Capture the Moment (Moments #1)

11. Cleo

eleven

Cleo

“So, tell me if I got this right… My twin sister had 'sex' with Blake Wilder, the same Blake that D2 talks about every day. Now, you’re trying to ignore him but you have to do a class project together? Is that right?” Ryan raises a perfectly thick brow up at me, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he stretches out on the sideline of the football field.

“Something like that…” I blow out air, rocking back and forth on my heels.

“You’re fucking gross, CJ. I mean what the hell is wrong with you? I know I told you the football team is off limits but hockey ?” Ryan curls his lips in disgust as he stands up to stretch his shoulders out. “I’m disgusted even thinking about it, why can’t you just be celibate and not tell me about that shit?” he groans.

And that, everyone, is Ryan Santiago-Jones—my dumbass stepbrother. Ryan’s mom, Gloria and my dad got married when the both of us were eight just three years after my mom and dad separated.

It was rough at first, not having my biological mom in the house and now having a stranger play the role of “mommy”. But Ryan made the transition a lot easier—and better.

He stuck to me like glue when we first met and proclaimed us as “twins” since we were born in the same week and year, with me taking the spot as the oldest child.

Ry was always there for me, he made sure none of the guys in school would pick on me. He always watched whatever princess movie I wanted even though he was more of a superhero kid when we were younger. And he was just overall the best “twin” brother a girl could ask for .

Now, at 20 years old, Ry still calls my dad D2, and me his twin, regardless of us having completely different parents.

“You fucking asked! What was I supposed to say?!”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe ‘I’m fine, how are you?’ Not tell me about your recent sexcapades! ” He rolls his eyes before rolling out his neck.

I fold my arms over my chest and frown. “Since when have I ever not told you what was going on? As my brother, you’re supposed to listen and give me advice! Not chastise me, you buffoon.”

“Chastise?” he scoffs in disbelief.

“Yes!” I shout, my frown deepening.

“Cleo, I’m trying to look out for you, not chastise you. Blake Wilder is a whore, through and through. And I’m not trying to hear the guys talk about how my sister is being seen with the biggest manslut on campus.” He shrugs as if everything he’s saying is logical and sadly it is, but I’d never admit that out loud.

“Oh, and you’re one to talk! Who was that cheerleader you brought home last month? Chelsea? Kelsey?”

“Her name was Audrey … Chelsea was the one before that.” He sighs, proving my point.

For the first time in forever, I’m winning against Ry. I should gloat… Nah… Wait… Nah, I’ll take the nice route.

“Exactly. You can’t judge someone when you’re the exact same way. Besides, I didn’t have sex with him… I just—I’m not telling you that shit.” I grimace at the thought, Ryan’s always the one to give details about any and everything but I for one refuse. It’s gross especially when you share the same hall with the guy.

“Good. Now, I have to go. But stay until the end of practice, some of the guys and I are heading to 88UP tonight for some ‘first week’ drinks,” he says, giving me a lopsided grin before jogging onto the turf where the rest of the football team gathered around before practice officially began.

Unlike me, Ryan followed in Dad’s footsteps and went to Summerfield immediately after high school. But like me, he went the complete opposite route in terms of sports. Growing up, Ryan and I both had a lot of time on the ice but where I excelled in figure skating and some women’s hockey. Ryan was like a duckling who lost its mom when it came to anything ice related. Hence him going after the good ole’ pig skin.

Originally, Dad was upset when he realized none of his kids would carry on his NHL legacy. He had a daughter who’d rather comment on hockey than be on the ice and a son who could just barely keep steady on skates. But when Dad realized that Ryan could be the next Tom Brady, there was zero hesitation in him supporting Ryan and all his football endeavors.

Dad is sweet like that; he supports hard and loves us harder. Which is also why I’m scared as fuck at the thought of him finding out why I’m really at SFU.

My body tenses just mentioning it in my head . I’m about to take a seat on the bench when my phone goes off like it’s the end of the world. I reach into my purse and chuckle; it looks like Sienna and Georgia are up.

Bows and Ho's

Georgia Peach

I would just like to point out to you sluts that leaving me in the house alone with zero food is a CRIME

Si Si

At the studio, don’t curse.

I’m pretty sure the kids are reading my texts.

Georgia Peach

Cleo why are you not in your room planning out your life????

Don’t make me get Mr.Snuffies to come find you.

You know he likes you.

ANNNDDDDD why the fuck is there only a Coke Zero and a SINGLE piece of chicken in the fridge?

Do y’all expect me to starve????????

Me

At Ry’s practice.

Keep your demonic doll baby away from my shit, G.

Georgia Peach

YOU WENT TO MY MAN’S PRACTICE WITHOUT ME?!?!??

*gif of man freaking out*

I’ll be there in 5 minutes TOPS.

With a small breathy laugh, I shake my head, then tuck my phone back into my purse, trading it for my camera to snap some pictures of the team. The boys this season look way better than last year and if they play their cards right, they’re going to win this year’s championship.

I’m in the zone taking pictures and small videos of the guys as some of them stop to pose for me, so much so that I don’t notice the sneaky blonde preparing to attack me.

“How dare you go see my man without me? What happened to girl code?!” Georgia exclaims from behind me before plopping down to my left on the bench.

Her “man” is my brother. Georgia has had an odd crush on Ry since before any of us could remember. I believe it started when they both sprained their wrists together on the ice—I have no clue how I’m friends with the most uncoordinated people in the world, but I digress—which led to the two of them spending a month sitting on the couch watching cartoons while Jace and I played around.

