Taking the Handoff Read online

  Copyright © 2021 by Cadence Keys

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblances to actual people, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales are entirely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference.

  Editors: Happily Editing Anns

  Cover Design: Kate Farlow, Y’all. That Graphic

  Created with Vellum

  For all those who were the weird kid when they were little. This one’s for you.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Also by Cadence Keys

  One

  “No.”

  “Drew…”

  “No, absolutely not.”

  I stare at my brother while he looks around my brand-new apartment in the MacArthur Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. When I researched places to live within my budget a month ago, I stumbled on this modern apartment complex painted a ceramic red. The pictures showed a clean, albeit small studio right near the park. I fell in love with the idea of living here, and after a couple of other searches, I decided to rent out this apartment before someone else snatched it up. It was an exciting new prospect.

  Unfortunately, I can understand my overprotective older brother’s dismay, because the room we’re standing in looks nothing like the pictures online. The walls are stained, the floors are dirty, and the building itself has a vibe that makes you question whether it’s safe or not.

  But I’ve come this far. I’m not giving up on my dream now, and this apartment is the first step in making my music dreams come true.

  “It’s not that bad…”

  Drew throws me a get real look, and I turn back to the room before us.

  Okay, it is that bad, but at least the neighborhood looks decent, even if the few people we’ve seen seem a little standoffish. But I’m used to that. I come from Seattle, where out-of-towners have aptly named our friendliness the Seattle Freeze because we’re so cold to people we don’t know. It’s sad, but true.

  You know what? It’s fine. This is just a small hiccup. It doesn’t change my plans, and hopefully I won’t have to live here long, but I do have to live here because it’s all I can afford. My parents refused to help because they think I’m chasing after a silly dream that will never make me a living. Truth is, I don’t want their money. I don’t want their judgment to taint this experience for me. I know they’ll never approve of my dreams, so it’s more important to me than ever that I do all this on my own.

  I was desperate to get out of Seattle and away from my overbearing parents. They might not be so judgy if I was a lawyer like my brother or using my expensive business degree the way it was intended, but I’m not. I’m a singer. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really loved to do. I went to college and got a degree in business, but I felt like I was dying the entire time.

  Maybe that’s dramatic, but it’s the truth.

  I have no idea where my creative gene came from because my parents, Mark and Patricia Delaney, don’t have a creative bone in their bodies. They’re clinical, methodical, and disciplined. It’s what makes them such great doctors—my dad an award-winning pediatric surgeon, who discovered a new technique for repairing atrial septal defects in children, and my mom a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. They were thrilled to have a son who thought similarly to them, even if he chose to practice law instead of medicine. Unfortunately, four years after Drew was born, they were gifted with me, their constant disappointment.

  I was the weird kid who put on a “circus” performance on the playground jungle gym pretending I was some Cirque du Soleil prodigy. Really, I was just sliding down the sloped parallel bars with my hands out and thinking I looked cool because I switched sides while doing it. I had very few friends and probably would’ve been plagued by constant bullies if it weren’t for Drew and his best friend, Luke Carter.

  The thought of Luke awakens butterflies in my stomach that I immediately push aside, opting not to revisit my lifelong crush when there are more important things to worry about.

  I look around my studio apartment, and a spark of creativity zings through my veins as I see all the possibilities of this space come to life in my head. It may be small and not nearly as clean as the listing claimed, but it’s mine and it’s a blank slate ready to be turned into something new and vibrant. A trip to Target and I’ll have this place looking new and homey in no time.

  The steady beats of a new song start in the back of my mind, and I quickly dig in my purse for the notebook I keep for moments just like this. I jot down the few lines that started repeating in my head moments ago before tucking it back in my purse.

  I look up to see Drew staring at me, a small smile on his face.

  “Did this hellhole inspire you?”

  I roll my eyes at his exaggeration. It’s not a hellhole. It’s not nice, or as posh as he’s used to, but it’s mine and I’ll make it into my own little oasis. I don’t see any signs of rodents, so that’s a plus.

  “You can’t honestly believe I’m going to let you live here, Emma.”

  “Of course you are because it’s not up to you. I’m the one paying the rent. Don’t stress about it, D. It’ll be fine. I’ll spruce it up, and it’ll look cute in no time.”

  He shakes his head. “You’re so determined to make this work that you’re willing to live in this shit stain of an apartment?”

