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“COME ON, DONOVAN! WHAT are you doin’? Push it harder!”
I glide through the water, my breath stunted as I try to focus on my strokes. The past week has been hell. My coaches—and my dad—have been riding my ass every day, twice a day, pressuring me to beat my times. I had tests in all of my AP classes, and I got my first B in history. Mom wasn’t happy, for sure.
But I can’t concentrate. All I can think about is the visit I had with Penny last week. So much was said that I spent all weekend trying to sort it out. People have broken my Sunshine to the point of her wanting to be homeschooled, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I’ve already talked to my mom about the situation. That’s nothing but a dead end. She told me to let her handle it. Yeah, because that worked so well last time. I can’t talk to Colt, either. He’s under the impression his sister is doing great.
But whether or not she meant to, Penny confided in me. I’m the only person who knows the truth. She’s barely holding her head above water. It’s like she’s drowning.
All of a sudden, her painting flashes through my mind.
Holy shit...
I hit the timing platform and burst out of the water, knowing full well I’ve lost a few seconds. Removing my goggles, I brush the water from my face. Damnit, my dad will freak when he sees my times.
Coach stands over me with a stopwatch and glares. “What the hell is this, Donovan? Sixty-point-two? You’ve lost a whole second in less than ten days! District finals are just around the corner. That’s the race that counts.”
Climbing out of the pool, I grab a towel from one of the racks. Jesus, can this day get any worse? I shake the water from my ears. “I’m sorry, Coach. I’m just having an off day. Tests were killer.”
Coach Simms eyes me warily. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he says, “I know this is a hard year, son. It’ll only get tougher. We just have to focus. There’s a prize at the end of this. I swear it.”
Pulling in oxygen, I nod. The inherent meaning in his body language is loud and clear. Get it together, or Joe Donovan will be ripping the entire coaching staff and me new assholes. “Got it.”
“Hit the showers.”
Stealing a bottle of water from the mini fridge in Coach’s office, I chug it as I make my way to the locker room. I’m the only athlete left. The rest of the team finished practicing an hour ago.
I dry my face, my mind reeling with crap that I can’t deal with. Penny, my classes, my girlfriend pressuring me to have sex... this shit is getting to me.
“Lukey!”
Whipping around, I pull my towel across my shoulders and freeze as Christy throws herself in my arms. Her breasts brush against my bare chest seductively, and I pull away from her with a scowl. “Fuck, Chris! What the hell are you doing in here? How did you get into the guys’ locker room?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Trailing a finger across my abs, she smiles. “We’re alone. Looks like perfect timing to me.”
Irritation wraps itself around my throat as I shove her toward the door. “Get out.” Okay, so I’m in a pissy mood. I can’t deal with her shit right now.
Her eyes widen. “What? Why? We’re the only ones here!”
“My coaches are on the other side of that wall, Chris. This isn’t cool.”
She seizes my hands. “Come on, Luke. I’ve hardly seen you. You’ve been practicing all week. I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
Her dramatic pout isn’t doing it for me today. “Damnit, just stop. There’s a lot going on, okay? Between school, swimming, and this thing with Penny—”
Instant bitch face.
Her cheer skirt flares as she crosses her arms over her chest and juts out her hip. “You can’t be serious.”
My jaw clenches. No way am I going to fight with her about this tonight. Opening my locker, I grab my shampoo and body wash. “Go home. I’ll call you later.”
A sound of indignation follows a whine that I’ve never heard before. “Why are you still concerned about Ramsay? I told you to let me deal with her.”
“Chris...”
Pouting, she stamps her feet. The girl certainly knows how to take dramatic to a new level. “No! If this relationship is going to work, Luke Donovan, we have to talk about things.”
“She just isn’t doing well,” I grumble. I’m not about to break Penny’s confidence about everything she vented out last week. I don’t understand it myself. Until I find out who has it out for her, I’m not sharing a damn thing with anyone.
Christy rolls her eyes. “Of course, she is. I just talked to her today. Brandon called her. She’s excited about going to Homecoming with him. She even helped during the pep assembly.” Arching her eyebrow, she sighs. “This hero crap has to stop.”
I clench my jaw. “Excuse me?”
“Do you want us to work?”
“You know I do.”
“Then you gotta let this protectiveness with Penny go. She obviously doesn’t want your help.” She shakes her head. “And I’m tired of playing second hand to her all the time.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and groan. “Jesus, this again? I told you there’s nothing going on. She’s my friend. That’s all.”
“The girl has had a crush on you for years.” I go to protest, but she holds up a hand. “I can prove it!”
Standing akimbo, I glare at her. “That shit’s just a rumor. Old news that’s been spreading since the seventh grade when I comforted her at her dad’s funeral. Her brother is—”
“Yeah, yeah. Your best friend. Does she know that? You may not realize it, but you’re leading her on.”
I frown. The hell I am. If anything, Penny is pushing me as far away as she can. “How would you even know? I don’t get the feeling you and Pen are as tight as you say you are. Unless you’re stalking her?”
The sparkle in her eyes dulls for a second. “This is so stupid.” She lifts her chin high as tears wobble at her eyelashes. “If you don’t feel anything for her, why do you stop by her house almost every night to check on her?”
Anger filters through every cell in my body. I grip my towel tighter. Is she fucking kidding me? “Who told you that?”
She sniffles. “Your father. He’s got some sort of tracking device on your car. He wanted to know why you were at her house, and I told him I had no idea you were doing it.”
Oh, hell no. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply to control the sudden rush of adrenaline infiltrating my veins. My nerves are frayed.
“You need to leave.” Turning toward the showers, I don’t look back.
“Luke!”
She tries to catch my arm, but I dodge her grasp. As I stalk away, rage zips through me like a million pissed-off bees. I can’t do this with her. If she wants to break up because of some stupid rumor started by the bitches that bully Penny on the regular, let her.
“I’m too tired to worry about this shit.”