But I don’t think that Georgia actually has a crush on my brother. I think she has a crush on the idea of Ryan Jones; the nerdy kid she spent a month with, instead of Ryan Jones, the star quarterback of a major D1 football team.

“Girl code?” I tease, packing up my camera. There’s no way I’m leaving that out with the clumsy girl beside me.

“Yes! You know…calling me whenever your hot brother is around.” She shrugs, playing with a strand of her hair.

“‘Hot brother’?” My face twists as I look out to the field where Ryan crouches, looking like a raging pit bull yelling random things to the guys. “ That brother? You’re disgusting.” I grimace, repeating Ryan’s earlier words.

Instead of responding to me, Georgia focuses on the field and claps for the guys as they warm up. I smile as she continues spewing nonsense to the field.

We sat on the bench for the entire practice, chatting about upcoming parties and Fall Fest, the three-day carnival styled event at the end of September. It’s been so long since I've just simply talked to someone like this that I feel warm and at home.

Georgia gives me the most shit-eating grin she can muster, her eyes gleaming with mischief and I immediately regret my thoughts of her being my home.

“Damn, Jones’ ass looks great.” the sound of Jace's voice catches me off guard. I turn in my seat and smile at the man, only for my smile to falter as more bodies appear behind him followed by manly laughter.

“Jace…” Blake sighs, stepping from behind the blonde clad in a black compression shirt and gray gym shorts. My mouth salivates as I take in his damp brown waves and the large gym bag on his shoulder.

“His ass does look great,” Alec chirps from beside Blake, shrugging.

“How does mine look?” Charlie asks with a cheeky grin, turning to poke his butt out.

“Still not my type… And relatively flat.” Alec frowns as he readjusts his glasses .

“I’ll take it,” says the blonde, shrugging, then throwing an arm around both Alec and Braxton.

Side-eyeing Georgia, I note the overly eager look on her face as the men approach us. She’s up to something… My stomach churns and I don’t know if it’s from fear or something else.

“What happened to girl code?” I whisper, looking back and forth between the approaching men and her.

“I like this show a lot more.” She shrugs.

And as if my Wednesday couldn't get any weirder, the men’s football team end their practice and trudge over to the sidelines to gather their stuff. A few of them make conversation with the five hockey players beside us but through it all, I can’t shake the feeling of being watched and I am definitely not going to look behind myself.

No, instead I turn to Ry and give him the biggest smile I can muster.

“Ew, don’t look at me like that.” My brother, ladies and gents…

I grit my teeth at him but perk up as Tatum, the Tigers star wide receiver, and Ryan’s hilarious best friend, strides over with a few bottles of water and a large smile.

“Hey, Pretty Girl,” he greets me with warmth, passing a water bottle to me and Georgia.

The nickname had been an ongoing joke between us after Tatum spent the holidays with us freshman year and greeted me rather unconventionally.

“Hi, Tate.” I laugh quietly as he side-hugs me, lingering just a bit before turning to the small group of large hockey players behind us giving them that weird manly greeting that guys did.

Tatum and I are good friends and there's no denying that he's handsome. He reminds me of a walking Vogue ad with his model-like features and a muscular build. However, I wouldn’t say that Tatum is my type considering his closeness with Ryan. Anyone that was that close to my brother had obvious psychological issues .

Just as I think that Tatum will sit beside me, another larger figure plops down instead. The familiar scents of cedar wood and vanilla are intoxicating as the man I know all too well laughs from beside me at whatever Alec had said.

“Hey, Princess,” Blake smirks, sending thrills down my spine as his eyes lock with mine.

My body tightens at his husky tone, and I fight myself to ignore him, trying to scoot away. But Georgia “girl-code” Adams has other plans as she slides in closer to me, essentially caging me between her and Blake. He grins cockily as I roll my eyes.

“Creeper.” I sigh as a greeting; this only makes his smile grow wider.

He looks as if he's about to say something but immediately his features sour as both Tatum and Ryan speak at the same time.

“Are you coming tonight?” the two men ask in unison. Ryan’s tone more clipped than Tatum’s hopeful one as the boys look down at me on the bench.

I can feel Blake stiffen from beside me and feel his eyes on me, and though he’s facing forward, feigning indifference, I know he’s listening closely.

“Is the whole team going, Ry? I can’t be out with you guys for a long—”

“We already have plans,” Blake interrupts, now fully facing me.

I had plans? If I had plans today, I’d surely know. I keep all my plans scheduled in my little red notebook. I scrunch my eyebrows at Blake as his eyes gleam.

“Our date , remember?” His tone is teasing as he nudges my shoulder as the rest of the chatter from our group ultimately dies down.

At this, my brother smirks. Ryan isn’t the most overprotective sibling hence him and I talking about everything. And since leaving New York and my ex-boyfriend, Ry’s been pushing me to go on dates... I’m the one who’s not ready.

“A date?” Ryan teases, poking my cheek and it doesn’t go unnoticed the way Blake tenses beside me.

“Yup. It’s Wednesday and this beauty and I have plans. So, if you’ll excuse us—”

“No. I have things to—" I try to say, only for my traitorous brother and Georgia to interrupt .

“I’ll do it!” She shoots up to her feet, clearly one of the few to listen to our conversation.

Ryan on the other hand is calmer as he says, “I’ll schedule another hangout for us, CJ.”

Well fuck me, they’re basically pimping me out! I am a woman. I have rights—

“You can’t get rid of me that easily, sweetheart,” Blake whispers to me, his lips grazing the bottom of my ear and I shudder at the contact.

What was I saying about rights and morals again?

Right, I have...

I…uh…

Fuck me