Rival Hearts (Rival Love #2) (18 page)

Skylar fumbled into the wall, dropped her keys four times, and almost hit her head on the door picking them up. God, she was a mess. And the only thing I kept thinking is: I’m the reason she’s smashed out of her mind.

Inside her room, I helped her out of her clothes. I thought I was going to come undone, though, as soon as she undid her own bra. I mean, shit, I’ve seen naked girls before, but none compare to her. She’s just flat-out gorgeous.

I shouldn’t have slid in beside her, but I was worried she might have an accident, like vomit and choke on it or something. And I really didn’t want to leave her alone just yet.

As she lies next to me, all I can think is how much I regret hurting her. Sky’s the best damn thing that ever happened to me.

At four in the morning, I reluctantly move to my own bed. I don’t want to, but I know Erin will be up soon and will probably check on Sky. If she finds me in here, all hell will break loose.

I enter my room and yawn myself into my own bed.

***

Last thing I remember is being in Sky’s room, touching her perfect body, kissing her neck, and making my way down to her breasts. In my dream, of course, I go further, because she’s the girl of my dreams who I want to do everything with.

I wake up in a good mood, until I notice I’m not alone in my bed. At first I think,
Holy shit, Sky climbed into bed with me and I took advantage of her.
Because I see a bare shoulder. Then dark hair. It’s not until I look over at the person I realize it’s Danielle.

I tumble out of bed, and snarl, “What the hell!”

She stretches and yawns. “Hi, boo. Ready for another round?”

“What? No! Fuck! How did you get in here?”

“Back door. It was unlocked.” Son of a bitch, I must have forgotten to lock it when I went to get Sky last night. Still, she shouldn’t be in my bed!

I’m just about to tell her off when the door to my room pops open and Skylar scratches her head. “Caleb? Did you come get me sometime last night?”

“Um … yeah.” I try to move in front of Skylar so I can push her out of the room until I hear her gasp.

“Oh my God. I should have knocked.” And she turns around. I look down and realize I’m totally naked and sporting one. Jesus, this is really bad.

“Damn straight you should have knocked,” Danielle snaps. “We were busy in here.”

Skylar whips back around and stares at the bed, then looks over at me. She shakes her head and I can see her swallow. Her eyes begin to water, but she juts out her chin. “Oh, wow. Yeah. Um … I’ll leave you to it.”

“Sky! It’s not what you—” She slams the door in my face before I can finish.

“Really, boo, when are you going to learn?”

“Stop calling me that. And get the fuck out of my bed. Now!”

“Fine. I can see someone is moody in the mornings.” She gathers up her clothes and slowly puts them on. I snatch a pair of boxers from the floor and cover myself so she stops eyeing up my junk.

Chapter 31

Skylar

The morning light hit my face at just the right angle that I groaned. I turned and noticed my surroundings. Problem was, I had no idea how I got to my room. I collected my phone and started scanning for information.

Apparently, I called Caleb, so I headed to his room. I heard a thud and assumed he was up. I didn’t bother knocking and opened his door. Of course, as soon as I did this, I was greeted by a very happy Caleb. In the areas that are usually covered. So I shut my eyes and turned around.

I’d never seen one so up-close and personal before, so it overwhelmed me. A lot. But then I heard her. That stupid tart who’s the mother of his unborn child. And everything I’d felt for him up to that point vanished. I couldn’t believe I listened to all his stupid lies.

He didn’t love me at all. He just lied to me. Probably to get his one last virgin before he was committed to that snake of a person for the rest of his life. What a prick!

I ran out of his room so fast, I didn’t care that my head felt like a jackhammer was going off inside of it. I certainly didn’t care that I was still in a t-shirt, short-shorts, and no bra. Grabbing my swim bag, I slipped on my boots, coat, hat, and gloves, and took Caleb’s car to the pool since mine was still at Sam’s.

***

I return destined for pneumonia. My mom catches a glimpse of my wet hair, shitty clothing choice, and snaps, “Skylar Olivia Fletcher, what in God’s name are you wearing?”

“Sleep clothes. Sorry, I gotta change and get ready for work.”

“You better put on some warmer clothes. This isn’t summer. You could catch a serious cold pulling a stunt like that!”

