Chapter 58
OCTOBER 29 – WEDNESDAY 4:45 PM
N ash
The teams started to arrive while I waited for the spray on my arm to dry. This was the second application just to be safe.
I ignored most of them. It was my senior year, and I’d never see them after today. There was only one person with times close enough to mine who could compete at the next level.
Sabastian—who also happened to be Christov’s son. What would he do if I asked about his father, Christov? Instead of Yuriy, the bullshit name he used to hide out in the US.
“Still can’t believe this needed nine stitches,” Myles said.
The gash started on the outside of my arm and wrapped partially onto my bicep. It was a damn good thing that I’d been wearing multiple layers. He would’ve cut deeper, and then I really would’ve been in trouble.
“Yeah, I’ll be sure to get him back for it the next time I see his fucking face,” I said.
“As long as I get the final word, do whatever ya like,” Myles growled. “I won’t rest until I’ve found him and he’s no longer a threat.”
“Who are you threatening now,” Sabastian said as he dropped his duffel down on the bench beside ours.
God, how I wanted to take the long strap from his bag and wrap it around his neck. Instead, I smiled at him as I pulled up the protective bandage with Myles’s help.
“Worried we were talking about you, Sabastian,” I asked, and he snorted.
“Nah, you don’t scare me, Nash. I know you have a reputation for being a dick, but I think all that stuff about you being dangerous is smoke and mirrors.”
I chuckled as I smoothed the wrap.
“Is that so? Interesting. Well…if you’re not scared of me, then you should come to my club’s grand opening.”
Sabastian looked at his team and then at me again. “I didn’t know you had a club. Did your daddy buy it?”
“I don’t need my daddy to buy my toys. Your daddy got you that Mercedes AMG GT63 in custom cherry red, didn’t he? I would’ve gone black, personally.”
I’d only told Liam who Sabastian really was. That would mean Theo knew, but Myles would’ve already pummeled him looking for answers and I needed to be a more covert. What did he know about Ren if anything? What did he want with Ivy? Did Christov try to enroll him in Wayward and Dean Henry blocked it? So many questions.
“You spying on me now, Nash,” he asked, stepping closer.
“If you call spying, seeing you pull out of the coffee shop, then sure. You’re the one who just confirmed your daddy bought it.” I tapped my chin. “It’s funny, though, I thought you were at Hawking Shores on a scholarship. It begs the question of how he afforded that car.”
Sabastian smirked. “I see Ivy has been talking about me.”
“Oh, come now, Sabastian. You wanted her to say something, or you wouldn’t have mentioned the bullshit story in the first place. You were testing her. But why lie to Ivy? If you wanted to know something about me, you could’ve just asked. I might even have been flattered enough to sign a copy of my swim card for you. Wanna do a selfie?”
He laughed hard, and the tension that had been building as the rest of the schools and guys tuned into the conversation dissipated.
“You know, I think I might actually like you. It’s too bad we’re on opposite teams,” he said, and I crossed my arms.
“Yeah, too bad,” I said, not meaning a word of it. “The invitation stands. Bring Ivy as your date unless, of course, you plan to keep lying to her.” I looked around the room. “That goes for all of you. Volatile opens Halloween night, costumes are mandatory, and no cover. Come check it out. It’s seventeen and older for the night, so make sure you have your ID.”
Liam, Myles, and Blake followed me as I turned and walked away. We had to keep the same roster for this race, so Theo was out.
“Hey, Nash?” I looked back at Sabastian. “Good luck.”
The corner of my mouth tugged up. “I make my own luck.”
Marching out, I sucked in a deep breath, feeling right at home with the heavy scent of chlorine in the air. Not getting up first thing in the morning for my swim or practicing after class had been excruciating.
As we walked along the edge of the pool to the starting area, I glanced up at the bleachers. There were only a few dozen people this time with it only being one make-up race. There was no extra fanfare for this, but I didn’t care. I’d take any excuse to kick Hawking Shore’s ass and get in the pool.
Princess smiled as we walked past where she was sitting with Theo, Ivy, and Chantry. I winked before looking away and then froze. Myles kept walking and crashed into my back.
“Jesus, man, what are ya doin’?”
“What the fuck is he doing here?”
I growled under my breath and stomped toward my father like a heat-seeking missile.
He smiled as I glowered at him, wishing I could drown him in the pool and solve all my problems if it were only that easy. Lawrence stood calmly, his hands folded in front of him, and I knew what he was doing. If I made a scene like I had on my birthday then I looked like the bad guy, again.
“Father, what are you doing here,” I asked, keeping my voice down.
“I came to watch you swim. Can a father not want to support his only son in his passion?”