  “Can you please stop talking about my new home like that? It’s got potential. And it’s in my budget. It’ll be fine.”

  It has to be fine. I don’t have a backup plan, and singing is the only thing that’s ever given me true joy and happiness. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career, and I’m not going to let my overprotective brother stand in my way, even if a small part of me worries he might be right about this apartment. I know he means well. He’s always looked out for me and been my biggest supporter. He always stood up for me to our parents, especially when I didn’t have the strength to do it myself, and he pushed me to pursue this crazy dream of mine. He’s the closest thing to a best friend I’ve ever had, and he knows how important this move is to me.

  Drew sees my resolve and then shakes his head in disbelief. “I’m gonna step o
utside. I’ve got to make a call.”

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “You’re not calling Mom and Dad, are you?”

  He must hear the hint of worry in my tone because his expression softens, and he shakes his head before coming over and placing his hands on my shoulders. “I’m not calling Mom and Dad. I promise. Don’t worry about them. They’ll come around someday. Keep following your dreams, Squish. You know I’ve always got your back when it comes to them, right?”

  I nod and fight back the tears I feel burning behind my eyes. I will not cry, even if my brother’s words soothe the ever-present worry that I will always be a disappointment to my parents. At least I’ll always have Drew.

  Two

  “I may need your help with Emma.”

  I chuckle softly. “What did she get herself into this time?”

  My best friend, Drew Delaney, sighs loudly and says, “Dude, if you saw this apartment, you’d understand. It’s in MacArthur Park, and it’s a dump. I got a bad vibe about the place.”

  Why does it not surprise me that little Emma Delaney accidentally rented an apartment in an area of town she has no business being in? Especially not living alone.

  Emma has always marched to the beat of her own weird little drum. Her flaming red hair, face overrun with freckles, multi-colored glasses, and the braces she got when she was thirteen all made her stand out—unfortunately not in a good way. She was constantly getting teased, although Drew and I did our best to block the insults from ever reaching her. She got enough shit from her parents; she didn’t need it from the kids at school. Kids can be brutal, and they rarely know the lifelong damage their thoughtless insults can cause. Both Drew and I wanted to shield her from that as much as possible.

  I’ve known Drew my whole life. We grew up as neighbors in an affluent part of Seattle. He’s my brother in all the ways that matter and my found family, especially since my own parents have always been too busy rubbing elbows with the rich and powerful for their own selfish gains to really be tender, loving parents. As much as I care about my parents, they only had a kid because it was socially expected. Drew was my saving grace during their tumultuous marriage and their bitter, nasty divorce. He’s my ride or die and the one person who knows me better than anyone else.

  Unlike Emma, bullying wasn’t something Drew and I ever had to contend with. We were both popular jocks. Drew in basketball, me in football. Since Drew was practically my family, I didn’t hesitate for a second when he asked me to help him guard his little sister from the nasty insults floating around about her. But we could only do so much since we were four years older than she was. Drew told me more than once how worried he was for her in high school. Not only did she have to deal with mean, punk-ass rich kids, but she also had to go home to two parents who nitpicked her constantly.

  It’s been five years since I last saw Emma. She was studying abroad the last time I was home for any length of time. And since the blowout fight with my dad, I haven’t been back unless it was to play the Seahawks. Drew comes down to LA a couple of times a year when it works with my schedule, and we also take a yearly boys’ trip somewhere and catch up on whatever we’ve missed through phone calls and texts.

  “So, what do you need from me?” I ask him.

  His voice gets quiet like he doesn’t want to be overheard. “I’m not sure yet. You know how stubborn Emma can be. I can’t tell her what to do, or she’ll stay put just to prove me wrong. But she can’t stay here. I’d love to have a backup plan ready for her if this goes south.”

  “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

  “Do you think if she agrees, she could stay with you just until she finds another place and gets her feet under her here in LA?”

  My back stiffens. I haven’t had a roommate since Drew and I lived together during our four years at the University of Washington. I’m not exactly eager to have someone else in the one place that has become my sanctuary. I like my private time away from the spotlight to reset from the crazy life I sometimes live. But this is Drew. I would do anything for him, just like he’d do anything for me. I know he wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, so despite my hesitation, I reply, “Yeah, as long as it’s just temporary.”

