Rival Dreams (Rival Love #3)

by Natalie Decker

  RIVAL DREAMS

  Natalie Decker

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author makes no claims to, but instead acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Copyright © 2015 by Natalie Decker

  RIVAL DREAMS by Natalie Decker

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America by Swoon Romance. Swoon Romance and its related logo are registered trademarks of Georgia McBride Media Group, LLC.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Published by Swoon Romance

  Cover design by Earthly Charms

  Cover copyright © 2015 by Swoon Romance

  Chase your dreams no matter what. Ethan and Leeah, without you, I wouldn’t be me.

  RIVAL DREAMS

  Natalie Decker

  Chapter 1

  Skylar

  The Daily is spread out before me on the table. Caleb is across from me working on his philosophy paper. I look up from the newspaper and say, “I found one.”

  Caleb rubs his temples and says in a tired tone, “Yeah?”

  “I think so. We’ll have to check it out, of course. But listen to this: two-bedroom apartment with walk-in closets, one bathroom, kitchen, spacious living room, washer and dryer included. No more rolls of quarters. Yay!”

  His gaze meets mine. “Sounds good. How much is it?”

  “It’s only five hundred a month. We can afford that.”

  He nods. “Whatever you want, babe.” He looks back down at his laptop.

  “Caleb, we don’t have to move in together if you don’t want to.”

  “Skylar.” He focuses on me again. “I want to move in with you. I’m just frustrated with this stupid paper that’s due in a couple days. My prof has been on my ass, and honestly, I think this is by far the stupidest class I’ve ever taken.”

  “I told you you’d hate it.”

  “I know you did.” He smiles. “I thought it was going to be a cake class.”

  I laugh. “Serves you right, then, taking stuff because you think it’ll be easy.”

  He groans. “Hush it over there.” He leans across the table, and I meet him halfway with my lips. He pulls back a little. “Much better.”

  I smile at him. The alarm on my phone goes off. “Crap. I have to go. I love you, and I’ll see you later.” I push back my chair, fold up the paper, grab my backpack, and then kiss Caleb one more time.

  ***

  In the weight room, I count out a rep on the sled. Zachery, one of the butterfliers on the guys’ team, stands over me as I push the weights up with my legs again. “Looking good from this angle, Sky.”

  “Keep dreaming, Zach,” I grind out as I lower the weights to my chest and push them up again.

  “I’m telling you, you have no idea what you’re missing out on.”

  “Oh, believe me, I’ve heard, and it’s not worth it.” I use my thumb and index finger to measure out an inch, and he just laughs.

  His dark eyes do a once-over on me. His blond hair reminds me of a Brillo Pad, all stiff, tight curls, and closely shaved to his head. Definitely nothing like Caleb’s hair, which is soft, long, and always looks like he has bedhead.

  “Anyway, I came over here to tell you Coach needs you to stop by the office.”

  I lock the sled into place and stand. “You know, you could have just said that first.”

  He smiles. “And miss all of our flirty conversation? Where’s the fun in that?” He winks.

  I roll my eyes and push past him. I snatch the cleaning spray and paper towels and head back to the machine to wipe it down. Once that’s done, I head to the locker room, change, and then leave for the pool area.

  Entering my coach’s office, I look around and don’t see him in the room. Great. I came here for nothing. I’m going to smack the hell out of Zach the next time I see him. I turn to leave and slam straight into a chest.

  I look up at Coach Marshal and take four steps back. “Sorry,” I mumble.

  “It’s okay. Have a seat, Skylar.”

  Placing my butt firmly in one of the cushy seats, I focus on the nameplate on his desk.

  “Skylar,” he says, pulling my attention away from the items on his desk. “I want to talk to you about something. I’m always on the lookout for leaders. Someone the team looks up to, respects, and, above all, trusts. I need someone who can guide this team as a whole. Not just the small group of swimmers who they share a lane at practice with. Not just the group of swimmers who might swim a relay with them. But the entire team. Making sure they all have the same goal and are achieving it as one unit.”

  I nod.

  “I need a female captain and a male captain. I picked Gary Colliage for the male captain position, and I want you to lead the females. I usually don’t choose sophomores or juniors for this kind of responsibility, but you seem to have really stepped up. Can I count on you?”

  I jump up out of the chair and scream, “Are you serious?”

  “Very.”

  “Oh my God! Yes! I can totally do this. Thank you!” I grip his extended hand and shake it, sealing the deal, and leave the office with a huge smile on my face.

  Chapter 2

  Caleb

  I stare at the dean of students as she asks, “Are you sure about this, Caleb?”

  Of course I’m sure. But the look she’s giving me is making me doubt my decision. “I …”

  “Caleb, I know I’m going to sound like a nagging mother, but I can’t help that. I am a mother, and I do nag. Especially when one of my children is about to make a huge decision without really giving it some thought. So, I’m going to ask you, have you given this a lot of thought?” Her dark eyes bore into me like she’s got X-ray vision. I shift a little in my seat. “I’m not your guardian. However, I suggest you do talk to someone. At least get some opinions before you quit your education.”

