PRESTON PLOWED THROUGH the water like a man possessed, but he no longer felt like he was flying. It seemed as if each molecule surrounding his skin was infused with pain and stress instead of the usual soothing relaxation.
He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he had forgotten something. That he was supposed to do something. But as soon as he’d arrived at the Bennett Club facility, Coach Bennett put him to work right away. Swimming had become his life more than it had ever been. He ate, breathed, dreamed, and thought about nothing else. Yet at the back of his mind there was an itch he couldn’t seem to scratch.
Anger and frustration propelled him forward in the final few meters. His hands slapped against the tile. The sound used to send a zing of accomplishment through him. Now it merely served as a reminder that he’d reached his goal.
Immediately he planted his feet and pulled off his cap and goggles. He looked up at the assistant coach assigned to all the newbies. For a moment, a different face stared back at him. One with bright blue eyes and a winning smile.
To clear the image, blaming it on the stinging chlorine, he wiped a hand down his face and blinked several times. Maybe the lack of sleep was catching up with him. He still hadn’t recovered from the jet lag, despite the Ambien he’d taken on the plane ride almost ten days ago.
“Looking good, Pres!” The assistant coach glanced at the stopwatch, then at the tablet that contained swimming stats. “You actually shaved a tenth of a second from your time. Not at the level of your tryouts just yet, but getting there. Keep this up and you’ll be a beast come the qualifiers next year.”
A tenth of a second. That was the amount of time it took to change his life, but was it a life he still wanted?
Of course.
What the hell was he thinking? He shoved the cap and goggles back on.
“I’m going again,” he said, already pushing up and out of the pool to take his place on the starting block.
“Actually…” The assistant paused.
“What?”
The guy hiked his thumb toward the bleachers. “Someone’s been waiting for you. Go catch up and we’ll pick this up later this afternoon.”
With hope surging in his chest, Preston whipped his head in the direction the coach indicated. His gaze immediately settled on familiar dark hair and blue eyes, but the similarities ended there. His heart plummeted for some reason. Of course it wouldn’t be Nathan. He was probably back in DoCo finalizing plans for his mother’s luncheon. Why would he expect anything less?
Caleb stood from the fifth row and gave him a small wave.
Shoulders slumping, he padded to the bottom of the bleacher steps as Caleb climbed down to meet him.
“Aww!” Caleb said, giving him a couple of soft slaps on the cheek. “Look at that face.”
Preston grunted. “I’m not making a face.”
“How far the stoic has fallen.” Caleb tsked. “You should really hide your disappointment better, buddy.”
“Who says I’m disappointed?” Preston asked in his usual monotone, schooling his face into what he hoped was an expressionless mask.
“I think you’re forgetting that we grew up together.” Caleb crossed his arms and widened his stance. “You can’t fool me, so don’t even bother trying.”
“I hate to be rude…” He pulled off his cap and goggles again. Water still dripped from his arms and chest.
“Whoa! You shaved your head!” Caleb gasped, preventing Preston from asking his question.
Automatically Preston reached up and rubbed his palm over the buzz cut. “It’s nothing.”
“It actually looks good. Maybe I should get a buzz cut too.”
“What the hell are you doing here, Caleb?” Preston finally got to ask. He had to admit that seeing Caleb again did bring a measure of comfort. Being in Colorado alone was lonely. He missed … his life in Dodge Cove.
“Just thought we could talk,” Caleb said way too innocently.
Preston’s brow furrowed. “Don’t think I don’t recognize that casual shrug of yours. After all, we did grow up together. You’re up to something.”
“So what if I am?” Caleb challenged, his gaze hardening to sapphires.
“I’m really busy.” Preston turned around, heading toward the showers.
“He’s been blasting Songs About Jane since he got back,” Caleb called after him, his voice bouncing off the facility’s walls.
Preston froze in his tracks. Songs About Jane was Nathan’s go-to heartbreak album. He only played it on full blast if it was all systems down. Last time that happened Adam Levine had announced he was getting married.
He turned around. “Is he okay?”
The smug look on Caleb’s face said it all. “I’m starving. Where’s a good place to eat around here?”
* * *
Preston led the way into a family-owned restaurant that served pretty decent food. Since he’d only been in Colorado a short time, he hadn’t had time to really explore the area surrounding the Bennett Club. Mostly he ate what the nutritionist prepared at the facility and stayed at the dorms after practice.
