Rival Hearts (Rival Love #2) (17 page)

Chapter 29

Skylar

I pretend. Faking is something I need to become very good at. So I sit and paste on a smile for my mom and Brian. I laugh at things that are supposed to be amusing. I even lie and say it’s the best birthday I’ve ever had.

This is definitely one of the worst. About as bad as the night Dad brought Lidia to the house. As bad as the night when my mom said the divorce was final and there were going to be changes around the house. And as terrible as the day I found out that Caleb got Danielle pregnant. I actually can’t wait to be done with high school.

I need to get out of here. So after the cake, ice cream, and gifts, I bundle myself up and take my car. The roads aren’t so bad to drive on, slick in some spots, but mostly cleared. I’ve got no actual idea where I’m heading until I pull into her driveway.

Balling up my fist, I beat it against the door like I’m the cops. Sam answers, giggling. “Ha ha, come … ” She looks up at me and snaps, “What the hell?”

“Hi to you, too. We need to talk. Now.”

“You can’t just … ” She tries to push me out the door, but I can see she has a small get-together going on. Mikia and her boyfriend JJ are sitting on the couch with some kid I’ve never seen before. Another couple, Ian and Jackie, are sitting on the floor. All of them look either drunk or stoned. I don’t actually care which it is.

I push my way into the living room. Mikia looks up at me with shocked eyes. She starts to stand while Sam tries to yank me away. “Don’t!” I say to both of them. “I’m going to say what I want to say because today is my birthday and yes, I’m a selfish person tonight. Or should I use the word ‘bitch’ since one of you wrote that on my car?” Sam starts to say something, but I stop her. “It doesn’t really matter. I’m not actually here about that. So here it goes: I’ve been there for the two of you, for years.”

I glare at Sam. “I should beat the ever living hell out of you for spitting in my face!” She shrinks back like she wishes to God I never knew where she lived. I turn my attention to Mikia. “And you! What the hell did I do to you? I’m not pissing in your cornflakes in the morning! Yet you cut me off from being your friend because I happen to go to the rival school. Hello, news flash, you know it wasn’t my choice!”

I shake my head. “You two are supposed to be my friends through thick and thin. Not trashing my car!”

“Whoa! We didn’t trash your car,” Mikia says.

“What?”

“Girl, we didn’t tag your ride,” Mikia says with raised eyebrows.

“Okay.” Maybe Mia and Kevin tagged my car. Whatever. I’m getting off the point of why I’m here.

I look about the room again. “Every one of you has made me who I am. Well, okay, not you, because I don’t know who the hell you are,” I say to the kid I don’t know.

Sam makes a noise beside me and rolls her eyes. I continue, “All of you might hear my name and say things like ‘traitor,’ ‘bitch,’ or whatever. That might be true, but here’s the thing, I’m just me. It took another person for me to see this. I’m a girl who plays softball and swims. My specialty is distance, and I love the backstroke.” Mikia smiles. “I love watching sports; my favorite is football. Denver Broncos is my team, you all. My best friends are Sam—even though you totally spit on me and that’s a definite BFF no-no, Mikia, and Kayla, who, yes, happens to be a Bobcat. I used to think being me meant being a Bulldog. Then my mom moved us into her boyfriend’s house which happens to be in Bobcat territory. And it’s taken me up until now to know that no matter what school I’m in, wherever I am, I wouldn’t be me without you guys. So, thank you.”

Jackie gets up and moves toward the door. “Sam, Mikia, if you hang out with her, we’re bouncing.”

I start to move toward the door, too. “It’s cool. I said what I needed to. I’m getting out of here.”

Mikia stops me. “Sky, hold up. Chill with us for a bit. It’s your birthday and we’ve got drinks.”

Sam smiles. “Yeah. Come on, girl. Jackie, if you’re leaving, make sure Ian drives. You’re a lightweight and it’s showing.”

Jackie gives Sam an evil glare but storms out of the house with Ian in tow.

***

Inside the kitchen, we pull out shot glasses and set them up on the countertop. Sam pours us all a shot of Jack Daniels and I take it. It burns all the way down my throat but, shit, it’s making me forget. I love this feeling.

“I ruined you girls, didn’t I?” I ask.

