Wrong Side: An Enemies-to-Lovers Sports Romance (The Bad Boys of Penwood Book 1) Read online

  Wrong Side

  HJ Bellus

  Wrong Side

  Copyright © 2022 by H.J. Bellus

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Designer: Shower of Schmidt Designs

  Proofreader: Virginia Tesi Carey

  Editor: Briggs Consulting

  Formatting: Small Town Girl Books (HJ Bellus)

  PR Team: HEA PR & More

  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

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Dedication: You'll never know love until you've been truly loved.

  1

  Sadie

  "Mercedes Diamond Alexander."

  I whirl around to face my mother in her pencil skirt, pearls, and hair pinned back. It makes my stomach flip in disgust because she has me dressed the same exact way. She prances down the elegant steps of our home toward me. It's not a home if I'm being honest. It's a mansion, their trophy showcasing their prestige while masking all their sins.

  "Now, remember to check in once a week, but not on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays; as you know, I have prior commitments that can't be interrupted." She reaches out, straightening the collar on my suffocating button-up white shirt.

  "I will, Mother." I force a smile on my face.

  "Now, don't use that tone with me and straighten your shoulders." She pinches her brows together. "It's taken a lot for your father and me to let you attend Penwood University when Harvard accepted you. Yale? The list goes on."

  I nod, forcing my tongue to soothe a kind tone. "I know, Mother. You have no idea how thankful I am to be able to follow my dreams."

  She scoffs, folding her arms and tapping her finger on her chin. "Art. Don't even get me started on that worthless career. You are so smart and could achieve so much if you'd lose this silly dream."

  I nod once again. I learned a long time ago it doesn't do any good to reason with her or my father. It always turns into one massive argument where they are the victors who belittle me with their sharp and nasty words.

  "And for God's sake, if I find out that you're not wearing your contacts and instead, those god-awful glasses, there will be consequences."

  "Okay, Mother."

  "It's bad enough that the surgeries we paid for couldn't even fix your vision."

  I nod, knowing far too well everything they've done for me. She acts like it's a bone thrown to a dog and I should lap it up.

  She opens her mouth to continue her tirade when a throat clears. We both glance to the stretch limo to see our driver, Harvey, with his always gentle smile on his face.

  "Mrs. Alexander, Miss Alexander, we need to be hitting the road so Mercedes has plenty of daylight to get settled in Penwood."

  "Fine." Mother glances down at her watch. "I have a lunch date at the country club anyway."

  I act without thinking, raising both of my arms offering a hug to my mother. She shakes her head, stepping back.

  "This blouse wrinkles easily. Have a good day, Mercedes." She turns, walking back up the stairs.

  "Is Father around?" I ask, biting down on my bottom lip.

  "No, he has a busy day and couldn't make time." With that, she walks the rest of the way up the stairs and slams the front door of the mansion.

  Even several feet away, I felt that slam straight to the heart. My knees wobble and tears well up in my eyes. I refuse to let them fall. I mastered keeping my emotions in check over the years. The youngest of three who never fit in, from my thick bottle-cap glasses, scrawny figure, and love of painting. I never fit their mold like my older siblings. Jillian and Joshua were carefully carved and sculpted into successful businesspeople who hold powerful positions. But just because they turned out all shiny and perfect doesn't mean they were raised with care and love. Those types of feelings and emotions don't reside in the Alexander mansion.

  "Come on, baby girl." An arm wraps around my shoulder and ushers me to the limo.

  I melt into Harvey's side. "Thank you."

  He opens the door and waits for me to climb in. I feel hollow on a day I should be ecstatic, but once again, my mother burned out that flame of hope.

  Harvey slides in the front and begins driving. I watch the towering castle I grew up in fade away in the distance as I bite at my nails. A terrible habit deemed by Mother. She tried everything to get me to stop, from hot sauce to whippings, and she could and would never understand how it was a direct reflection of the anxiety she planted within me every single day.

  "Sadie." Harvey glances in the rearview mirror.

  "Yeah?"

  "There's a surprise on the seat next to you."

  "Uh?" I glance to my side to see a large black garbage bag. My heart skitters in excitement and my fingers fumble to get it open.

  "How!" A shrill scream comes out as I hug my favorite paint-covered hoodie to my chest.

  "I have my ways." A huge smile covers his face.

  "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me." I continue to dig through the bag. My fingers run over every single piece of my favorite clothing, footwear included.

  Mother went through my room a few days ago and had one of her maids bag up all the clothes I love. When they were done, the only things left were business suits, pencil skirts, blouses, and anything else that resembled money and power in my mother’s eyes.

  "Get on with yourself. No way I'm dropping my girl off at college dressed like that." Harvey rolls up the divider, and I don't waste one second.

