Like Gravity: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Redwood High Book 1) Read online

  “How was your first day at Redwood?” Val asks, as if she doesn’t have a clue. Val is the owner of my new home, but she’s also the senior English Lit teacher. I’m sure she hears all the gossip from her baby boy.

  “As good as a first day can be,” I say, opening the refrigerator and pulling out a jug of milk. Taking the top off, I tip it back and take a swig. I can feel a glare at the back of my head and grin at my success in pissing off the members of this household.

  “Don’t put that shit back in there,” Knox says, as he snatches the jug out of my hand and begins dumping it down the drain.

  “Language,” Val hisses in his direction.

  “Yes, language.” I rip open a nutty bar and stuff half of it in my mouth, tossing the wrapper on the counter.

  “Jasper, if you could please use a glass from now on, we’d all appreciate it.” Val says subtly. “Are you boys ready for the big game Friday?”

  “No!” “Yes!” We blurt at the same time.

  “Should be a good game,” Knox continues, “revenge will be sweet when we take back the bell from the Wildcats.” He looks to me, and I know he’s shooting to get a rise out of me, and it’s working.

  “You better hope I don’t get in that game; I’d throw the whole thing just to watch you losers go down in shame... on your homecoming night, nonetheless.”

  Val and Knox both look at each other, having what seems to be an unspoken conversation. I know what they’re saying without even hearing it. What an ass.

  I walk up to my bedroom that is three times the size of my old one. I’d still give up the luxury of a nice house in a nice neighborhood to be back in Las Verdes with the boys I grew up with. Yet, here we are, Dad lovestruck and me coming along for the ride. Regardless of my hatred for this move, Dad is my number one in life. He’s my only constant, and he’s the one person who always has my back when everyone else would rather watch me fall, laughing their asses off in the process.

  I grab some clean clothes and head for the bathroom to clean off the sweat and dirt from today’s practice. I won’t ever admit it to the Ravens, but they have a strong team. And, like the Wildcats, they are loyal as fuck. No one is treated as an outsider; every player is a part of the team. To my surprise, they were pretty welcoming when I switched schools.

  As I round the corner to the bathroom, I feel the weight of another body crash into mine. Her warm skin pressed against mine as I extend my arms to brace her.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I look around, wondering if more girls will be popping out into the hallway.

  “I happen to be here a lot, so get used to it.” She bends down and picks up the t-shirt I didn’t notice I dropped.

  Knox comes trudging down the hallway like a fucking mama bear. “Is he giving you shit, Blakely?”

  I look to Blakely with my head cocked to the side and await her response. Even if I wasn’t giving her shit, not yet anyways, it wouldn’t surprise me if she tried to stir the pot with me and her boyfriend.

  “Nope, everything is good.” She slams the shirt into my chest. I let out an exaggerated groan and then smirk behind their backs as they walk away.

  This girl is going to be trouble.

  I step onto the cold tiled floor of the bathroom and crank the hot water. I toss my clothes to the floor and step in, the hot water relaxing my aching bones.

  Today wasn’t a total bust. It’s not easy coming to a new school a couple of months into the school year, especially when your dad is the new head coach of the football team and everyone assumes that you only got a spot for that very reason. No one has said anything, but I know that’s how I’d feel if I was on the other end.

  Dad started at the beginning of the season when they were desperate for a new head coach. I wasn’t too keen on the idea since the Wildcats and Ravens have always been big rivals. But Val, being a teacher at the school and Dad's girlfriend, convinced him, begged him rather, to take the position.

  He’s always been passionate about football, so I’m happy for him. As happy as I can be.

  I tilt my head back after washing up and let the water roll off my skin. Closing my eyes and taking in the silence.

  When I hear laughter coming from the hallway, I turn the shower off and step out. Looking around the bathroom for a towel.

  Damnit, don’t tell me there are no towels in this room.

  I open every cabinet door.

  Toilet paper, shampoo bottles, air freshener.

  All of this shit and not a single towel.

