Rival Hearts (Rival Love #2) (14 page)

“Fuck off, Skylar!” The phone clicks. I look up at Caleb standing beside the door with a taped up nose looking down at me.

“You okay?”

“Fine.”

He opens his mouth but doesn’t say anything. I hustle out the door to my car. I don’t have anything to say to him. Actually, that’s not true, I’ve got a lot I want to say to him. But I’m not going to.

The selfish but irksome thing that really ticks me off is the fact that he just lets me walk away. It’s like he doesn’t want to fight for me. Like all the stuff he said about loving me, him holding me a few days ago, taking care of me while I was sick was just … bullshit.

I start up my car and head to school. Ten minutes later, with the American Authors CD entertaining me and a cup full of coffee I picked up at McDonald’s, I’m sitting in the parking lot at school. It’s just another day.

That’s a total lie, but I need to believe the lie. There will be no surviving if I don’t.

First locker I stop by is Kayla’s. She smiles at me while Lance has his arm around her shoulder. It shouldn’t make me sad, but it does because, damn it, I had this. A person who loved me. Walked me to class. But not anymore.

Kayla’s smile drops to a frown once she sees me not spilling over with cheer. “You okay? Did something C-related happen? I’ll stop being nice and kick him in the nuts for you.”

I shake my head. Nothing Caleb-related happened. But he is walking around with a broken nose because of me. That’s just another thing to deal with. The stares I receive are so bad, like everyone is waiting for me to snap and go bananas on someone. “No. Something else. Not a big deal.”

Lance and Kayla both look at me like they’re waiting for me to continue. When I don’t, Lance says, “So, Bulldog, I hear you’ve got a birthday coming up soon. Are we going to be having a kick-ass party at the Timmons pad?”

I shake my head. With everything in my life totally sucking, the last thing I want is to celebrate it with a party.

He nudges me, “What’s up, Bulldog? Pick a fight with the people at McDonald’s and worried they spit in your drink?”

“No. That’s gross, by the way.” I look down at my coffee, not in the mood for it now. “My friend Sam called me. Well, I can’t really call her a friend since she and Mikia ditched me.”

Kayla steps forward and hugs me. “It’s going to be okay. I think they’re trying to psych you out. But don’t worry about them. Don’t worry about who we’re swimming against.”

Lance gasps. “Really, babe? It’s the biggest meet of the season. It’s our … ”

He stops talking when she slaps her hand over his lips. “Shhh. I know. We know. But I am trying to help a friend here.” She turns to me. “Just swim like it’s any other school. Do your best. That’s all that matters.”

“You’re right.” Because she is. It’s just another meet. That happens to be a big deal, but all I can really do is my best and let things stand. It shouldn’t matter that I’m swimming in a different uniform. Or for a different team. All that matters is
me
, my times, and everything else will happen as it should.

***

During the change from fourth to fifth period, I stop at my locker. My nerves are shot, and I think I forgot my physics book at home. In a panic, I toss everything out of my locker and go through each book one by one. It’s completely ridiculous because I can totally read what subject is on each spine. But my mind is clearly not working right.

A shadow falls over me and bends to my eye level. “Sky?”

My gaze meets Caleb’s. “Hey.”

“What’s going on?”

I suck in a breath. “I forgot my physics book. It has my homework packet in it, too.”

He swings his bag around and starts rifling through it. “You looked … distraught this morning. Anyway, I was getting a cereal bar from the kitchen and I saw this on the island.” He hands me my book. I almost cry. Silly, I know. But he just keeps doing these unbelievably sweet things. I don’t know whether to hug him or slap him. It’s like no matter what, he’s keeping his promise to me. He shouldn’t be, but he is.

I fling my arms around his neck and pull him to me. He sighs, and possibly pets my hair, I’m not really sure. I don’t care. “Thank you,” I whisper and kiss his cheek.

“Sky, I know shit with us is messed up. But I love you. Nothing will change that. I’ll do anything you want and be there for you no matter what.” He tucks some of my hair behind my ear and his gaze drops to my lips.

I want him to kiss me. As I lean in he places his finger on my lower lip and touches his forehead to mine. “I miss kissing you.” He sighs. “This is so hard for me to say, but I want to respect your wishes. You don’t want me around because it hurts. I get that. It hurts for me, too.” He pulls away. “Just know, I’m yours forever.”

