Copyright © 2020 by Nichole Greene
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Part II
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Contact
Playlist
Coming Soon
Part 1
1
IVY
Age 16
“Are you ready for this?” Isaac asks from the driver’s seat of his Jeep Wrangler. “Meeting the new stepdad and family?”
“Not really,” I give him the side eye. “Probably as excited as you are to start working at Dad’s firm in Hartford.” Isaac graduated from Yale Law School in May and spent the summer locked in our dad’s home office studying for the bar exam. I was looking forward to spending time with him, but the pressure to pass and start working as a junior associate kept us from getting that time together.
Dad had one of his former Olympic teammates who coaches swimmers now come out to focus on my training for the second summer in a row. He was disappointed when Isaac injured his shoulder in a waterskiing accident and had to stop competing, so now all the weight has fallen onto my shoulders. He’s always wanted to see one of us follow in his footsteps and compete at the Olympic level.
In an unexpected twist, my mother called to tell me she got married a month ago. To say it surprised me would be an understatement. I did not even know she was dating anyone. Then again, it’s my mother, and the only person she’s ever cared about is herself. I’ve always been jealous that Isaac, being my half brother, doesn’t have to share DNA with her.
“You know that Franklin Marsh and Dad go way back, right?” Isaac asks.
“Not until Dad passed me off on you for delivery to my new home,” I roll my eyes. “They went to school together, right?”
“Yeah, until their junior year of high school.” He taps the wheel in time with music. “Watch your back here. Founders Prep is full of some of the richest kids in the country, huge assholes. I used to swim against them at some of the regional invitationals. The good news is you’ll definitely be the best swimmer on the team, so you won’t have to fight for your spot.”
“I’m the best everywhere I go.” It’s arrogant, but it’s also the truth. I haven’t lost a race in six years.
“I know,” he elbows me with a grin, “it’s why you are Dad’s favorite.”
“Fuck off,” I laugh. “You are the one who went to Yale, following in his footsteps.”
“All except having a kid at twenty.” Dad and Isaac’s mom were both on the prelaw track at Yale when they got pregnant with him. They never married, it was a one-night thing, but they co-parented and raised him together until my mom came along.
“Gotta keep it wrapped, so you don’t get trapped,” I hold my fist out for a bump.
“Damn right, but no one better touch you like that for at least another five years.” He gives me a stern big brother glare.
Too late, bro.
This conversation brings me to thoughts of Levi. It’s been two years since I’ve heard from him. It was the last day of camp the night before his fifteenth birthday, when we laid down on a blanket in the woods and gave each other our virginity. I loved him in the gentle, sweet way you can only love that young. We weren’t planning on things going that far, and it definitely was not enjoyable for me, but my feelings for him were real.
The wheels start turning in my mind, Founder’s Ridge sounds familiar. I start flipping through memories when it hits me.
Franklin Marsh is my new stepdad.
He lives in Founder’s Ridge, Massachusetts.
Levi’s last name is Marsh.
He went to Founders Preparatory Academy.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
“What’s wrong?” Isaac asks, side-eyeing me. “You just went super pale.”
“Nothing,” I mumble. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Franklin could be an uncle or something. Levi can’t be my new stepbrother. The universe cannot be that cruel. “Do you know anything about Franklin? Does he have kids or anything?”
“Yeah, a son your age, I think. He’s some hotshot football player. Did Jennifer not say anything to you aside from ordering you to come move here right before the start of the school year?” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe my mom would pull something like this.
Blood rushes in my ears. Hotshot football player who is my age, that definitely could be Levi. I’m just going to stay here, treading water in a sea of denial.
“Are you surprised? Mom probably only wants me here so she can mess with my swim training. She’s never been supportive of me.”
“Well, fuck her.” He reaches over and ruffles my hair. “I’ll come out to support you as often as I can, so will dad. Hell, my mom will probably try to make it to any meets you have in Connecticut.”
“I know. I love your mom.” It’s not the first time I’ve wished for her to be my mom. Lord knows she’s been more maternal toward me in our infrequent visits than my own mother has in sixteen years.
We pull into a gated community with tree-lined streets. All the homes are huge, at least three times the size of our house back in Hartford. Isaac turns left onto a long drive leading to a large contemporary mansion.
“Jeez,” I have to bend forward to take the whole thing in through the windshield. “You sure this is the right place?”
“Yeah.” He parks in the circular drive at the front of the home. “Ready?” he asks while turning the car off.
“No,” I answer honestly. Especially if Levi is waiting within those walls. Does he know? Is he freaking out?
A tall, muscular blond man fills the door and steps out. I’m fucked. There is no way this man is not Levi’s father. The resemblance is insane right down to the dark blue eyes. He smiles warmly at Isaac and me.
“Ivy and Isaac, I presume?” He holds his hand out to Isaac. “You look like Parker,” he looks at both of us closely. “Both of you do actually,” he says as he shakes my hand. “I’m Franklin, but please call me Frank. Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” I say quietly stepping close to Isaac for comfort. Any bravado I may have had blew away in the wind as soon as I laid eyes on Frank.
“Where are your bags? Let’s get you settled in.”
Isaac and Frank walk to the back of the Jeep and
each take two of my suitcases. I grab my duffle bag full of my swim equipment and my purse and follow them inside. The interior is decorated in the same modern style as the facade. Almost everything is white with accents of black or gray metal throughout. We pass a living room with soaring ceilings and two-story glass windows before walking up a metal and glass staircase. We walk down a long hall before Frank stops in front of a door and swings it open.
