He liked the role of big brother. He was a lot better at it than his own brothers were. Andrew and John had never had any feelings for him beyond disdain.

They'd probably be surprised Rick knew the word disdain.

Andrew and John never gave a crap about Rick, not the way Rick cared about Hunter.

Coaching soccer had come easily to him, too. Rick had established himself as integral to the team, and he and Jessica had settled into a friendly acquaintance. Rick had grown close to Hunter and his friends, buying them ice cream, playing basketball with them in the off-season, taking them to the movies sometimes. Always, there was a group. Always, there was at least one mom tagging along to make sure he wasn't some child molester. As if.

Often, he and whatever mom had tagged along hit it off, and more than one of them had landed softly in his bed.

But never Jessica. Once he'd met Hunter, he decided to keep that relationship pure. In the process of getting to know her, he'd become convinced she didn't have Charles's money. That's when he'd moved on to Leslie.

According to Jessica, Hunter missed him and wanted to see him. He hadn't seen his brother in a few weeks, and he missed the kid, too. Next week should work fine. He'd finish the business with Marisa and Nate this weekend, and by next week, he'd have his money secured in an offshore bank account where nobody would ever find it. He'd hang around for a few more weeks, just to make himself look innocent. If anyone ever came sniffing around, he'd act like he had no idea what was going on. If he had the money, he'd just ask the cops why he'd still be there if he was a crook. And what did he need the money for, when his family was loaded?

It was true, too. Mom still was loaded. She'd just cut him off. Told him to make his own way in the world.

Look, Mother. I'm making my own way. Not what you expected, is it?

He swallowed the rage. Focused on the plan.

When the hubbub died down, he'd move away. Southern California had always beckoned him. He'd buy a place on the beach and spend the rest of his life sipping cocktails and meeting blondes. If anyone asked him about the money, he'd remind them about his trust fund. Not that the money in there could ever have afforded him the life he wanted to live. But nobody else knew that.

And maybe he'd coach soccer for fun, give back a little. Though he'd been shocked to discover it, he really enjoyed hanging with the kids. And who'd suspect a volunteer soccer coach of all this?

It wouldn't be long now before he enjoyed the life he'd planned before his father got sent away. The life Rick deserved.