  I grab my clean t-shirt, cover up my junk, and with water dripping from my naked ass, I crack open the door. I look both ways down the hallway when I hear a girl’s laugh, Blakely, I assume.

  She’s capable of laughter, who’d have thought?

  “Knox,” I yell, not having any other options.

  He doesn’t answer.

  “Knox,” I shout louder, knowing that he’s on this floor.

  He and Blakely both poke their heads around the corner. There’s a disturbed look on his face as Blakely bites back a smile.

  “Towels?” I raise my brows.

  “Closet at the end.” He looks past me at the door at the end of the hallway. Then that little fucker walks away.

  And she follows him.

  “Damnit, Knox. Could you get me one?” I shout even louder, knowing that he’s gaining distance between us.

  That little shit.

  I wait until I hear footsteps on the stairs before I sneak out in the hallway and down to the closet.

  I grab a towel with my free hand with the other still gripping the shirt that covers my dick. As fast as I went out, I go back in.

  These next few months are going to be torture if this guy doesn’t learn to cope with the fact that I’m living here, whether he likes it or not.

  I already don’t like him. Not for any particular reason, other than the fact that Dad talks about him like he’s a fucking saint. The golden boy. The son who Dad wants me to be. He’s got it all. Maybe it's envy, but I’ll never tell him that.

  Chapter Three

  Blakely

  The week flew by as quickly as I’d hoped it would. Homecoming weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year. This year, it’s extra special because it’s my last. It’s also the night that I’ll be crowned homecoming queen. Something I’ve wanted ever since I knew what a homecoming queen was.

  Mom used to stick me in pageants when I was a kid, and we were always extremely competitive, it’s sort of our nature. She’s groomed me that way. Leading me to believe that the opinions of others is what is most important.

  Knox and I spent more time at my house this week since he’s been trying to steer clear of his delightful new housemate.

  Those two guys have it out for each other. Constantly stepping on each other’s toes. Butting heads and cracking jokes at the other’s expense. I sense that it’s a dominance thing. This is Knox’s territory, and Jasper is intruding on it.

  “Don’t forget, we need our book today.” Knox taps his pencil against my locker as he waits for me.

  “I didn’t forget, I just can’t find it.”

  He taps the pencil louder and faster. “Ready?”

  “No, I’m not ready. I can’t find my damn Greek History book.” I toss a couple of stray papers behind me as I rummage through my locker.

  “Maybe if you’d clean this locker once in a while, you’d be able to find what you’re looking for.” He picks up the papers as I toss more out, stacking them neatly in a pile and grabbing all of the others that lie in the bottom.

  “I’m happy you want to organize all of my stuff right now, but I need my book.” I drop my shoulders and give up. “It’s not here.” I snatch the papers from his hands and toss them back inside before closing the door.

  “I’m sure you left it at home. We probably don’t even need them today. C’mon, we’re gonna be late for class.”

  The halls have emptied, and Knox is moving at full speed. If there is one
thing that he hates more than a bad grade, it’s being late.

  “Hurry up, you heard Mrs. Tate on Monday. One more tardy and you get lunch detention.”

  “Shit, you’re right.” I pick up my pace into a full-on run, sprinting past Knox.

  Just as I turn the corner and the classroom is in sight, the bell rings.

  I release a drawn out sigh and shake my head as Knox holds the door open for me.

  “Sit down, now!” Mrs. Tate growls at two students, Jasper and Levi, who are having some sort of outburst.

  I try and snake through the desks to sit down without her noticing I was late, but her eyes skim over me as I sit down.

  Busted.

  Levi takes a seat but continues with his banter, “That’s what your mama said.”

  I’m not even sure what I’m walking into, but this isn’t good. Knox shoots up as his desk screeches across the hard floor. In the blink of an eye, he’s at Jasper’s side, as if he knew what was coming.

  Jasper charges toward Levi with a death stare in his eyes.

  Knox grabs ahold of him just in time, but Jasper fights to free himself. My heart is hammering in my chest.