I hurry to my room so I don’t have to listen to her rant anymore. I am done. Tired. But worst of all, I’m so broken I don’t ever want to feel this way ever again. Once I’m changed, I head out the door. Caleb is leaning against his car.

“Are you taking it somewhere again?” he asks.

“Yes. I need to drop it off in the pits of hell. You can collect it there.”

He throws his hands up. “Jesus, Sky, I don’t expect you to believe me but—”

I stick my fingers in my ears and scream, “L
ALALALALALALALALA
!” Yes, I’m that immature. Sue me.

He yanks my hands away and kisses me on my mouth. I’m shocked and mad at the same time. “What the—”

“Shut up! Just. Shut. Up.”

I want to slap him, but he’s restraining my wrists. “Listen, I’ll talk to you when you’re ready to. But I need my car today, so I’ll drop you off at work. Okay?”

He releases my wrists and I snap, “Fine.”

Did I mention that sometimes I’m such a child? He tries to be a gentleman and open my door, but I just slap his hand away from the handle and tell him to quit. I don’t want his stupid help. I don’t want to swoon all over him. Never. Again.

Eventually he gives up. It’s silence between us. And I honestly don’t know what’s worse anymore.

***

Coffee usually puts me in a better mood. But this cup of joe isn’t doing shit to help me. I’m pretty sure every customer that has been in my line thinks I’m PMSing, which would be my guess if I were witnessing my emotional spiral.

Why can’t I forget him? His stupid smile. His damn scent. His kisses. God, those kisses were so freaking amazing. Boys his age should not be able to kiss like him. And while I’m at it, damn his everything! Looks and all, screw him!

I need a shot! And not a shot of espresso. I mean some liquor! I don’t want to be able to think, let alone feel another thing.

Lance walks into the coffee shop with Kayla and Derrick following. Derrick nods. “What’s up?”

Kayla runs up and hugs me. She’s the first person I texted about Caleb and Danielle this morning. She told me she’ll beat them both for me. Normally I’d break down in big, fat tears, but I think I cried Caleb all out of my system.

“Do they know?” I whisper.

Kayla glances back at the boys and then shakes her head. “Derrick came to give you a huge hug, and he wants to take you out to dinner.”

“Why?” I ask as I peer around her at Derrick.

“Well,” he interrupts. “Thanks to you, I got an interview with Boston University and Florida State for wrestling. I wanted to thank you with some dinner.” He approaches the counter and looks over at Kayla. “Step aside, it’s my turn.”

She sidesteps toward Lance. Derrick pulls me into a bear-style hug and it honestly leaves me gasping for air. It’s definitely different from Caleb’s comforting, gentle … Blah! What am I saying? I don’t want to think about his hugs!

Derrick releases me, and I stumble a little toward the coffee machines.

“Sorry. I’m just really excited. So when do you get off?” Derrick asks. “What kind of food do you like?”

“I get off at four. I don’t care where we eat, I’m down with anything, but you don’t have to take me out.”

“Um, yes, he does! Consider it a belated b-day present,” Kayla says with a smile.

“Oh no, shit, it was your birthday? When?” Derrick asks.

“Yesterday, right?” Lance answers.

“I’m still hung over if that helps.”

Derrick laughs. “Right on! Well, we should go grab some food. We can invite Cabs.”

“
No!
” Kayla and I both say at the same time. Both the boys jump back like we’re snakes with venomous, ready fangs.

“All right. No Caleb,” Lance says, then he shoots me a look that says I need to explain later.

Not happening. I don’t want to relive that memory anymore. It’s my own fault. I should have bailed on him and his stupid pleas for me the moment Danielle told me she was having his baby. I would have saved myself all the trouble of caring. Or at least thinking that maybe I was being ridiculous and could be with him. Pfft. How stupid of me.

“So we’ll be back for you at four. Unless you want to go to your house and get changed?” Derrick asks. “We can pick you up there.”

“Yeah, you can come by the house. Five thirty sound good?”

“Sounds great,” he says. Lance and Kayla order some drinks to go, and then they all leave together.

