out to the scouts who came to every game. Scouts who hold the key to a full ride to a Division 1 football program. The only thing I've wanted since I threw my first football when I was five years old.

In the end, I accomplished everything I set out to do, and with any luck, by this time next year, I'll be weeks away from starting at my top-choice school. All that hard work finally paying off.

Smiling, I let out a contented sigh. Finally, I have time to go out and have some fun. After all, this is my last summer as a carefree high school kid. My last chance to screw around and make bad choices under the pretense that—hey, I'm just a teen doing what teens do.

Ha! Yeah, right.

As much as I'd love to kick back and relax, it's not how I'm built. No matter how hard I try to let loose, there's always this little voice in my head reminding me of everything I'm responsible for.

Working hard and doing what's right—it matters to me. My parents made so many sacrifices so my sister and I could have opportunities they never did. So we could become people they could be proud of.

It's why I've never given in to teen rebellion or the hormone-laced impulses that seem to occupy my every thought.

Thoughts like what Embree's warm body would feel like if I let my fingers explore. What her plump lips would taste like if we kissed. Or what sexy noises she would make if I—

Christ! What the hell is wrong with me?

Disgusted, I shake my head and push off the bed to go find my phone.

I don't have time for this, much less for the fallout if I ever let myself go there. Emilia Barrett, or Embree as I call her, is my kryptonite. Just having her in my periphery is enough to obliterate every ounce of control I have. She's like an addiction I can't kick.

My mind knows I shouldn't touch. That I should never even risk it. But it's like I'm fighting the inevitable. Even the threat of the rock bottom that would surely follow—the kind that would likely mean the end of our friendship and probably ruin me—still isn't enough to make me stay away.

She's the only thing in this life that makes me want to let go of the self-imposed control I need to exist. Which is precisely why I need to stay the hell away from her.

Damn it! Forget Embree. Think about Becca.

"Hey, Luc, you coming?" My best friend pants into my ear as he answers the call.

Ben Chelsey and I have been friends since kindergarten. We bonded over our love of earthworms, our hatred of broccoli, and our mutual annoyance at having little sisters who were only a year younger than us.

"What the hell are you doing?" I ask, my brow furrowing at the strange sounds coming through the phone.

"Running," he huffs between words. "We're at Emilia's. Got Jen on my back. We're racing. Beating the pants off Parker and Emi."

Then the fucker laughs, like Embree's sexy body draped over another guy's back as they play some stupid game, is funny.

"What the fuck?" I snap into action, yanking on my sneakers, before launching myself down the stairs. Every instinct I have demands that I go break Parker's face for daring to touch her.

"What man? We're just having a little fun."

"Well, stop. Right now. And for God's sake, stop touching my sister—" Yeah, because that's bullshit too. "—and get Embree the hell away from Parker. Now."

"Jesus dude. What the hell is with you?" His raised voice and the muffled shouts in the background confirm the game has ended.

Aware of how unhinged I sound, I try to play it off. "Nothing, man. Hold on."

Spotting Mom in the kitchen on my way past, I circle back. There's no way I'm leaving without telling her where I'll be.

"Hey, Mom. I'm meeting up with the guys. Jen and her friends will be with us. If you need anything, call my cell."

"Okay, honey. Have fun, and remind your sister curfew is still ten o'clock. Summer break doesn't change that." She smiles, and I lean down so she can kiss my cheek.

After a brief nod confirming I heard her, I shut the door behind me and break into a jog towards Embree's house.

"It's not you, it's Parker I don't trust." I finally answer his question, hoping it's enough to explain my reaction without revealing too much.

Parker Lewis is the star wide receiver of Ruby Creek High and one of my closest friends. Or at least he was, before I found out Embree's body was just wrapped around his.

It's a line I need to remind my friends they are not to cross. That, and the fact they should never, ever touch her. Or look at her. Or hell, be anywhere near her.

"Since when?" Ben's voice is low, like he's trying to stay out of Parker's earshot, which I now realize just gives Parker extra unsupervised time with her.

"Can't talk about it now. I'm on my way. Keep him away from Embree...and my sister until I get there." I add Jen to the mix so he won't get suspicious. The last thing I need is for those assholes to know how deep my obsession with Embree runs.

"Fine, whatever."

With my phone tucked back in my pocket, I sprint the rest of the way. The entire time, I'm fuming over the fact Parker had the nerve to pull this shit. He knows better. They all do.

Ever since that day three years ago when I made it clear she was off limits, declaring that if anyone was getting dibs on her, it was going to be me.

I know how messed up that sounds, but hey, I was a stupid fourteen-year-old kid. Embree had just turned thirteen, and I swear to God, she went from looking like my little sister's friend to this beautiful goddess I couldn't stop staring at.

Even then, I knew I couldn't have her. But I'd be damned if I let any of my asshole friends touch her.

She was the daughter of my parents' closest friends and, by default, my sister's best friend. Being only a year older, I was always close to the girls. We shared the same friends, went to the same school, and hung out in the same places. Somewhere along the way, I took on the role of their guardian and protector.

But after that summer, my reasons for staying close became so much more than doing my brotherly duty. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to be around Embree. Her smiles and constant laughter fueled the need I had to make her happy.

Thankfully, Jen was always there to serve as a buffer. An ever-present barrier that kept me from crossing lines I shouldn't cross.

Though I've always kept things platonic, my friends should know that threat still stands. Embree is not to be touched, claimed, or approached by anyone but me.

This incident just proves it's time I remind them of that.

Because regardless of my intentions, the fact remains—none of my knucklehead friends are good enough for her. 

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