  Axel joins them and says something to Jasper that calms him slightly. At least, enough to get him to sit back down. But he’s fuming.

  “Jasper, principal’s office. Now!” Mrs. Tate bellows. “And, Blakely. You get lunch detention.”

  I sink back into my seat.

  This is just fucking wonderful.

  I slide into my seat at lunch detention with some paper and a pencil and open up the brown bagged lunch that they so graciously supply us with. One look inside at the tuna sandwich and I fold the bag back up.

  The room is so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. And, now it holds the stench of tuna.

  “If you’re not gonna eat that, I will.”

  That voice again.

  I look over and see Jasper slouching down into the seat he just took, right next to me. He could have had the decency to sit on the other side of the room.

  His long legs are stretched out under the desk. He tosses his books on top and opens up his lunch bag, pulling out a carton of milk. He opens the entire top and drinks it in one swallow.

  I roll my eyes and look down at my closed notebook.

  There is only one other student in here. I’m pretty sure she’s a senior, but I don’t see her around much. This may be why.

  The detention aide walks in quietly and sits down with a book. “Eat your lunch and find something quiet to do, kids.” She opens her romance novel and takes a seat behind her desk.

  “Seriously,” Jasper whispers, “You gonna eat that?” He eyeballs my lunch while he’s already scarfing down his.

  I raise a brow and roll my eyes. Then I grab the bag and toss it at him. “Enjoy.”

  I’ve always wondered how men can have the appetite of a horse yet maintain the body of a Greek god. I eat one piece of cake, and my stomach bloats out like a balloon.

  “Why were you late today?” He asks, as he chews up his food. It’s pretty disgusting, actually.

  “I couldn’t find my textbook. Not that it’s any of your business.” I speak with my eyes down on the blank paper in front of me.

  “Oh, right.” He opens up his bag that sits on the floor at his feet. “I forgot to give this to you.”

  “My book. You had it this whole time?” I snatch it away and set it on the desk. “I’m in here because of this.”

  “You left it behind when we went through the outline of the assignment in the cafeteria. You’re welcome.”

  “You expect me to thank you?” I turn to face him. “That was three days ago.”

  “I forgot.” He shrugs, “It’s just lunch detention. No big deal.”

  “No big deal for you. I actually have friends here who I like to sit with at lunch.”

  “Not today, sweetheart.” He takes another bite of my… his tuna sandwich, grinning as he swallows his bite.

  I twist my face in displeasure, almost gagging at the smell.

  He sticks the sandwich out, offering me a bite.

  “Ew, no.” I retort, backing away.

  He lets out a pent-up laugh.

  Definitely pleased with himself.

  He’s either terrible at flirting or he’s trying to get to me. I prefer the latter. He can try all he wants; I won’t give him the reaction he’s looking for.

  “Lighten up Ms. Priss. It’s just food. Don’t you eat?”

  I don’t even humor him with a response. I begin drawing on the blank paper.

  That doesn’t mean he stops, though.

  “Whatcha drawing?” He leans over.

  “Will you leave me alone?” I snap, tossing my pencil down and covering my paper with the notebook that I thought I’d lost.

  “Damn, stuck up much, Queen B?” He mumbles, but I hear him. Loud and clear.

  I quickly gather up my stuff and glare at him as I walk over to the other side of the room, taking a seat far away from him. I’m not sure why I let this guy get to me, but he sure as hell does.

  Chapter Four

  Jasper

  Dad pokes his head around the corner. “Jasper, I’m gonna need you in uniform and downstairs in five.”

  Having your dad as the coach has its advantages. If I want any shot at a scholarship, I have to play these last couple of games. The UCLA Bruins recruiter was scouting me at LV before I got expelled. Dad is hopeful he will make an appearance before the season ends. I just hope he’s right; I need this scholarship like I need air. It’s my only shot at any kind of future. I’m not nearly as fortunate as most of the kids in this town who have trust funds and vehicles worth more than a house.

  “Dad, no pictures, please. It’s ridiculous.”