  “I don’t need more time to think.”

  She shakes her head. “Fine. I need a week to gather all the proper paperwork. Make an appointment with Janice, and I’ll see you then.”

  I nod. “Thank you.”

  She seems to be focused on her computer screen, so I leave. Janice is on her phone yakking at someone while rolling her eyes and shuffling papers on her desk. She clears her throat and says, “Yes, sir. But as I said before … you need to make an appointment.” She points over at the stack of Post-its on her desk without even looking at me.

  I snatch up a Post-it and scribble out that I need to come back next week, and then slap it on her desk calendar. Janice’s blue eyes lock with mine, and she shakes her head while still talking to the person on the phone. She looks over at her computer screen, clicks the mouse a couple times, and then writes on a card that she hands to me before waving me off.

  She didn’t even bother asking me if this time was okay. I glance down at the card in my hand and shrug. If I miss class, oh well. It’s not like I’m going to be here that much longer, anyway.

  Now, I just have to tell the great news to Skylar, my uncle, and Erin.

  ***

  I visit Sky’s dorm room. On the whiteboard hanging on her door is the last note I wrote her: Caleb + Skylar always and forever. Yeah, I know it’s cheesy, but Skylar loved it, and that’s all that matters. Of course, now as I stare at the note, I can’t help but won
der if this news I’m about to tell her will ruin us.

  A few years ago, when Sky and I were seniors in high school, she left to go live with her dad in New York. And that distance almost broke me, so I went after her. How the hell will I survive being apart from her if I’m drafted to a team on the West Coast? Or really, any team that isn’t the Carolina Panthers? I mean, Sky’s going to be in undergraduate school for two more years, then there will be another four years of medical school.

  And she won’t leave her dream school to be with me. She worked so hard to get into Duke. To ask her to follow me would be selfish and wrong. I’m not going to be that asshole.

  So, instead of knocking on her door or writing her another sappy note, I leave.

  ***

  My cell rings with a picture of Uncle Bri across the screen. I groan and answer it. “Hey.”

  “How’s school going?”

  “Good. How’s the pup?”

  Uncle Bri and Erin decided to get a puppy because they missed Skylar and me too much. Of course, according to my uncle, this was all Erin’s idea. And according to Erin, this was all my uncle’s idea. So far, the puppy, whose name is Maxwell, has chewed on every chair in the dining room and peed in my closet. And, for some reason, he loves to sleep under Skylar’s bed.

  My uncle grumbles. “He’s in time-out for hopping up on the counter and eating our bacon.”

  “He ate your bacon?” I sit on my bed and kick off my shoes.

  “Yes. He jumped onto the bar stool and sat there like a human, eating the bacon right off our plates.”

  I can’t help but burst into a fit of laughter.

  “It’s not really funny, Caleb.”

  “Actually, I beg to differ. It’s pretty funny. I can’t wait to see him.”

  “That’s why I was calling. Erin and I are planning on coming down there to visit in a couple of weeks. You kids don’t have any exams or anything going on then, do you?”

  “Nah. No exams for me. I’ll have to ask Sky what her schedule’s like. I think it should be fine, though.” I lie back on my bed, resting my head against my pillow.

  “Good. I’ll probably have Erin call Sky later. So, how are you doing money-wise? Do you have enough for groceries and the down payment for an apartment?”

  I sit up too quickly and smack my head on the bar running under my roommate’s bunk. “Son of a bitch.”

  “What?”

  “Not you. I smacked my head on this stupid metal bar. Anyway, how did you know about the apartment thing?”

  “Skylar. Well, actually, it was Erin, but still, I think it’s a good idea.”

  “You think it’s a good idea?”

  He laughs. “Yeah. I think it’ll teach you a few things.”

  I should tell him about the draft. But I don’t. I get the feeling he might be a little pissed at me for leaving school. Any time we watch draft day, and there’s a kid like me getting drafted, uncle Bri throws a fit. Not like a tantrum, but he grumbles and complains that the kid should have stayed in school, finished his last two years, graduated, and then gone into the NFL draft.

  Then he lists off all the reasons why. From injuries, to being benched the entire time—not really benched, but not starting, and being third or fourth string—to getting cut early. Not to mention, if it turns out the team he’s on can’t afford him, they’ll get rid of the newest player, and then he’s back to nothing. With no education to back him up. It happens.

  And I get all those reasons. But you know what? That shit is fear talking, and I can’t let fear put me in a corner. I can’t let that shit get to me. The only thing that is getting to me is leaving behind the one thing I fought so hard to keep, Skylar. But if I truly love her like I say I do, then I’ll let her go.

  Uncle Bri and I talk a little longer before he has to get off the phone because Maxwell figured out how to break free from his cage.

  I lie back on my bed and sigh, just as there’s a knock at my door.

  Chapter 3

  Skylar

  Balancing Chinese food, packets of swimming practice schedules and binders of stats on each swimmer while attempting to knock on a door is not something I recommend. When the door opens, the binders shift, and I almost lose the bag of Chinese food. “Whoa, whoa, I got it.” Caleb grabs some of the binders from me.