  “It definitely would be. Emma’s not going to like relying on you for a place to stay for long. Plus, she already has a waitressing job lined up, so it’s just a matter of finding a different apartment that fits within her budget.”

  “Okay, then yeah. Just give me a call if she decides the apartment won’t work out.”

  “I will. You’re the best, man.”

  “Don’t you forget it,” I say with a laugh. “Hey, since you’re in town, you wanna grab some dinner before you head back to Seattle?”

  “That’d be great. Let me get Emma settled in her place. Maybe you can distract me from the fact I’m leaving my sister in this dump.”

  We agree on a time and place and say goodbye.

  * * *

  “You’re shitting me.”

  I shake my head, stifling a laugh as I sip my beer. “Nope. Although I wish I was. She was hot. I really wish she had passed the gold-digger test.”

  Drew shakes his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe she did that. I mean, I know it was a lie you told her to test her, but to go to the press claiming you have a secret baby with your high school science teacher is insane. How could she honestly think that was true?”

  “I was very convincing.”

  He leans forward, his elbows resting on the edge of the table. “Does it ever get exhausting not knowing who to trust? I mean, when you first got drafted, I thought you had it made. You had these smoke shows tripping over themselves to get in your bed, but not a single one has turned out to be legit.”

  I shrug. “I think it just comes with the territory.”

  “But don’t you miss having a real relationship? When’s the last time you even trusted a woman enough to invite her to your house?”

  “It’s been a long time.”

  Don’t get me wrong, I love my life. I have a kick-ass house in Los Angeles. I’m a running back for the greatest football team in the NFL, and I get to make a living playing a game I love every day. It’s a great life. And truthfully, I haven’t believed in love in a long time, so not having a real relationship hasn’t bothered me the way I know it would bother Drew.

  The first time I questioned if love was real was when I was a kid and found out my dad was a serial cheater and the main reason behind my mom’s unhealthy gin consumption. My parents used to spout how much they loved each other in front of their similarly miserable friends, but behind closed doors it was all cutting remarks and screaming matches that left me wishing they’d just get a divorce already. I got my wish when my dad put his dick in my mom’s best friend, and they became the scandal of our country club. My mom had been able to brush aside the waitresses on business trips and the nannies that she could let go for other reasons, but she couldn’t brush it under the rug when it was such a public offense within their own social circle.

  So, she divorced him and then married her divorce attorney, whose wealth almost rivaled my dad’s. She got to keep the cushy life she was accustomed to and save face in front of her socialite friends. I thought that would make things easier, but instead my parents found ways to tear each other down through me. I became a pawn in their games against each other and quickly realized love wasn’t real. You don’t treat someone you love that way, whether it’s your spouse or your kid. That’s not love. I’m not sure what love is, but it sure as shit isn’t that.

  If it weren’t for Drew, I’m not even sure I’d understand loyalty, but whenever things got extra shitty with my parents, I’d go to his house, and he’d let me vent or rage or just distract me with video games. He’s been my saving grace in more ways than one. I owe him more than I could ever repay. Who knows what kind of asshole I would’ve turned into if I didn’t have his friendship to keep me sane
and grounded.

  Knowing where my mind has wandered off to, Drew asks, “Is your mom still hassling you about talking to your dad?”

  My thumbs brush aside the condensation on the glass. “Yeah.”

  “Are you ever going to tell her the truth about what happened, so she’ll lay off?”

  “No.”

  And that’s the other reason I stopped believing in love. Four years ago, I was sure I’d met the woman I was going to marry. Anna was bright and bubbly. She got along with the other wives and girlfriends of my teammates. She loved being at home just as much as she loved going out and celebrating with me and the guys. I was ready to propose, which was one of the reasons I brought her home to Seattle for Christmas. My dad was throwing a huge party at his mansion on Lake Washington like he usually does. Everyone from his country club and his office was there. Drew was even there with his parents.

  At some point, Anna excused herself to use the restroom. I stayed and chatted with Drew until the caterer asked me if I knew where my dad was. His house is huge, but I knew if he wasn’t in the main room with all his guests, there were only about two or three other places he was likely to be. With the caterer on my heels, we went in search of my father. The first room turned up empty. The second room had a guest from my dad’s office on his cell phone. I moved to the last location thinking third time’s a charm, and when I opened the door, I not only found my dad, with his pants around his ankles, but I found Anna on her knees with his dick in her mouth.