I’m the most messed up girl on the face of this Earth. Here is a guy who loves me, will do anything for me, and yet I’m not with him. Am I being petty? I mean, yes, he got his ex pregnant and we’re not out of high school yet. That kind of responsibility is so beyond huge it’s not funny. But on top of that his uncle is making him marry her. That makes him completely, one hundred and fifty percent off limits.

“Sky?” Caleb’s hand is extended for me to take.

I blink. “Thanks again. I have to … go.”

“I know.” He pulls his hand back and shoves it into his pocket while he drops his stare. God, how is it possible the boy is still drop-dead gorgeous even with two shiners eyes and a taped up nose? Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Chapter 25

Caleb

I knew something was wrong as soon as Skylar left the house. Good thing I went into the kitchen for a quick breakfast bar, because the girl left her physics book. I didn’t see her all morning so I couldn’t return it to her first thing, but I finally bumped into her around the change of fourth to fifth.

Well, I actually followed her from English, since she’s been dodging me like I have the plague or something. Damn it hurts, too. I mean, I love her, so freaking much, but she shuts me out. It doesn’t matter, though, I’m going to keep showing her every freaking day if I have to that she’s what I want. If she breaks my nose a thousand times, then so be it. As long as she knows I’m here and not leaving.

Derrick smacks my shoulder at lunch. “Hey! So what are you going to do about … ” He makes a curving motion in front of his stomach and hitches his thumb toward Danielle. She walks over to our table and I sigh. I’ve got no clue what the hell I’m going to do about this.

“Hi, baby boo.”

I glower and shake my head. “Um, no. We’re not going to start doing that.”

She takes a seat beside me and pouts. “Why not?”

Because it’s stupid, that’s why. And I’m not your boo. I don’t want to be your boo; in fact, I don’t want you, period. “Just don’t.”

Danielle rubs her hand up my arm at the same moment Sky walks by our table. Her eyes lock with mine then drop to Danielle. Her cheeks flush then she hurries off and takes a seat two tables from ours.

Danielle yaks about something but I’m not listening. She snaps her fingers in front of my face and I blink. “Hello. Earth to Caleb. Who are you … ” She scans the room and sneers. “Really? Her? We’re having a child together, Caleb, and you’re worried about her? We’re getting married. Not you and her. Me and you.” Derrick sprays his drink all over the table and some gets on Danielle. She jumps and shrills. “Oh my God! That’s so disgusting.”

“Dude! Are you kidding me? Brian is making you marry this … ” I have a feeling he’s about to say “bitch,” but who knows because he swallows the word as soon as Danielle shoots him a look.

“Yes, Mr. Timmons is making Caleb do the honorable thing. Got a problem with it?”

Lance and Kayla take a seat at our table and Kayla smiles. “What’s going on?”

“Morgan is getting fuckin’ hitched,” Derrick says.

Lance pales. Kayla’s eyes flash dark and then search the lunchroom. I know exactly who she’s looking for. Looks like Skylar didn’t tell them the whole story. Perfect. Just perfect.

“I’ll be right back.” Kayla gets up and leaves the table.

***

Skylar doesn’t come home after school. She went out with the team or something. Erin enters the living room wearing scrubs and stops in front of the TV. “Caleb, are you coming to Liv’s meet?”

“Uh … ”

“Go on and get ready. We’re leaving in twenty minutes.”

But I really don’t think this is a great idea. I’m about to tell her that.

“Caleb, Liv needs you there. Trust me.”

The natatorium is packed. Wall to wall people, I can barely breathe the air is so thick with humidity. All the windows are dripping with condensation. I make my way to the railing and search the crush of students on the pool deck. I instantly spot Kayla next to Amber and Emily. My heart races, though, when I see a girl hurrying over to them. Some people from the Bulldogs’ side are glaring and shouting at her, and one of them trips her as she moves by them.

I grip the railing and clench my jaw.

“Hey, man!” Lance says as his hands clasp my shoulders. “Did they start warming up yet?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Just got here. But if those people touch Sky again I’m going down there and kicking someone’s fucking teeth in.”