  “Just a couple of you and Knox before the parade. That’s all I ask. Sticks in a bundle, remember?”

  “Fine,” I mutter. “But don’t expect me to smile.”

  When Dad leaves, I shuffle through the boxes and pull out the picture frame of the three of us, setting it on my nightstand. Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. It’s always been our family motto, but when one of our sticks broke, we weakened. I made a promise to myself that I’d be the glue that held this family together—the strength that Dad and I both needed. We are just fine on our own, we don’t need anyone else in our bunch. Apparently, Dad thinks otherwise. I stuff the frame back in the box and shove it away.

  I throw on my uniform and grab my gear, before heading downstairs, but stop at the top of the steps when I see the backside of a blonde--Knox’s girlfriend. Her hair is curled, meeting at the middle of her back and a black and purple skirt sits just below her ass. She must be a cheerleader. Of course, this loser would get himself a hot little number.

  “Jasper, come join us. Val is just taking some pictures.” Dad says. Who is this man and what has he done with my father?

  The blonde turns around and it’s none other than Queen B, looking sexy as hell in her uniform. If I had known she was dating Knox, I would have given her hell for it. Oh well, there’s always next time.

  “I’ll just sit this one out.” I flop down onto the couch and kick my feet up on the marble coffee table in front of me.

  “Get up.” Dad knocks my feet off the table.

  I stand up with my hands draped at my side. “Ok, take a picture.”

  “Don’t start your shit,” Dad whispers in my ear, as he walks around me and to the side of his future fiancée. Dad told me last night that he wants to propose to Val. He realized exactly how I felt real quick when my fist met the door of my old bedroom.

  “Whatever, let’s get this over with.” I walk over to B and Knox, positioning myself in between them, plastering the biggest, fakest grin on my face. I swing my arms over their shoulders. It’s all for show, but it pleases Dad and Val.

  “Ok, that’s enough.”

  “One more of just you and Knox,” Val insists.

  I inhale deeply and stand next to the boy who is about
two inches shorter than I am. He’s not a string bean, I’ll give him that. He’s got some muscle on him, but I know that I could take him down if it ever came to it.

  I force a half smile and they snap a couple pics. “Ok, can we go already?”

  “Yes, thank you all for putting up with my need to take pictures of every occasion.” Val chuckles.

  “Ahh, one more,” Queen B chimes in. “But I want mine outside.”

  “Nope, I’m done,” I say, as I head for the door.

  “Good, because I didn’t want one of you,” she snickers and turns her attention back to Knox, her tone shifting from callous to chipper, “Just one of you.”

  I didn’t want the damn picture anyway. I grab my bag of gear off the floor and slam the door shut behind me, just as they make their way toward it.

  If I hadn’t agreed to riding with Dad then I'd be well on my way at this point. These people sicken me with all their cheerfulness.

  “Who rained on your parade?” Blakely muses.

  I lean against Dad’s work truck and cross my arms at my chest, hiding the shame of the Redwood Ravens smeared all over my body.

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t rain on your parade because that fake shit all over your face might end up in a puddle on your pretty little uniform.”

  “What’s with you?” She prances toward me, “You think that you can just stroll into my town and spit your negativity all over the damn place?”

  “You’re something else,” I say, followed by half-suppressed laughter. “I’ve been nothing but kind to you, yet you seem to have made me your target. Well, bring it on, baby.” I curl my fingers and direct them at myself.

  “I don’t look for targets, they find me and I shoot them down,” she snaps. “Oh, and if I hear that you have been anything but kind to Knox, I won’t miss the bullseye.” She turns to walk away, slapping me with her golden locks, but swings back for one more jab. “By the way, that jersey looks good on you.” Her eyes shoot over my shoulder.

  I turn around and see a guy walking toward us.

  “Hey sis, can I catch a ride to the parade? I don’t wanna drive tonight.” He looks from B to me. I can see the resemblance, the same blue eyes. Only, he has darker hair. The scowl he’s giving me tells me that they have more similarities than just their physical appearance.