Caleb followed him in as a server approached. She greeted them with a smile and indicated one of the back booths. Preston gave her a nod and headed for the booth as the smell of bacon grease and sizzling burgers wafted from behind the counter.
Once seated, they looked over the menu, which showed pretty standard diner fare, and gave their orders. A burger and fries for the both of them.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you to somewhere fancier,” Preston said when the woman left to fetch their drinks.
“I’m used to it. Didi’s been dragging me to every fast-food place and diner in Dodge Cove.”
“How is she?” Preston asked. He had a soft spot for Caleb’s girlfriend and maintained that he’d had a hand in bringing them together.
A silly grin spread across the Parker cousin’s face. “She’s magnificent. She’s actually helping Nathan out with the luncheon.”
Preston’s eyebrows lifted. “Nathan? Having an assistant? That’s new.” Then he sobered. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but why are you here? Why is Nathan blasting Songs About Jane?”
“Once upon a time you were a voice of reason when I thought all hope was lost with Didi. I’m here to return that favor.” Caleb looked him dead in the eye, a crooked grin on his lips. “You know, there is a way to determine if you love someone. Do you want to try it?”
“What does it entail?” Preston asked suspiciously.
“You just have to answer the first thing that comes to mind when I start asking you questions. It’s actually this Cosmo quiz Didi made me take.”
“I’m not taking a fucking Cosmo quiz!” Preston said, scandalized.
“Come on. It works. Trust me.”
Still skeptical, Preston stomped down his embarrassment as best he could. No harm in answering a few questions. Right? He looked around to make sure no one was listening in on them before he nodded, hands on his knees.
Caleb lifted a finger. “Question one. Who is the first person you think about the second you wake up?”
“Nathan.” No joke. The second Preston opened his eyes, he’d wonder what Nathan was doing that very moment. More so now after their trip.
“All right. Second question. Who is the last person you think about before you go to sleep at night?”
“Nathan.” Preston kept reminding himself to send Nathan a text or to call, but at the end of each practice day he was so exhausted that all he could do was sleep.
“Good.” Caleb nodded once. “Third question. Who is the first person you’d want to tell when something good happens?”
“Nathan,” Preston whispered, thinking back. Yes. Every time something good happened in his life, he wanted Nathan to be the first to know. More so than his parents. In everything, the one constant was Nathan.
“Fourth question.” Caleb’s previous smugness returned. “When you need help or have a problem, who is the person you go to?”
The answer was simple for two reasons. If he didn’t tell Nathan, then he would be risking great bodily harm. And the other was it seemed his childhood friend had all the answers. When Preston was injured, Nathan had been the one who helped him the most. When he needed a distraction from thinking about the results of the tryouts, Nathan had suggested the trip. Granted, things imploded most of the time, but Preston didn’t regret going.
“Last question.”
“Do we have to?” Preston already knew where this was going.
“Just one more.” Caleb winked. “And when you close your eyes and think of your seventy-year-old self, who is the one you want holding your hand?”
“Damn it!”
“Why did you walk out on Nathan when you two were supposed to go on a date?”
The question blindsided him. For a few seconds all he could really do was concentrate on breathing. Thank God they were already seated, because he’d lost feeling in his legs.
“Jesus.” He wiped his face with both hands. “I completely fucked up.”
“Explain.”
As if he was punched back to life, the words came spilling out. “When we got back to the hotel, I got the e-mail about getting into the Bennett Club. I was so excited that I completely forgot about our date. I’m such an asshole.” It all started to make sense. “No wonder Nathan was acting weird after I told him I was leaving. Fuck!” Preston eased out of the booth.
“Whoa!” Caleb went after him. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Preston turned back around and glared, nostrils flaring.
“Stop freaking out.” The smile Caleb gave him showed his triumph. “I already have us booked on the red-eye out of Denver tonight. I figure that way you have a chance to make up an excuse to your coach.”
“Has anyone ever told you how scary you can get when you have your mind set on something?” Preston asked lightly, all the burdens weighing down his shoulders easing.
“Not since yesterday.” Caleb ushered his friend back to the booth. “Plus, you can’t just go there without a plan.”
“I’m guessing you already have one in mind?” Preston was feeling slightly light-headed when he returned to his side of the booth.
“I may have a couple of suggestions,” Caleb said, a dangerous twinkle in his eye. “But sweeping Nate off his feet should come from you. I’m just here to help in any way that I can.”
“Let’s eat first.” Preston waved for the server again. A burger and fries just wouldn’t cut it. “I do my best thinking on a full stomach.”