Rival Dreams (Rival Love #3)

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 wonder 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.