Chasing Castles (Finding Focus #2) Read Free

over her shoulder and then flipping us the bird. Pausing, she turns back and yells, “I’d stay away from those Johnson sisters if I were you. They’re walking STDs!”
    Tucker chuckles and I take the opportunity to push him away from me, hoping he’ll fall flat on his ass. No such luck, though. He catches himself and runs his fingers through his hair before looking at me like I’m crazy.
    “What the hell was that for?”
    “For being a jackass, that’s what.”
    “All I did was stand up for you to Marcy Bernard. What did you expect me to do, stand around and let you two fight over Deacon?”
    “You didn’t have to do anything, Tucker. Stop trying to protect me and fight my battles. I can take care of myself!”
    “As long as I’m around, I’ll always come to your defense. I’m your big brother. It’s my job,” he says, throwing an arm around my shoulder, but I shrug it off.
    “I gotta go find Stacey.”
    “Fine,” he says, still smirking at me and my lack of appreciation. “I’ll see you after the game. Try to rein it in, Mohammad Ali.”
    I groan and roll my eyes before walking away.
    When I get closer to the steps leading up to the bleachers, I see Stacey still standing by the concessions stand with our snacks, talking to some boys, so I motion to her that I’m going to our seats. She quickly says her goodbyes and catches up to me.
    “You okay?”
    “Fine. I’m just annoyed at Tucker.”
    She raises her eyebrows and takes a drink of her Coke as we start making our way through the crowd.
    We find seats close to the top of the bleachers, right by the press box, that aren’t very crowded yet and sit down. I like watching the game from up here. It’s far away from gossiping girls who only come to the game to talk about which player has the biggest package and who’s seen it in person.
    “Well, I think it’s sweet that Tucker stepped in and helped you. He’s such a great brother,” Stacey says.
    She’s never been subtle about her crush on Tucker.
    “I know he means well. I just wish he’d mind his own business.”
    The truth is, he is a great brother, but it’s like he tries to be a second parent to me just because we don’t have a mom anymore, and it pisses me off.
    And hearing how he feels about the idea of Deacon and me liking each other makes my stomach hurt. I can’t wait to graduate and get out of here. I want to live my life for me, not for my dad or my brother or anyone else.
    Even if that means being away from Deacon.
    That’s how badly I want just to be Cami. Not Tucker’s little sister or the late Jessie Benoit’s daughter.
    Just Cami.
    I watch in rapt attention as Deacon commands the field. He makes solid passes, and his offensive line is doing a great job of keeping him protected. The only part I hate about watching Deacon play football is the worry that creeps in from time to time. Those boys are out for blood. I’ve watched some nasty sacks over the years, but Deacon always brushes them off and gets back in there, ready to make them pay.
    After another solid victory by the French Settlement Wildcats, Stacey and I meet Tucker and Micah in the parking lot so we can catch a ride to the after-game party at the Crawford’s. I wish Deacon were riding with us, but he has all that post-game wrap-up stuff and his truck to drive.
    “So, Micah, does it suck being on the junior varsity team while your big brother is a star on varsity?” Stacey asks as we make our way out of the crowded gravel parking lot and onto the country road that leads to Byron’s house.
    Micah is a sophomore like me, and I know he hates when people compare him to his brother; not because he hates his brother, but because as much as people try to create a competition between the two of them, there’s never been anything but love. I think everyone in town expected Micah to follow in Deacon’s footsteps and play varsity right off the bat. He’s certainly good enough, but he didn’t want Deacon breathing