CODY
Smack. My back hit the mat with an electrifying pain that resonated all the way to my fingertips. I knew from the sting of the shower I’d gained more than a tan at the lake, but never expected the blistering red that covered my back and shoulders.
“What’s your deal today?” Matt’s irritation came out in a low hiss. “You’re completely off.”
I gingerly pushed to my feet. Even the soft, Dri-Fit material of my shirt scratched like sandpaper. I swallowed and waited for the ache to subside.
Concern replaced the anger on Matt’s face. “Are you hurt? Did something get tweaked in practice?”
“No, I’m fine. Let’s just go again.”
Matt eyed me skeptically and then crossed his massive arms. “Lift your sleeve.”
He was too perceptive, too watchful. Begrudgingly, I pushed up the edge of my shirt to reveal the angry crimson already starting to blister.
“Geez, Cody! Why didn’t you say something?” He unstrapped his headpiece, the signal we were finished grappling for the day.
I wanted to argue. I needed this workout. Needed to let out the growing fury in my gut. But contradicting Matt was suicidal.
He guzzled some water while I slowly lifted my arms to take off my own head protection.
“Where’d the burn come from?”
I looked down, kept my eyes locked on the tips of my sneakers. “At the lake yesterday.” I would never lie to Matt; even knowing the truth was going to set him off like a torpedo.
“You didn’t have school yesterday?”
“We skipped.”
There was a heartbeat of silence, enough to send adrenaline pumping through my blood. “We?” His tone was on the edge, like a sharp razor one brush away from slicing a deep trench in my skin.
I summoned the courage to look him in the eye. It wasn’t like I killed someone. Every single senior in the history of time skipped school once or twice. “All the seniors. It’s no big deal, okay?”
A myriad of emotions passed over his face, surprise turned to frustration, which gave way to the anger that I’d seen far too often. “Did you plan this little adventure?”
“No, of course not.”
“So, you just went along with it? Who cares what the fallout means for you and your team?”
I moved in closer. I didn’t know where the fight came from, but I was shaking, ready to go another round that was real this time. “What fallout? We didn’t even miss practice.”
His glare reminded me of a pit bull in full attack mode. “Were you drinking?”
Blood pounded in my ears. He wasn’t my father. Wasn’t even my coach, technically.
“That’s what I thought.” His disappointed tone was worse than the sunburn. “What is wrong with you? You’re special, Cody. Don’t throw all of that away because some punk kids make breaking the law look cool.”
Fury released the last of my control, and all the pent up resentment and anger I’d felt toward Blake and Coach, erupted with a volume that could pierce an eardrum. “What more do you want from me? I’m an eighteen-year-old kid in high school, not someone training for the Olympics. I’m here every morning, busting my butt for you, and then in the gym all afternoon getting screamed at by Coach. What’s it going to take to be good enough for all of you, huh?”
Matt stepped away from me. “So, you’re doing this for me, then? For your coach?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m trying to be the golden boy everyone expects me to be. Trying to live up to this ridiculous expectation you have, when all I want is to get this year over with.” It was the most honest thing I’d said to him all day, and I instantly regretted it. I didn’t have to look into his fiery eyes to know I’d pushed too far. My voice had never been raised against him. Ever.
Matt jumped out of the ring and threw his headgear across the room. It bounced off the wall with a bang that turned every eye our way. “Get out of my gym. And don’t come back until that attitude of yours is fixed. I didn’t spend the last year and a half helping you just so you could turn out like every other stupid kid!”
He stomped down the hallway and shoved open the door to Apocalypse—the room that held a punching bag and ear-splitting rock music where Matt unloaded all his frustration.
I hung my head, the adrenaline draining from my body. I’d forgotten the first rule of survival. Keep your mouth shut.
*
I pulled my truck into the senior lot and parked behind Chugger’s souped-up jeep. He leaned against the bumper while Jackie, his newest girl, snapped a selfie next to him. The muscles in the back of my neck knotted, and I rolled my head to each side trying to work them out.
Chugger pushed off his jeep when I opened the truck door and said, “Dude, I’m soooo sore.”
“That’s what happens when you slack off all summer.”
He wrapped his arm around Jackie and flashed an indecent grin. “Oh, I was very dedicated this summer…to extracurricular activities.”
I ignored his innuendo. Locker talk I was used to, but not in front of his current girl. “Blake here yet?”
Chugger tilted his chin toward the entry steps. “I’d leave it alone. He’s pissy this morning.”
I readjusted the bag on my shoulder. Crap. “You know why?”
“If his legs feel anything like mine do, all it took was walking.”
Jackie tugged on Chugger’s arm. “You promised you’d give me your opinion on my dress for next weekend, and the magazine is in my locker.”
I seriously doubted she’d even be around next weekend.
Chugger smacked her bottom and hobbled forward. “Duty calls.” He shot one more glance toward Blake’s tense back. “I hope he chills before first period.”
I nodded with trepidation but started toward Blake anyway. No need to put off the grand apology he’d expect for snubbing him in the locker room. Matt dismissed my life as some afterschool special, but he didn’t understand the core of what it took to fit in at Madison.