“Dude! Chill. Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to be timers. Come on.”

“Why would we do that?” I ask. If I’m down there and Sky sees me, she might do more than just shove me into the pool. Plus, seeing me might mess her the hell up and she already has enough on her plate with this meet.

Lance laughs. “You want to protect Sky, right?” Hell yeah I do. He knows it too. That’s why he asked. He continues with a smug smile. “You want to show her you love her and support her?”

My friend is an asshole sometimes. I glower at him. “Of course. Stop asking me dumb questions.”

“Well, come on, man. We’re going to be timers.”

It’s hot as hell up here on the upper deck so hopefully the pool deck isn’t roasting. But I guess if it gets too bad the swimmers can just refresh me by splashing me with water. From the starts off the blocks and the turns, I’ll probably get my legs soaked about a hundred times.

I stop by the vending machines and get three waters then follow Lance to see Coach Grim. She looks over at Lance, then at me. “What’s up, boys?”

“We want to be timers,” Lance answers.

“Perfect. I was about to have a few of my girls go track some people down. Here is a clipboard and some stopwatches.”

I make Lance hold my shit while I carry the waters. I’m timing lane four, and Lance is doing lane six. I hand him a water and take my clipboard and stopwatch from him. The officials pull all of us timers into a circle and start going over the rules.

I should pay attention, but my eyes land on Skylar, who jumps into the diving pool, swims to one side, and flips. She’s amazing. The way the water runs over her skin makes me wish I was the liquid currently filling that pool. An elbow drills my side. “Hmph!”

“Dude, pay attention,” Lance hisses.

I look around the group and listen to the last half of what the official says. Mostly it’s about how to time a relay and how to time each split, and making sure we watch each swimmer touch the wall before the other swimmer jumps off the blocks. We’re also supposed to write “DQ” for disqualified if they go too early or have a false start.

Once the instructions are over with, we’re told to go to our lanes. Lance laughs. “If they think I’m stopping Kayla from kicking some dumb Bulldog’s ass that starts talking smack than they’re out of their mind.”

“Is that what they want us to do? Play bouncer?”

“Yeah, man.”

First person that starts with Skylar won’t have to worry about her attacking them because I’ll bust someone right now. I’ve already got a broken nose, and lost the girl of my dreams, so really there’s not much any of these punks can do to hurt me.

I stand by my assigned lane, pencil and watch ready to go. Her scent—even tinged in chlorine—pulls my attention instantly. Sky looks up at me, water beads all over her face and on her cap and goggles while she slips off her flip-flops. “Hey,” I say.

“What are you doing?” she asks. She doesn’t sound pissed like I thought she’d be.

“Timing. Looks like I picked a good lane.” I wink at her, and she smiles with a shake of her head. I better quit while I’m ahead; this good streak of conversation won’t last.

“So bad,” she mumbles as she leans over the starting block. I can’t peel my eyes away from her tight frame. I’m so turned on and apparently so screwed because these meets last three hours. I can’t have a certain thing going on for three damn hours!

She straightens with a scowl on her face.

“Sky,” I whisper.

“I’m good.”

“I was going to tell you, good luck, Bulldog.”

She laughs. “Thank you. I needed that.”

“Anytime, babe.” I want to kiss her on the forehead, but I can’t.

The swimmer in the next lane looks at her and shouts, “Look who it is, girls! The famous Fletcher and her band of losers. God, I thought taking Kevin from you was fun but this is going to be great!”

Skylar says nothing.

“Swimmers, please enter the water,” says an official holding a microphone near the control panel on the side of the pool.

Skylar drops into the water, pops up, and starts to set her feet against the wall. She grips the bar below the starting block and jeez, she’s white-knuckling it. Amber sidles up beside me and smacks the top of the starting block. Skylar looks up for a second, smiles, and drops her head to her chest. “Skylar, swim like a shark is chasing you!” Amber yells.

Sky smirks and her body shakes a little like she’s laughing, but nothing comes out. A buzzer goes off and boom—I push the button on the stopwatch at the same time she’s off the wall. She backstrokes to the other end, flips, and returns so quick. My clock reads eighteen point twenty-two milliseconds as she pulls herself out of the water and Emily dives off the block.