  My heart went from frozen to one beating full of life and love. Harvey has always been my best friend. He took me to eye doctor appointments since I was a toddler, snuck me greasy fast food, and always made me feel loved. The poor guy owns every single one of my paintings and often shows me pictures on his cell phone of them hung in his house. He truly is my only family member.

  I tear off the stuffy clothes in lightning fashion, tossing them on the floor of the limo. I slip into my favorite worn pair of skinny jeans, tug on a black tank, and put a torn gray T-shirt on top of it. The material warms my skin and relaxes my spirits. I damn near bawl when I see the glasses case in the bag. I pop out my contacts, chuck them on the floor too, and put on my favorite, black-framed glasses. Contacts have always irritated my eyes, made them so tired by the end of the day, and left them bloodshot. I pull my hair out and finger comb it lett
ing it lay where it falls. I catch a glance of the girl I want to be in the tinted window staring back at me. Here I come, Penwood University.

  Harvey stops four hours into the drive. I swear this guy has connections everywhere. We both used the restroom, and then an old friend of his showed up with two pizza boxes. My stomach growled at the smell of the zesty tomato sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, and jalapenos. He bought both of us two large bottles of Diet Mountain Dew. I swear the sticky sweet soda runs through Harvey's veins.

  "Thank you." I smile, twisting the top off.

  A pang of guilt hits, knowing Harvey had to buy all of this stuff. If my parents saw a credit card charge at a gas station or pizza parlor, they'd send the cavalry to drag me home.

  "Gonna miss you, kid." He relaxes on the back of the limo—his salt and pepper hair curling around his ears.

  We are both perched on the trunk of the limo, eating and drinking. The tiny rebel inside of me rejoices in all of this. My parents would have a shit fit at the sight of us. And for the first time, I don't care. With each mile ticking by and the hours flowing, I feel the chains they've imprisoned me in fade away.

  I peer down at the empty pizza box, and raw, honest emotion strikes hard and fast without warning.

  "I don't know what I'm going to do without you," I admit.

  It's been a thought rambling around I've chosen to ignore until now.

  "You are going to live." He reaches over and clutches my hand. "You are going to be you. I have no doubt you'll flourish and find your path."

  "I hope so." I bite down on my bottom lip. "You know I don't have friends back home and never had a social life because my parents were always so embarrassed by me."

  He nods. "Yeah, you're a bit awkward."

  A laugh escapes me. Harvey never sugarcoats anything.

  "But awkward is good. Damn good. Never forget that."

  "Okay." I pause and, this time, have to fight back the tears. "I love you, Harvey."

  "Love you, too, kid." The wrinkles framing his eyes smile back at me.

  The fight on the tears becomes a raging battle because Harvey is the only person who has used those three words with me, and he's not only used them but showed acts of love toward me my entire life.

  We toss the boxes in the nearest trash can and hit the road. This time I sit in the front seat with him. Only my parents would insist on their daughter being delivered in a freaking limo. God, I can only hope to arrive a day early to the dorms since there will be fewer students milling around.

  Harvey cranks up his playlist for the final two hours of the drive. We sing and rock out to AC/DC, The Eagles, and even a little bit of gangster music.

  2

  Sadie

  The city of Penwood comes into view as we descend Elk Mountain. The town is nestled in a picturesque and breathtaking valley. It's not a podunk town nor a massive city. It's perfect and where my heart and soul have always wanted to thrive with plenty of outdoor activities with the river that runs through the town. I've dreamed and imagined all the places where I can sit out in nature and work.

  We drive down Greensburg, the main road of the town. It's lined with coffee shops, boutiques, bars, and a few grocery stores—small and large groups of people are meandering on the perfectly paved sidewalks lined with baskets of blooming flowers. I keep my face glued to the window, soaking up everything.

  My nerves kick into overdrive when the towering buildings of the campus come into view. Thick rows of trees border them. The buildings are old with intricate architectural features, and they're stunning in their simplicity and robust columns and bricks.

  My stomach rolls in somersaults as the big black shiny limo pulls the attention of every person roaming the campus, and much to my dismay, there are plenty of students moving about.

  "Hold your head high." Harvey pulls the limo in front of Millner dorms. "They'd all be judging you even if you pulled up in a regular old Tahoe or Suburban. It's human nature to judge. Hold your head high and be proud. Once they get to know you, they'll be ashamed of themselves for judging."

  "I know," I whisper, which is a lie. Harvey's words come from a good spot; however, they do damn near nothing to soothe away the anxiety bolstering inside of me. He strips his jacket and button-up shirt to reveal one of his infamous T-shirts.