There was no one around us when I glanced back. Even my guys were keeping their distance while still being vigilant. They had my back if I needed them.
“Who is this act for? No one can hear you and we both know you have no interest in my swimming career. You haven’t come to a meet since I graduated Golden Oak Prep. In fact, I distinctly remember that after I placed third, you told me that I was wasting my time and that I’d never make the Olympics, so I should get my head out of my ass. I was twelve. Way to parent, by the way. I couldn’t say that then, but I can now.”
He smirked, and his eyes lost the fake sweetness to show the real devil under the pretense.
“I want to make up for lost time.”
To anyone who didn’t know him, they would think that behind the tailored suit, soft smile on his lips, and shine in his eyes, was a proud father. But that was because they bought the lie.
“Bullshit, what do you really want?”
“I’ve been trying to reach you about our situation. You haven’t responded. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ve been ignoring my calls. No one, not even you, can ignore me.”
“Don’t you mean your situation?”
He smirked, and at any other time or place, I would’ve been sucker punched.
“No, you and Myles took on the project. I haven’t heard a single word about how it’s going.”
“There’s nothing to tell. He is proving to be more elusive than we thought,” I said.
“I see.”
I didn’t respond. There was no winning this fight because he would always turn it on us.
“You do know that I could’ve sent the guards to pick you up?”
“I’m sure you could’ve. But I can have you barred from the property, and then you won’t have the luxury of popping in for…whatever this is,” I said, and his eyes hardened.
“Good thing this is just a friendly visit. Though, there was another reason….”
He sucked in a deep breath, his eyes going to the bleachers.
“There is someone else I was hoping to see, and would you look at that, she’s sitting right over there. This must be my lucky day.”
Lawrence left, and my jaw felt like it was cracking. It took everything I had not to grab him and drag him off the property far away from Ren. I’d been trying not to antagonize him by banning him, but now…I was tempted. He was never getting his hands on her. So help me god, I would never let him touch one hair on her head.
The guys shared the same dark expression when Lawrence sat down beside Ren. Theo’s presence was the only reason I hadn’t lost my shit. Fuck, she was something. The way she straightened her spine and refused to look at him was so fucking sexy. She didn’t flinch or get up and move. She silently let him know he didn’t intimidate her. What I had once found annoying about Ren, might be her greatest asset.
“What is he doing here,” Liam asked when I rejoined them.
“Fucking with my head, making subtle threats, and throwing the marriage contract he has with Ren around like a trophy. You know, being a prick as usual.”
I crossed my arms and tried not to stare—it would only embolden him.
“He’ll marry her over me cold dead body,” Myles growled.
“He won’t. Oh, and you’re not taking Ren to Volatile’s grand opening,” I said.
“Why?”
“Because she already agreed to go with me,” I said, smirking at his scowling face.
“Why would she agree to go wit you?” He glared at me and crossed his arms.
“She owed me a favor, and I collected. Oh, and I already got her costume. Don’t worry, you’ll like it.”
Myles’s lips pressed together in a hard line. It was way too easy to poke at him when it came to Princess.
“What are ya up to, Collier?”
He eyed me as suspiciously as I’d just done my father. God, I was so excited to see the look on his face when he found out that Princess and I slept together. He wouldn’t be shocked, but he’d be pissed I didn’t tell him. Fucking, priceless…I really needed new hobbies.
“Nothing more than normal. We’re all going together in the same car, but I thought you should know that she’ll be walking in on my arm.”
I smiled at him, and he swore under his breath.
“You’re an arse.”
“Maybe, but don’t forget it’s her birthday,” I said.
“It’s her birthday,” Blake asked, and then shook his head as we all stared at him. “Why is it that I’m always the last to know shit? You all suck.”
Myles shrugged.
“I asked. Why didn’t you?”
They glared at one another, and I decided that it was just as much fun, stirring the shit and watching it, as being in the middle.
“Hey, it was Liam, right?”
We turned to see the guy that Liam had saved walking over.
“I promise not to grab you today.” He smiled. “And no matter what happens, I just wanted to say thanks again. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that meet.”
“Not a problem, Trey. But just so you know, the lifeguards would’ve saved you. I’m not that much of a hero.”
“Either way, you still helped me, so thanks.”
Trey went back over to his team and Sabastian’s scowling face. He definitely didn’t like him making nice with us. I smiled at him, filing that away for later.
“Swimmers, please move to your lanes,” Coach yelled.
Putting my father and Sabastian out of my mind, I focused on winning.
Myles grabbed my shoulder and grumbled under his breath.
“This will be me fastest swim ever,” he said, glancing over at Lawrence, who was trying to talk to Ren, while she gave him the cold shoulder.
“You and me both.”