Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“I had plans with Amy,” he protests.
“Yeah, well, the extra moral support would’ve been helpful for when I got ambushed by Mila and Oliver.”
His expression goes remorseful. “Sorry. I didn’t even think about that.”
“It’s fine,” I say, sighing. “RJ was there to keep me from killing them.”
We work up to a jog again, our steady breathing the only sound between us for the next little while.
“So what does Duke want?” Silas eventually asks.
“What else? To win me back.” I snort out a laugh. “He’s badgering me into meeting up with him. Probably plans to flash his abs and flex his muscles a couple times because he thinks it’ll make me want him again.”
Silas snorts too. “I mean, it’s worked for him in the past.”
I give my friend a little shove, but his body is rock-solid and the shove doesn’t even disturb his gait.
“Hey, it’s true,” he says with a grin. “You’ve never been able to say no to Duke.”
“Maybe in the past. But things are different now,” I admit.
“Because you’re with RJ?” His tone is careful. With a twinge of skepticism thrown in.
“Yeah, I am.” I can’t stop the dumb, embarrassing smile that arises at the memory of the other night.
“What, like you’re exclusive now or something?”
“Hasn’t really come up. But, yes, I assume we are.”
“For real?” Now he definitely sounds skeptical. “I know you, Sloane. You develop an allergic reaction to a guy the second he talks about trying to lock you down. Like, shit, we’re all still recovering from the whiplash of the non-stop on-and-off from the Duke fiasco.”
“This is different.” I keep my gaze on the path ahead, because I’m afraid he’ll see everything I feel for RJ flashing across my face.
“Different, how?” he pushes.
Despite my best effort to control my emotions, I can’t stop the sappy confession from sliding out. “I think I’m in love with him.”
Silas stops dead in a cloud of dust. “Are you serious?”
I slow down, waiting for him to increase his pace again. “Yeah,” I say, and from the corner of my eye I catch him studying me.
“Well, shit,” he finally says. “This is big.”
“Huge,” I agree.
And entirely unexpected. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d fall for the antisocial boy trespassing on my trail. That’s just crazy talk. But it happened, despite my attempts to keep him at a distance, making him chase me. I didn’t expect for RJ and me to be so damn similar. And then the weirdest thing happened. Those similarities were so glaring it was like a mirror being held up to me, showing me a scary truth: the aloof, always-pretend-you-don’t-care attitude might protect us from heartache…but it’s the loneliest existence on the planet.
I don’t feel so lonely anymore. Opening myself up to RJ messed with my entire worldview, and I’m not sure I mind.
“By the way,” I tell Silas, as we push forward, adding another mile to our tally. “Don’t say anything to RJ about Duke’s constant texting. He’s got this whole jealousy thing going on. I mean, it’s really hot. But I don’t want him thinking I’m starting up with Duke behind his back or anything.”
“Of course. I’m your vault, you know that.”
Yeah, I do know that. Regardless of the company he keeps—ahem, Lawson—Silas is a man of his word. And since Casey’s accident, with every friend we had at Ballard turning on us, Silas has been the one constant. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without him.
Chapter 44
Silas
Coach is on one when he walks into Wednesday’s swim practice with a whiteboard and an easel. On it are each of our names and best times. With intensity gleaming in his eyes, he tells us we’ve become complacent, and he’s decided to inject a little friendly competition into the team. Inspire us to strive. Because top-four finishes in every event isn’t enough to take State. We have to set records.
I don’t hate the idea, at least until he throws us into the pool for head-to-head sprints. Out of nowhere, RJ demolishes two guys who’ve been swimming anchor since sophomore year. Then he nearly conquers Lawson’s butterfly time in what would have been a monumental upset. If he’d made it all the way through the bracket to swim against me and won, I might have hung up my goggles.
No one should get that good this quickly.
It’s unreal.
He’s gotten quicker in the gym, too. Fenn can’t keep up anymore when they spar. RJ’s too fast for him. He’s learned to find his reach and time his punches, which lately are landing every time. The guy’s looking dangerous and it’s starting to get obnoxious.
Admittedly, I thought RJ might have quit the team by now. Realized it was more work than it sounded and stopped showing up. Turns out, I think he’s enjoying it.
When Coach finally dismisses everyone for day, the rest of us are exhausted and dragging ass while RJ’s still got some big dumb grin on his face heading into the showers. I know I should let it go. Chalk this shitty mood up to low blood sugar and move on.