This continues the whole way around the track, both of us trying to one-up each other, only managing to stay ahead for a brief minute at a time. As we round the last bend, and approach the bleachers, we both give it one last-ditch attempt, racing at high speed toward Coach and some of our colleagues. We finish neck and neck, neither of us even out of breath.
I’ve never thought that overly strange before—how I could run a marathon and hardly break a sweat—but given recent events, I’m calling everything into question. I should be panting, red-faced, fatigued, and aching all over after that run, but I’m not. I could blame the change happening inside me, but it wouldn’t be the truth.
I’ve always been like this.
Running has always been as effortless as breathing for me.
Now, I’m beginning to seriously question why.
Chapter 12
“Good race,” Maddox says after we’ve cooled down. He’s toweling the back of his neck, but it doesn’t look like he broke much of a sweat either. “But you know I let you keep pace with me, right?”
I pin my hands on my hips and attempt to stare him down. “Excuse me? If anyone was letting the other keep pace, it was me.”
He smirks. “If you say so, princess. I could’ve beaten you with my eyes closed, but I went easy on you.”
I purse my lips. “What did you call me?”
Before he can answer, Coach looms in front of us, a massive grin stretched across his goofy face. He squeezes my shoulder and slaps Maddox across the back. “That was phenomenal! Best time you’ve ever recorded, Tori. Perhaps you should train with Maddox from now on.”
Over my dead body. “I can train perfectly fine by myself, Coach, and I’ve been working on my pace at the farm.”
“Don’t overdo it before the race,” Coach cautions. “But great work out there. If you repeat that performance next month, you’ll nail it.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
Before Maddox can say another word, I sprint toward the female locker room, take an extended shower and get dressed. By the time I’ve blow-dried my hair, everyone else has left so I switch off the lights as I exit into the dimly-lit corridor.
A tall, good-looking guy is lounging against the wall, whistling under his breath, and I know my day is about to sink to a new low. He straightens up when he sees me, gracing me with a dazzling smile. “Wow, you looked amazing out there,” Jack Hill says. “I swear you get faster every time I see you run.”
“Thanks,” I begrudgingly acknowledge, slinging my backpack over my shoulder as I start walking away from him, hoping he’ll get the hint.
Jack is our school’s star quarterback, and it isn’t unusual to see him and his teammates out on the track. They take their fitness extremely seriously, but that’s not how I know him. He dated Kenzie for three years until he finished things with her three months ago. She was heartbroken and then devastated when she discovered he’d been cheating on her with Megan Foster on and off for the best part of the year. It was a massive scandal at school, and I’ve had little time for Jack since then.
Especially the last few weeks when he’s taken more than a fleeting interest in me. His attention makes me uncomfortable for a whole heap of reasons.
“Want to grab a coffee?” He sends me a cocky grin. There are few girls who say no to Jack, and he’s not denied much.
“No, thanks,” I say, quickening my pace, not wanting to get drawn into conversation with him any longer than necessary.
Tugging on my elbow, he forces me to stop in front of a row of lockers. He runs a hand through his blond hair, and his tongue darts out, wetting his lips. “So, I was waiting for you for a reason.”
I cross my arms over my chest. I have a strong feeling I’m not going to like this.
He leans in close to me, and I immediately take a couple of steps back. “There’s a rumor going around that you and Jensen are on the outs,” he says, crowding me again.
I back up another few steps, until my spine hits metal and I can go no farther. “Where’d you hear that bullshit?”
He places his hands on either side of me, caging me in. “It’s all anyone is talking about since yesterday when those new guys showed up. Word on the street is you were unashamedly eye-fucking them in the cafeteria.”
Anger bubbles in my veins. “That is complete crap, and whether I was or wasn’t doesn’t explain why you were waiting for me.” I attempt to slide out under his arms, but he leans in, pressing his body flush against mine, trapping me.