Sam and Mikia exchange looks and Sam sighs. “It was bound to happen. Shit, Sky, when I spit on you during the meet I was so pissed at you. I couldn’t believe it. But then afterward I felt awful. How could I do that to my best friend? She loves swimming. She loves softball. It was so selfish and cruel. I don’t like us like this, Sky; we’re best friends.”

“I’m still your friend. Both of you. I missed you both a lot, especially these past couple of weeks. God, there is so much shit going on in my life I can’t keep any of it straight. Half the time I’m crying, the other half I’m so mad I see nothing but red. And all I really wanted to do was call both of you.”

Mikia slides a mixed drink my way and sits up on the countertop I’m leaning against. “So what’s going on?” she asks.

I look at the two of them and then break down, telling them everything from the move, which they knew about, to Kevin’s bullshit, which, again, they knew about, to my love for Caleb, which they didn’t know about, to the pool being trashed, the move to New York, and Caleb bringing me back. Then I tell them the real damage: Caleb’s new life path as a dad, my dream college not scouting me yet, and finally, that someone’s got it in for me. Because I can say this: none of the other cars were tagged after the meet, just mine.

They both listen. They gasp at some parts, frown at others, and for once, I feel good about talking this all out.

Sam slaps the countertop. “That’s it. I have a brilliant idea!” She’s slurring her words together, but it’s all good because she doesn’t seem to care or notice. “We’re going to go show Caleb how much you love and deserve him.”

I shake my head. “No. I can’t.”

Mikia takes another shot and eyes up JJ. “If a girl you loved told her you loved her back, you’d be with her, right, babe? Even if you were having some other bitch’s baby?”

JJ’s response: “Uh.”

“That’s what I thought.” She smiles at him and I shake my head. These two are clearly drunk. I’m getting there.

“I’m serious; you should call him,” Sam urges while pulling on my left arm.

Weird boy I’ve never talked to says his name is Gabe, and apparently goes to school with JJ. He talks to Sam for a bit then those two disappear into a bedroom. Mikia, of course, giggles over this and whispers, “They’re going to have sexy sex!”

I end up giggling over this, too, after my fifth shot and third mixed drink. It’s not until JJ leads Mikia into a room and she says, “Now, it’s my turn to have sexy sex,” that I feel alone.

Stumbling to the couch, I pull out my phone and call Caleb. He answers in a really groggy tone. “Hello?”

“Hi, I’m drunk can you … come sit with me?”

“What? Sky, it’s two in the morning. Where are you?”

“At Sam’s house. It’s in Lakeside. She’s having sexy sex, and so is Mikia.” I giggle like a child who just heard the word poop. “I’m lonely. The person I want to have sex with is on the phone and engaged to some troll named Bitchy One.” My thoughts are so foggy. Why was I calling him again?

Caleb groans. “Babe, I’ll come get you. I’m calling you back in two minutes, okay?”

“I don’t like this. It’s not fair. I’m a good person.”

“I know, babe. Listen, I’m going to call you right back. Swear.”

He hangs up and I stare at the screen. Jesus, I’m such a mess. I feel really tired. It’s hard to keep my eyes open. I should just go to sleep. Why was I not doing this? Clearly, my whole body wants to sleep.

My phone lights up and buzzes at the same time. His face is like Christmas. Suddenly I want to kiss my phone. No, not my phone … him. Yes, I need to kiss him. I slide my finger across the screen and mumble, “Hello?”

“All right, beautiful, I’m coming. Sorry I didn’t call you back right away. Stay on the phone with me. No sleeping on me.”

“Okay. I love your present. You’re the best. You just … yeah. I love … mmm.” My eyes feel so heavy.

“Skylar, we had a deal. No sleeping. Got me, babe? You have to talk to me.” I can hear his smile. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Keep talking to me.”

I grumble. I need him here now. Thirty minutes is forever long. “Why can’t I be happy? I do good things. I … I help people. And I’m constantly getting slapped in the face.”

“Who slapped you?”

“Pfft … no one.” I laugh, probably sounding obnoxious, but I can’t stop myself. “Ugh … I need to sleep. Why am I not sleeping, Caleb?”

“Because you need to talk to me and keep me awake.”

“Well,” I point a finger at my phone like he can see it and say, “that’s just stupid.”

“Babe, listen, I know you’re tired. I’m almost there. Just please keep talking. Okay?”

