The Revenge Pact (Kings of Football, #1)

by Ilsa Madden-Mills

First, there’s River Tate, the popular frat boy. He’s supposed to be a superstar wide receiver but dropped more passes than he caught.

Next is Crew Smith, the protective one. Once an NFL hopeful, he now holds the record for the most interceptions in a season for a quarterback.

And rounding out the trifecta of crap is Hollis Hudson, the mysterious tight end who keeps everything locked down. He couldn’t ru...

Like it always does, a tingle of electricity zips over me, knowing I’ll be close, but not too close. Can’t touch her, but… Five rows in front of me, she will be there. Rainbow Girl. Hair like spun silk. Green eyes. Lush mouth. Short skirts. Banging body. Not mine.

She doesn’t belong to me. She loves him. My friend. My frat brother.

There’s only one person in the world who makes the hair on my nape rise. Him. And by him, I mean that egotistical bad boy who thinks he’s God’s gift. River Tate—AKA Perfect Guy from the night I met Donovan.

“River doesn’t think I’m good enough for the frat,” I say. Yeah, my tightrope walker is back, teetering. “He ignores me, snubs me, and basically pretends I don’t exist.” River’s eyes fly to me. “I never said you weren’t good enough—”

“Ever noticed his eyes? What is up with that color? It’s not blue, not gray, but something in between. Like dove feathers touching the sky. They darken to molten silver when he’s emotional.”

“I hate you?” “Mhmm. I’m a tool. And cramps. And an unsalted pretzel. That one made me laugh about ten times today. I went to the snack spot in the student center and bought one in honor of you.”

LOL

Harper isn’t Anastasia. She’s a blank piece of paper; Anastasia is poetry on the paper.

Swoon

“That night, in the library, I’d have bet a hundred bucks you’d be the one waiting for me. I know, it’s weird, but when you came over and dropped your pen, I don’t know, I thought we had this moment…” She stares down at her lap. “Obviously, I was wrong.”

Her voice is soft. “New day. New beginning. Life’s full of possibilities in this moment. It’s a fresh start. It’s like a book when you open it to page one. Can you feel it?” Rainbow… I feel everything.

“Be a football star. Live your best life. Take chances and have no regrets. Those are my three things for you on this new day,” she says, her face tilting up to me. Her hand squeezes mine. My voice is husky. “You stay gold, Anastasia, breathe every breath, read all the books, get into law school, fuck the haters, and stay beautiful. Six things for you because you deserve them all.”

“You took me to the sunrise. I bring you the stars.”

Everything is my fault. I started their relationship; I helped end it.

When she kisses me, the world disappears. Yeah? When I kiss her, the world explodes.

“She calls me Snake.” “What do you call her?” My chest clenches. “Rainbow.” I sigh. “The what-ifs and should-haves are eating me up. She knows I authored that note.”

“He isn’t the person I’m meant to be with.” He looks away from me for a moment then comes back to me. “Okay.” “It’s you, River, it’s you,” I say softly. “Okay.”

“You’re mine, Anastasia. I can’t let you go. I did once.”

“Rainbow, I love you,” he says in a quiet voice. “Crazy. Insane. Like can’t get you out of my head since that night in the library. It all happened so fast, and I was looking out for Donovan…then you showed up in my bedroom, and I figured out your name, and I knew I’d fucked up. Watching you with him nearly killed me, it did, and I pushed through, but that’s done. You, you…slay me, baby girl.”

“No regrets, River. I’d take one day with you over a million days with anyone else.”

“It will always end with you,” I reply, studying her face. “I’ll wait.”

“Eyes on me, baby. Never look away. All those days I spent trying to not look at you, I want it all now.” I push and slide in deeper, pivoting my hips to twist inside her.

when you like a flower, you pluck it. When you love a flower, you water it daily, hold it close, tell it your secrets, and watch it bloom and grow strong. You grow strong with it.”

Anastasia, I wake up every day and my first thought is, I wonder what skirt you’re wearing. Then, I go to sleep and dream of you. Happy times we’ll have. They’ll come true someday. My three things for you today: live with no regrets; breathe, baby, just breathe; and like your mom said, a jug fills drop by drop, and soon ours will be full. It just takes time. Don’t give up on us. I feel you. Even from here, I feel you, and I love you.

“My mom said this thing about a flower, and keeping it watered, and I know that’s confusing, you’ll have to meet her to get it, but I’m wilting without him. I miss him, love him, we only had one night, and I thought I could live on that for a few months, just wait and see, but I can’t, and even then, who the heck knows where he’ll be, and I don’t care where he is really, any city will do. I always wanted a home, but home is him and wherever he is. I’m not going back to Braxton…” I stop and wipe the tears I can’t stop from coming.

A love like ours only comes around once. It’s soulful, consuming, and meant to last.

“You’re my air, baby girl,” I whisper. “I’m gonna love you forever.” Her eyes hold mine. “Forever.” When the doors open on the sixth floor, she’s still in my arms…