“You know I’ve always had a thing for you, Tori.” He grazes his nose along the column of my neck, and bile floods my mouth. It’s true I’ve gotten peculiar vibes off him lately, but he never gave any indication he was in to me all those years he was with Kenzie. “I want to get ahead of the pack and stake a claim.”
“I know nothing of the sort, and I’m not interested in where this convo is leading. Get off me.” I push at his shoulders, but he doesn’t budge.
“It’s okay to admit you want me too.” His grin is arrogant as he grips my waist with one hand, thrusting his pelvis against me. “You know we’d be good together.”
“You’re completely delusional. I love Jensen, and you damn well know it. He’d be pissed at you right now. You were good friends at one time.”
“Jensen’s not good enough for you, Tori. He can’t give you the things I can.” He presses his erection into my stomach and I think I might hurl.
I shove at his shoulders again. “I’m not interested, Jack, and I never will be. Stop touching me. I don’t like it and I want to leave.”
His head jerks up, anger flaring in his azure eyes. “You’re such a fucking prick tease. You can deny it all you want, but I see the way you look at me.”
Man, this guy’s ego is off the planet. “In your dreams, Jack, because all I see when I look at you is a cheating asshole who didn’t deserve my friend’s devotion. I won’t ask you again.” I glare at him. “Let me go.”
“Make. Me.” His eyes dart to my mouth, and the hand on my waist digs in harder, to the point of pain. Gripping the back of my head with his other hand, he tugs my face toward him, making his intent clear. “Perhaps you just need a taste of what’s on offer.”
Like hell I do.
I smile as I lift my leg up superfast, shoving it firmly between his thighs, digging my knee into his groin, as racing footsteps approach.
Jack roars, stumbling away, palming the bulge in his jeans. “Fucking bitch!” he hollers, shooting daggers at me while I stand there calmly looking at him.
A low chuckle captures my attention, and I swing my head around. Beckett’s brother, the one with the fauxhawk and the scary facial expressions, stands there with an amused look on his face. Dark chocolate-brown eyes meet mine, and I nearly forget how to breathe. His expression changes in a nanosecond, and he schools his features into a neutral line. “What’d you do?”
“Kneed him in the balls,” I admit, shoving my hands in my pockets. My fingers itch to touch him, and I want to scream at my body to get with the program. This isn’t normal, and I hate it. I don’t want to feel this potent attraction to him and his brothers. Energy buzzes between us, our cords making all kinds of friendly. This is really starting to freak me out, and I’m genuinely questioning my sanity.
He nods, and there’s begrudging respect on his face. “I was just looking for my brother. Have you seen him?”
“Not since the track.”
“Okay.” He looks to where Jack is still writhing on the floor, clutching between his legs. “Looks like you’ve got this.” He drills me with an intense look before turning and walking away.
“Always knew you were a fucking slut,” Jack spits out, climbing awkwardly to his feet. “Now I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I guess I’ll need to have a word with Jensen.”
All the blood drains from my face. The last thing I need right now is Jack trying to cause problems between Jensen and me. Jensen’s already feeling threatened, and it probably wouldn’t
take much for Jack to rile him up further.
Before I can respond, Jack’s slammed against the lockers, the metal rattling and shaking. My eyes go wide as Beckett’s brother shoves Jack again, pinning him in place. “Don’t you ever speak to her like that.” His tone is low and laced with intent. “Don’t even look at her again, and if you try anything like you did just now, I’ll find you and beat your pathetic ass to a pulp. You hear me?”
“Screw you, asshole,” Jack says, wrestling against his hold. But Beckett’s brother is strong, and Jack is going nowhere fast.
Beckett’s brother tilts his head, peering into Jack’s eyes, and noticeable grooves line his forehead. “Who are you exactly?”
“Who the fuck are you is more to the point! You don’t get to waltz in here and act like you own the joint.” The lockers rattle as Jack tries to wrestle free, but the other guy’s hold is fierce.