Once they do, it dawns on me.
Oh man, I’m going out to dinner with Derrick
. I hope he doesn’t think this is a date or hits on me. But I do hope Caleb sees him pick me up and gets really upset. Because, honestly, I want him to suffer. I want him to be as crushed as I am.

It’s near closing time when Alex comes toward the sink area. He gets two soapy rags ready and tosses me one while he takes the other. “You’re off today,” he notes.

“Um, okay.”

He smiles his boyish grin that makes girls like me melt. He’s really a hot piece of …
hello
to look at. Oh, and he so knows it. He winks at me and wipes a table. “Sky, I’m serious, there is something really wrong. No flirty comments when I wink at you. No sassy talk about soaping up your rags. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Just not in the mood.” My heart has been crushed. I don’t want to talk about it. Not to my super hot boss, who’s only a few years older than me. Still, this is a conversation I will never have with him.
Ever
.

“Seriously! Are you not going to tell me?”

I wipe a table that I believe has been cleaned twice now and avoid his question. He doesn’t let it go, cornering me at the next table and locking his gaze with mine. “What’s going on?”

“Dude, I’m not telling you my problems. Go be a Dr. Phil to someone else.”

He shakes his head. “Nope. Can’t push me away today. Tell me. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can help.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s solved. My issue. This is just the aftereffect. It will be gone tomorrow.”

He shrugs. “Okay. But if it isn’t I’m going to get it out of you.”

He wishes. I nod and continue cleaning up the shop. As soon as I’m finished, I punch out and head home. By the time I get there, I’ll have exactly twenty minutes to get ready. Not enough time to be super sexy—not that that’s the look I’m going for. But I’ll have enough time to look decent.

Chapter 32

Caleb

Skylar walks right into the house, up the flight of steps, and boom, slams her door. Yeah, she’s still upset with me. I don’t blame her. Fuck. I feel like an ass. I know it’s not my fault, I mean, I sure as hell didn’t let Danielle into my room. And to find her naked next to me scared the shit out of me.

After a few minutes, Skylar emerges from her room, wearing a skirt, thigh-high boots, and some sexy sweater that shows off her small bit of cleavage. I almost nut in my pants at the sight of her. She’s so gorgeous. Wait, what the hell is she dressed up for?

A horn blares outside, and I narrow my eyes. “Where the hell are you going?”

“Out!”

She turns the knob to the front door, and I’m off the couch so fast, I’m like The Flash! As I place my hand over hers, the horn sounds off again, and I look out the window to see who is so impatient and such a total asshat he can’t come to the door to get her. I nearly storm out of the house and pull him out of his car as soon as I see his Mustang. That no-good motherfucker.

“Are you kidding me? Derrick is your hot date tonight? There are codes for this kind of shit.”

She glares at me. “First off, you don’t own me. Second off, why do you care so much? Apparently you’ve got a girl in your life. One who doesn’t mind being a total slutbag and will visit you late at night just to fulfill your needs.”

I press my hands to my face, over my newly fixed nose, which only needed fixing thanks to her. “You know what, go do whatever the hell you want! I’m done!”

“I’ve been done!”

She storms out of the house and my stomach clenches. I need to follow her. At the same time, I need to let her go. Derrick is my boy, and he’s a good guy. But the thought of her with anyone that isn’t me makes me want to puke, hit a wall, and kill something. I never felt jealous before I met her.

Screw it! I’m following them.

I grab my things and head out the door. I call Lance while I’m pulling out of my driveway. “What up?” he answers.

“Going to kick the shit out of our friend Derrick.”

“Dude! Why are you going to go kick … oh. Did you see him pick up Sky?”

“Damn right I saw! What the hell?” I let go of the wheel and slam my hand back down on it. Hitting something is making me feel better.

“Yeah. You need to calm down. It’s a thank-you meal.”

“What? Thank you for what? He hates her!”

“Update: he doesn’t hate her so much. She helped him get looked at by a couple of colleges for wrestling. Actually, Sky got the recruiters looking at her for swimming to look at all the graduating seniors who are playing or
were
playing winter sports.”

“Really? She did that?”

“Apparently, at the last meet.”

I pull over and put my car into park on a side street. “She’s too good for me, isn’t she? I should just let her go.”