I lay back on the couch a little too hard and whimper, “Ow, my head. I don’t feel so awesome. The room is spinning. Caleb, make the room stop.”

“I will, baby. I promise. I’m coming. Just a little further. Sky, tell me a story, okay?”

“I don’t want to. Stories suck.”

“Please.”

“Fine. Once there was a girl who had everything she wanted and she thought nothing would change. Turns out her dad would leave because he wanted to be with his new wife and their daughter, not the one he already had. She didn’t see him after that, but she told herself that he would come back, at the very least on her birthday. So she waited. Counted down the days. Got really excited as the day approached. Birthdays were always the best. But when her birthday came, sure there were presents, cake, and ice cream, but her dad never came. So the little girl decided maybe she wasn’t good enough. The next year she made sure she did everything right. Got good grades. Did her chores without complaint. But birthdays came and went and still her dad never came. The birthday girl cried and cried and hated her birthday for years, until one day she met a gorgeous prince. He gave her an awesome gift that could have reminded her why her birthday sucked so much, but instead it did something better. It helped her see that the prince is right. But he was leaving her forever, too. So the girl became sad again.”

A knock sounds on the door and I stumble to it.

“Worst story ever, Fletch.” I fall into his arms and he walks me into the house where he helps me with my coat, mittens, scarf, and hat. Then he helps me to his car.

Caleb drives us home, but we don’t say much to each other. Of course the very stupid lush part of me doesn’t like this so I decide to confess things. While he’s helping me up to my room, I blurt out, “I love you so much it hurts. I hate you have to marry that stupid bitch. It should be me, damn it! Me!”

“Babe, how much have you had?”

“Of what? I don’t understand the question.”

He shakes his head and helps me over to my bed. “Aren’t you going to help me get into my PJs?”

I sway a little toward him and he catches me before I face-plant on the floor. “Sky, are you sure you want me to help you get undressed?”

I bite my lower lip and nod.

“Okay. I’m going to sit you down on the bed.”

I let him guide me. My body heats either because I’m overly drunk and embarrassed he’s looking at me like I’m such a complete and utter mess, or because I’m mortified he might not like what he sees. Either way, I close my eyes for a few seconds and let him help me get undressed. He pulls off my jeans first. Then my sweater comes off. I open my eyes when I hear him suck in a breath.

He walks over to my dresser and gathers up a soft t-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts. I unhook my bra while he’s doing that. When he turns toward the bed, he drops the clothes he’s holding. “Skylar, are you trying to kill me?”

“No. I don’t sleep in bras, though.”

He picks up the clothes he dropped and stops right in front of me. He kneels and helps me into my shorts. Then he starts to stand, but I grab him and pull his mouth to mine.

At first he doesn’t seem to be in the mood to kiss me, but then he returns the passion. He leans me back against my bed, while his hands stay right in mine, keeping them near my head. His lips trail down my neck and along my collarbone. “Don’t stop.”

He does though. He pulls back and sighs. “I love you, but I don’t want you while you’re like this. I want you to be able to know who the hell I am in the morning. I want you to remember every single thing I do to you.”

“But I will,” I protest.

“Maybe you will but I don’t want to feel like I took advantage of you. I love you too damn much, Sky.” He helps me put my t-shirt on and kisses me. “I don’t like seeing you like this. It kills me knowing I hurt you.”

I turn and look at him. “I hate that she gets you. I just want it to stop.”

He squeezes his eyes shut and lets out a slow breath. “She doesn’t have me. She’s never going to have me. You, on the other hand, do have me, forever.” He looks at me and kisses my forehead. “It’ll always be you, Sky. Are you hearing me?”

“But … ”

“I wish you’d stop pushing me away.”

I blink back some tears. His fingers swipe them away. “Sky, I will do anything and everything to show you how much you mean to me. But I will never, ever take it when you’re like this.”

I nod and turn away from him. How is it possible that I actually feel worse than I did throwing up in front of him?

His arms wrap around me a moment later, and he whispers, “Good night, babe.” He presses his lips to my temple and I fall asleep.

Chapter 30

Caleb

When she called me, I didn’t know what to think. All I did know at that moment was that I had to get to her. I got dressed, chugged a can of Mountain Dew, and then went to her. I actually had a vague idea of where she was, but I figured if I needed help she could direct me. Even though I was talking to her on the phone, it didn’t quite prepare me for how tanked she was.