“Trust me, you don’t want to mess with me or my brothers. That’s a lesson you’d do well to learn early on.” He shoves him once more before letting him go. “And that is the only warning you’ll get.” He turns around, securing angry eyes on me. “Let’s go. I’ll walk you out.”
I loop my hand around the strap of my bag. “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself out, and I can handle him.” I dart a glance in Jack’s direction. He’s rubbing his shoulders and glowering at the newbie.
“That’s not it,” he says, shaking his head. “I don’t trust the douche, Tori.”
His tongue wraps seductively around my name, doing funny things to my insides. I start walking away, rubbing my temples in confusion. He keeps pace with me, walking silently as we hurry through the corridors
“How do you know my name?” I blurt.
“My brother told me” is the cool reply.
I skid to a halt at the front doors. “And who are you?”
He angles his head to the side, sizing me up. “I’m Dane.”
I tuck my hair behind my ears. “I didn’t mean to appear ungrateful back there, and it was decent of you to defend my honor, especially since we don’t know each other, but I can handle Jack.” I shuffle awkwardly on my feet. There’s no polite way of saying this, so I just spit it out. “And my boyfriend wouldn’t be pleased at your intervention, so I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of my business from now on.”
He leans against the doorframe, eyeing me in that creepy intense way of his. “Then we’ve got a bit of a problem.”
I clutch my backpack more firmly, frowning. “I don’t see how.”
He leans in, and the connection jumps around between us. He stalls, his face mere inches from mine, his jaw popping in and out as his nostrils flare and his fists clench into balls at his side. He closes his eyes for a minute, and I hold my breath. Tension is fraught in the air. His eyes pop open again, and he presses his sumptuous mouth to my ear, whispering in a seductive tone. “Because you are my business. Our business, and I can’t agree to that.”
Then he steps back, opens the door, and disappears through it.
Chapter 13
Jensen is waiting for me outside his truck, and he blows me a kiss as I approach. He clearly hasn’t noticed the blacked-out SUV parked under the shade of the trees. Surreptitiously, I watch as Dane climbs into the driver’s side and powers up the engine.
Jensen pulls me into his arms, kissing me quickly. “How was practice?”
“Good. I just set a new PR,” I say, hiding my reaction when I spot Maddox through the lowered passenger-side window. Why did Dane say he was looking for Maddox if Maddox was already in the car?
Jensen kisses me again. “Well done, baby. You’ll easily claim first place next month.” He opens the passenger door of his truck, helping me inside.
The SUV glides slowly past us as Jensen rounds the hood of the truck. I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead, my knee tapping up and down, as I ponder Dane’s real agenda. Jensen’s truck smells like peppermint and polish, and I ingest the comforting scent. The truck may be old, but Jensen keeps it in tiptop shape, regularly cleaning and servicing it.
The engine rumbles to life, and we set off for home. I’m quiet again, debating whether to tell Jensen what just transpired with Jack or not. I hate keeping secrets from him, and I’m keeping enough these last few days, but if I tell him, I know he’ll go charging over there and the whole thing will blow up. It’s why I haven’t mentioned Jack’s flirting before now. But he’s getting bolder, and irrespective of what I told Dane, I’m concerned enough to seriously consider telling Jensen. While I know he would be furious, I’m less bothered about the personal fallout and more worried about Kenzie. She’s only just turned a corner, and I’m concerned this will set her back. She loved Jack, and she’d no idea he was cheating on the side, but even that wasn’t enough for her to move on. Now, she’s talking about asking Fletch to the Winter Formal, and that’s huge progress. If she finds out what Jack said tonight, it’ll set her back. It’ll have her questioning everything, and I’ll have to admit to him hitting on me recently. The whole thing has the potential to turn into an epic clusterfuck, and I’ve already got one on my hands.
Telling Jensen isn’t the right thing to do, even though it feels wrong keeping it from him, but my brain can only cope with so much right now.