  I regain control of the bag and ease my way into his room. My gaze goes directly to the laundry littering the floor. “Uh …” I know guys have a tendency to be messy, but I’ve never seen his room like this.

  Caleb laughs. “None of that is mine. That’s Kyle’s.”

  I sneer at the underwear near my feet. “Seriously, how can you ignore this?”

  “I’m not here most of the time. And when I’m expecting you to stay over I make him clean it up.” Caleb sets my binders down on his bed. “What’s up with this stuff?”

  “I ran out on you earlier. I felt bad. So I brought us dinner. I thought we could spend some time together. Also, I wanted to tell you the exciting news.”

  He walks over to me and grabs the bag from my hands. “Yeah, what’s that?” He sets the bag on his desk and starts dishing out the cartons of food.

  “I’m going to be captain of the girls’ swim team, and Gary is captain of the boys’ team.”

  “Awesome, babe,” he says, but his voice isn’t exactly as enthusiastic as I wanted. I brush it off, though. Maybe he’s hungry or exhausted from all the studying.

  Coming up behind him, I walk my fingers across his shoulders and down his back. Caleb turns with a sultry grin. “You know I love it when you do that, don’t you?”

  I nod. “Mmm-hmm. Just like I know you love this.” I kiss the corner of his mouth and run my fingers through his hair. He moans and pulls me so we’re face to face. His lips part my own, and his hot tongue rakes across mine.

  His hard body presses against me while his kisses trail from my lips down my neck. I dig my nails into his shoulders as Caleb lifts me. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he breathes against my collarbone. “I love you, Skylar.”

  “I love you too.” He carries me over to the bed and sets me down.

  I stare at him as he starts to walk away from me. “Um …”

  He laughs. “Babe, we can’t get too carried away. Kyle will be back any minute, and he’s not getting a free show of any kind.”

  I pout. “Okay. But you owe me.”

  He scoops some fried rice onto a plate and looks over at me. “Oh, do I?”

  “Yup.” I watch him continue to make us each a plate. “Did you get your paper done?”

  Caleb stops dishing out food from the container in his hand and shakes his head. “I, uh … I’m taking a break from it.”

  “Maybe I can help you with it if you’re really that stuck.”

  “I’m not stuck.” He sounds upset, but I’m not sure why he would be. I think maybe I’m misinterpreting his tone.

  “Okay.” I push myself off the bed and make my way toward him. I press my cheek against his back and wrap my arms around him. “I just wanted to help.”

  Caleb sighs and twists so we’re facing each other. “I know. But sometimes, Sky, I need to be able to do some stuff on my own. Without anyone’s help. You know?”

  I nod, but I don’t think he’s really talking about his paper. Whatever it is, I’ll let him work it out himself, if that’s what he wants.

  He hands me my plate and I take a seat on one of the moon chairs facing the TV. Caleb plops down in the other. “You know this has nothing to do with you, right?”

  I smile. “Okay. I’m sure it’ll all be fine.”

  He leans toward me and kisses my lips. “You’re amazing. You know that?”

  “Oh, I’ve been told.”

  Caleb frowns and returns his attention to his General Tso’s chicken. He picks at his food in silence, so I take the hint and remain silent too. Whenever Caleb is worried about something or is grouchy, I find it’s best to just not say anything. He comes around, he just needs his space.
I’m the same way, but sometimes, like now, I really wish he’d open up. But I know Caleb, and he isn’t going to open up anytime soon. This means I’m going to be sleeping by myself tonight.

  Once I finish eating, I toss my paper plate into the trash and pick up my binders. Caleb clears his throat. “Where are you going?”

  “Home,” I answer, and kiss his cheek before making my way to the door.

  His arms lock around my waist. “Hey, come here.”

  I’m just starting to let him pull me back onto his bed when his door opens. Kyle storms into the room, dropping his backpack in the middle of floor. He takes a seat at his desk and chucks off his shoes. There’s a sweat stain circling the armpits of his shirt. His shaggy golden hair flops into his eyes. He pushes it back with his hand and says, “Hey, Sky. Didn’t know you were visiting.”

  “Kind of a surprise. I’m leaving, though. There’s extra Chinese if you want it.” I start to twist away from Caleb. Caleb frowns again. I kiss him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks,” Kyle says, drawing my attention away from Caleb’s pout.

  “No problem.” My gaze returns to Caleb. He still looks upset.

  I’m about to ask him what’s wrong, but he asks, “You aren’t going to stay?”

  “I would if you wanted me to. But you don’t seem like you want that.”

  “I always want you to stay, babe. I’m just … thinking a lot. That’s all.”

  I nod. Kyle moans through a mouthful of food. A giggle bubbles out of me, and Caleb shakes his head. “Dude. I’m trying to have a conversation with my girl, not listen to your foodgasms.”

  “This shit is so good,” Kyle responds.

  Caleb rolls his eyes and groans as he walks me over to the door. “I’ll walk you back to your place.”