Lindsay’s blond hair appeared over Blake’s shoulder and then the two of them shifted, allowing me a glimpse of their interaction. Maybe it was instinct, but everything inside said, wrong, wrong, wrong. Her stance was too defensive, his too hostile. My gaze followed the line of his arm. He gripped her bicep, fingers digging deep into her sleeve.
My teeth snapped together, my skin too tight against my aching muscles. I should retreat, stay out of whatever argument they were having. Hadn’t my earlier outburst gotten me into enough trouble? But the fear in her expression pulled me forward.
Lindsay saw me coming first, and her lips moved for the first time. Blake quickly glanced my way and dropped his hand. His shoulders were rigid, irritation plain on his face. My interruption was unwelcome.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and relaxed my stance. “S’up Blake, Lindsay.”
“Hey, Cody.” Lindsay’s shaky voice was barely audible. I studied her face. If angels could be seen, Lindsay would definitely rival them in beauty. Pale blond hair. Big blue eyes. But her typical glow was darkened by sadness, and tears pooled near her lashes.
I cleared my throat and tried to ignore the glare of disapproval coming from Blake. “You goin’ to class? Ms. Yarnell said our group will have extra work if you’re tardy again.”
He shot Lindsay a scowl that could kill on sight. “Yeah, let’s go.” A second later, he was off toward the building.
Lindsay mouthed, “Thank you,” and walked back to her car, ducking her head like she was trying to curl into a small, invisible ball.
“Cody!”
Blake’s harsh yell was like a slap to the head. I wanted to tell him to screw off. That he didn’t get to dictate everyone’s life. But that was fantasy. Reality waited with impatience. Sighing, I slowly made my way to where he stood hating every step I took in his direction.
“Your timing sucks.” His cold stare was a warning.
I inhaled to pull back the millions of other things I wanted to say. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize you were fighting.”
Anger blazed from his blue eyes. “She wasn’t at school yesterday.”
“Nobody was at school yesterday.”
“Yeah, well, her friends were all with us, so where was she? I called her twice and checked in with her mom. I know she wasn’t home.” He walked fast, forcing a stride that was almost a jog.
“Considering what went down with you and Stacey Morgan, don’t you think it’s a good thing Lindsay opted to be alone?”
“She’d better have been alone.”
Heaviness settled in my chest. I knew Blake was possessive and territorial when it came to Lindsay, but his clenched fists and pinched face went beyond a rational reaction. Jill was right. Anyone who stepped between those two would get singed in the crossfire.
Blake’s feet halted, his dark expression morphing into an innocent one. “And I don’t know what you’re talking about. I barely said two words to Stacey at the lake.”
That was probably true. They’d disappeared for thirty minutes and, when they returned, Blake had a grin that didn’t need explanation. I didn’t contradict him, though. No point in it.
By the time we reached our lockers, Blake carried on as if he’d never argued with Lindsay. His mood set the tone, and people circled around him, high-fiving the success of senior skip day. Not one parent was called yesterday.
Blake snapped his fingers in front of my face. “I thought you were all twisted about being late. Let’s go.”
Chugger made it to class minutes behind us but looked ready to explode into a firecracker of smiles. “Dude, did you see the new girl this morning?”
Blake perked up. “What new girl?”
“Oh, you’d remember. Nicest stems I’ve ever seen and a face like Aphrodite.” Chugger sat back, his hand draped across his heart. “I think I’m in love.”
I rolled my eyes. Chugger fell in “love” at least three times a month.
A hush fell over the room, followed by a low whistle from two tables over. The object of our conversation stood in the doorway glancing around for a place to sit.
My mouth went dry. The goddess from yesterday. The one I was beginning to think I imagined. Hair the color of fire encircled her like a halo of light. Her eyes met mine, and the strange connection from before hit me again. She was familiar, like an old toy from childhood that brought a rush of memory, but I couldn’t place why.
Her shiny hair fell over her shoulder, messy in a way that looked intentional. She reached up and grabbed a strand. Twirled it with her finger.
Blake pushed out a chair, scraping it across the floor and motioned for her to join our group. I, along with the rest of the class, watched in stunned silence. He had kicked many a student out of that same chair the first day of school.
She shyly looked around for another invite, but no one else would dare after Blake had made such an obvious gesture. Her eyes locked with mine, and again they surveyed me as if she’d caught on to my secret that I was an imposter. My lungs burned with the need for air. I wanted to scream, “Run away, now, before it’s too late.”
But she didn’t run. She moved with the grace of a dancer and slid into the empty seat. Her light perfume floated across the table—powdery and sweet. “Hi, I’m Skylar.”
Blake’s gaze trailed down her body, and his smile widened. I wanted to punch something. She wasn’t a goddess anymore, but a sacrifice to the king of Madison.
Blake owned everyone at this school, his word akin to gospel, and I had never once gone against his rule. Yet, when I stared at Skylar’s innocent face, one forbidden thought penetrated…You won’t own her, too.