Not So Loved (West Coast Campus Book 2)

Chapter 13

Rhys - age 16

I untie my skates, my sweaty pads coming off next.

The change room is hyped up, victory coursing through our blood.

4-0.

"That feels goods!" Our goalie shouts, the whole team throwing helmets in the air for our win tonight.

We've lost to them two years in a row so for us to win is pretty fucking huge.

Coach comes in and gives us a victory talk, something about needing to push it more in the gym and all that bullshit, the many pats on my back making me feel like we're on fire.

I say my goodbyes, a few of the guys disappointed I'm not going back to their house to celebrate but there's only one person I wanna celebrate with tonight.

Yes, I only have my learners but I've seen people driving with a lot less around here so I told Maeve I would pick her up once I'm done so she can come spend the night at my house.

I have a shit eating grin on my face as I walk to my run down Toyota, whistling and everything.

My phone rings in my bag so after searching for it, I see that I have seventy three missed calls from Nova.

No, no, no.

She picks up on the first ring.

"Rhys. I need you to hurry. Please."

That's all she says before she hangs up.

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I've never driven this fast. Never had a reason too but hearing the tremble in Maeve's voice has me in cold sweats.

When I pull up to her trailer, she's sitting on the curb, a backpack slung over her shoulder.

She's in nothing but her favourite nightdress so when I go to help her up, her skin is ice cold, her lips purple and she's shivering buckets.

"Holy shit." I breathe, not knowing how's she's out here in -11 degrees.

I grab her bag and toss it over my own shoulder before I lift her close to my chest, her knees and back secured over my arms like a bride.

One day, I think.

I lay the passenger seat down flat before setting her down with my coat gently placed on top of her. Her lips seem to only be getting bluer and the way she's still shivering that hard concerns me.

I drive like a mad man home, my parents out of town for over two weeks at some resort in Vegas.

I reach over to Maeve who's curled on her side facing me, the heater on full blast. I run my hand up her legs, trying to warm her up as fast as I can while driving but eventually I have to pull my hand away because her skin is so cold.

"Maeve? What the hell happened?" My jaw click. It hurts me to see her like this.

Her teeth shatter loudly before she clamps down. "He-he kicked me-me out."

I almost drive off the road but somehow manage to stay concentrated.

"And why the fuck would he kick his sixteen year old daughter out?" My knuckles turn white on the stirring wheel.

She sighs, her eyes drooping shut. Anyone else would probably get mad that she sleeps all the time but I know the reason she sleeps so much with me is because she feels safe.