  That does the trick. I burst out laughing until tears roll down my face. By the time I catch my breath, I have no idea what's going on outside the limo.

  "You like it?" he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

  "It's so you." I wipe the tears away from under my eyes.

  Harvey proudly pats his beer belly right under the letters, "DILF." God, this guy is so strong, never wasting a hot minute on what people think of him. He has loud, roaring laughter he uses a lot, talks to everyone he meets, and does it with courage and confidence. This guy is the reminder I needed and the push of courage to send me over the edge, in a good way.

  "Let's get this done." Harvey opens the door and begins packing totes into the lobby of Millner dorms.

  He makes a few more trips as I register at the front desk. Katie, the resident advisor and a senior, is chipper and very friendly as she gives me the rundown on the map of the dorm, hours, and hands over the key.

  "I'm in charge of your floor, so if you need anything, let me know."

  "Okay, thank you." I glance down at all the material she gave me.

  "Oh, and with this being a co-ed dorm, no boys are allowed on your floor after ten." She winks at me.

  "That won't be a problem." I wave her off.

  "That's what all the newbies say." She smiles wide.

  Harvey walks up to us with the trash bag of my favorite clothes tossed over his shoulder with his shirt on full display.

  "Hi, I'm Katie." She extends her hand. "Are you Mercedes's father?"

  "It's Sadie," I add for the fourth time since talking to her.

  "Sorry, it's printed as Mercedes Diamond Alexander, and I've been studying the list." She grabs a piece of paper, scratching out my full name and correcting it.

  "Nope, her honorary and very handsome uncle." He shakes her hand. "Harvey."

  "Very nice to meet you, Harvey."

  And like that, Katie falls in love with the genuine person Harvey is.

  "If you guys want to follow me, I'll take you up to the fourth floor. It's been super slow around here."

  Harvey and I load up our arms, and I'm surprised when Katie does the same thing. She talks the whole time over her shoulder and even on the elevator ride.

  "Your roommate will be arriving in two days. I guess there was a bit of a snag back in her hometown, or at least that's how she worded it."

  "Okay." I shift the tubs in my arms, hoping like hell we are nearing my room.

  "And here we are." Katie sets down her boxes, and the rest of us follow suit. "If you need anything at all, you have my number, Sadie."

  "Thank you so much."

  With that, she bounds back down the hallway to the elevator. A few other students linger in the hall, but none are as friendly and outgoing as Katie. I'm not an idiot and know it's her job to be that way with all the new students, but it was still welcoming for me. I unlock the door and step into my new home. It looks like the virtual tour. There's one common space big enough for a couch, and possibly two smaller desks, and two bedrooms flank each side of the makeshift living room. The bedrooms are legit big enough for the full-size mattresses and a nightstand and nothing else. The closet is tiny, but I'm okay with that as I'm a creature of habit when it comes to clothing. The most amazing part is the bathroom. Each room has an accompanying bathroom. I did not want to share a communal one, and of course, Mother wouldn't stand for that. One thing we did agree on.

  "Sweet crib." Harvey spins around, looking at everything.

  "It's nice, eh?"

  "Very. Clean too, and it looks like fresh paint."

  "It's an awful color." I bend down and open the first box.

  "It's white, Sadie. How can white b
e an awful color?" He shakes his head. "Never mind, I won't get you started on that."

  After not being able to decide which room I want to claim as mine, we throw down rock, paper, and scissors. If Harvey wins, I take the space on the left, and if I win, the room on the right. I knew it would be the left because Harvey never loses. In no time, we have all of my belongings placed. I'm impressed the comforter and bed set Mother sent me is a simple burgundy and not some gaudy floral pattern. It's from Joss & Main, and I'm sure my roommate won't even notice. That's what I want...normalcy.

  "Kid, it's time for me to go." Harvey stands with his arms wide open.

  I rush to him, burying my face in his chest, letting his scent comfort away all my worries.

  "I'm going to miss you so much." My voice is muffled.

  "I know, and it's the same for me. Well, I'm not going to miss me, I'm going to miss you." He pats my back.

  I slap his chest. "Always cracking a joke."

  "Hey, you have me set up on that Snapchatter, and we have our streakers going. You'll see my face every single day."

  This gets a hearty chuckle out of me. "Yes, we have our daily streaks on Snapchat."

  He gives me one more firm squeeze before stepping back. He wipes his eyes.

  "No. No. No." I point at him. "Harvey, you can't cry. I've never seen you cry! Don't make this awkward."

  "It was the dust in here. This place is dusty as shit, and you'll probably develop asthma or some shit."

  "Bye, Harvey." I wave, forcing myself to keep my feet planted and not go with him.

  "Later, gator." He nods and walks out the door.