“How well do you know Fletcher Maxwell?” I ask, swiveling around to face my boyfriend.
“We have a couple classes together. He’s cool.”
“Do you know if he has a date for the dance?”
His brow furrows. “No clue. Why’d you want to know?”
“Kenzie is thinking of asking him to go with her, but she’s worried he’ll say no. I told her I’d ask you what you thought. Do you think he’d say yes?”
“Hell yeah. Kenzie’s hot.”
I raise a brow. “Is she now?”
He laughs, leaning over the console to brush his lips across mine. “She’s nowhere near as hot as you, bae.”
I lean in, briefly pecking him on the lips. “Nice recovery.” I rub his arm. “Could you test the waters with him on the down low?”
“Sure.” He grins. “Unless he’s already asked someone, I’d say he’s a sure bet. He’s a good dude and a definite improvement on that Jackass.”
I decide to test some waters of my own. “I thought you liked Jack?”
He scrunches his nose up. “Honestly, I never really liked the guy.” We’re jostled from side to side as the truck bumps along the uneven path toward the farm. “There was always something a bit off about him, and he thinks his shit doesn’t stink.”
Jensen is way more observant than I’ve given him credit for, and this is the perfect opportunity to spill the beans, but I swallow the words and say nothing, hoping I’m not going to regret it.
Beckett is already at our table when I show up to the lab the following afternoon. “Hi, Tori.”
“Hey, Beck.”
“I hear you met a couple of my brothers.”
“Don’t remind me,” I say, sliding onto the stool beside him.
He chuckles. “That bad, huh?”
“They’re not as easy to talk to as you.”
His cheeks flush, but his answering smile is radiant. “Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
I arch a brow. “You don’t get that a lot?”
He shakes his head, his green eyes twinkling. “Definitely not. I’m not into sports like my brothers, and I spend most of my time with my head buried in a tablet or a book, so I’m not as outgoing as them. My people skills can be lacking at times.”
I almost choke on my laughter. “Did they tell you that?”
He shrugs, smiling shyly.
“I don’t know any of you well, and I haven’t even spoken to your blond-haired brother yet, but I’d like to think I’m a good judge of character, and, trust me, your social skills are vastly superior to theirs.”
“Wow. My brothers really didn’t set a good first impression. Let me guess,” he says, angling his stool so he’s facing me. “
Maddox got all competitive and Dane was overbearing.”
I grin. “You know your brothers well.” I prop my head on my elbows as I face him. “So that behavior is normal, and I shouldn’t take offense?”
“One hundred percent, and definitely not.”
The teacher walks in, and I lower my voice, keeping my head down. “What kind of books do you like to read?” I whisper.
He wiggles his nose. “Mainly history or current affairs. I like to keep up with events happening around the world, but I’m also fascinated with myths and legends and stories from the past.”
“Oh, yes! Me too. I’m taking world history and US government, and I’ve always been fascinated with the wider world out there, especially since I’ve been stuck here for most of my life. I can’t wait to branch out on my own and explore other cultures.”
He nods slowly. “I totally agree, and I’m lucky because I’ve been exposed to different places. I’ve studied other cultures and civilizations quite extensively, and I’ve taken tons of photos from different places we’ve been.” He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I could show you some time?” He sits up straighter, and his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. “If you like.”
“Sure.” I’m deliberately noncommittal, even though that sounds like something I’d enjoy. Jensen would throw a hissy fit if I told him I was spending time outside of school with one of the new guys, even if Beckett seems really sincere and sweet.
After school, Kylie and I return to the scene of the alien attack to look for the missing weapon. We spend an hour scouring the road, the trees on one side, and the field on the other, but there’s no sign of it. Mutually agreeing that continuing the search is a waste of our time, we head home, a little dejected.
Later, I’ve just finished my homework, and I’m getting ready to go out for a quick run around the farm when Mom knocks on my door.
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