“Here is your room. Your mom had it decorated, but if you want to change anything let me know.” He sets my bags down in the middle of the room. “You have your closet through that door,” he points, “and your en suite bathroom is through the other door.”
“Thanks, it looks great.” I’m not lying. It is amazing. The room is even decorated in my favorite colors and with a lot of sophisticated feminine flair. I see my mom’s stamp all over the room.
“Wonderful. Your mom should be home soon. She’s at Founders Prep getting you enrolled. My son will be home from football practice soon, too. I’ll make sure he pops his head in before he heads out for the night.” He looks around and scratches his jaw, a little uncertainty showing. “I’ll, uh, let you get settled. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Isaac turns to me when Frank closes the door behind him. “You good? I’d stay but I have some stuff to do at home before Monday.”
“You’re good to go. I’m just going to unpack my suitcases and find ways to hide from Mom.”
“The house is big enough for it.” He wraps me in a tight hug. “I feel like I should wait and meet and this new brother you’re getting. Make sure I don’t have competition for your favorite.”
“You’ll always be favorite brother, hands down.” I squeeze him back, clinging a little longer than usual. “Can you find your way out of this place?”
“Yeah,” he pinches my cheeks like he has since I was a baby, “I love you. Call me if you need anything.”
“Love you, too,” I say as I swat his hands away from my face. “Drive safe.”
I stand there in my new bedroom for a few minutes after he leaves. The walls have some generic art hung. I’ll probably change it out. I wheel my suitcases into the closet expecting a normal size walk-in like I have at my dad’s house.
My jaw drops when I walk in; the closet is actually half the size of my bedroom, which is saying a lot. One wall is all shelves for shoes, one wall has an upper and lower rack, one wall has one upper rack for dresses, and the fourth wall is all shelves. In the center of the room is an island with a glass top and drawers on every side. Hanging directly above the island is a crystal chandelier. It’s absolutely amazing, and I know the one thing I will have fun doing with my mom is filling this room.
I’m halfway through unpacking my third suitcase when I hear a knock at my door. I pause in the closet, wondering if I don’t say anything whoever is out there will go away. I hear another knock, and then the doorknob turns. I freeze in the doorway of the closet, heart racing and blood pumping in my ears as the door opens, paralyzed by memories of the night I met Levi.
The July evening air hangs heavy with humidity, causing my curls to frizz around my face and stick to my damp skin as I walk through the woods. I needed to get out of my cabin and away from the constant cackling chatter of my bunkmates. I can only hear them gush about who is the cutest member of One Direction so long before I want to suffocate myself in my pillow. Especially when they start blasting their album on repeat every night.
The cicadas buzz loudly as I move with the stealthy silence I acquired during my parent’s divorce. I drag in a deep breath and let a small smile cross my face. The scent of pine and maple trees dances on the wind. The sky is so full of stars I never even knew existed. This place is magical. It’s my first year at Foster’s Camp for Elite Athletics. I’ve spent the better part of the summer here, focusing on honing my skills in the pool.
I emerge from the woods and step onto the concrete pool deck. After looking around for any staff workers and seeing the coast is clear, I toe off my sneakers. My shirt and shorts hit the ground next to them, and I slowly lower myself into the chilly water in my favorite threadbare practice suit. I take a couple lazy strokes into the diving well section of the pool and tread water for a minute. I take a few deep breaths, pulling and holding the oxygen in my lungs prepping them for what I’m about to do. After I feel my heart rate slowing, I take one more deep breath and let myself sink to the bottom.
I love this, being surrounded by water and murky light. Noise from the world muffled so I can focus on my own thoughts. The quiet peace of the bottom of the pool is my happy place. I let my thoughts drift away from my mother’s constant criticism to worries about starting my new school. I guess neither of my parents wanted me since they decided to send me to all girls boarding school starting this year.
I’m stewing in those dark thoughts when I hear someone jump into the pool above me. About two seconds after I hear the collision of a body with the surface of the water, I feel two arms wrap around me. I’m pulled against the chest of the person behind me and hauled to the surface.
We hit the air, and I grip the arm, trying to disentangle myself. I’m incredibly annoyed that my quiet time is being interrupted. Who does this person think they are?
“I got you. It’s okay.” A slightly out-of-breath male voice says as he drags me to the side.
“Let me go!” I drag my nails over his forearm once I know he’s not one of the staff members.
“I’ll get you out.” He ignores me.
“I don’t want out!” I cringe when I realize I shouldn’t be yelling but jeez! This guy is annoying. Then to my absolute surprise, he effortlessly lifts me and sets me on the side of the pool before hauling himself out.
Oh man, he is cute. Blond hair darkened by the water glints in the moonlight, deep blue eyes roam over me brimming with concern, and golden tan skin covers a somewhat lanky but toned body.
“Are you okay?” He squeezes my shoulders with his absurdly large hands. “Why were you sitting at the bottom like that?”
“I was thinking. It’s my quiet place.” I say, taken aback by this beautiful boy looming over me with such intensity.
His eyes widen at my response. “That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You think at the bottom of the pool? It looked like you were dead!” His voice cracks a bit when he raises it.
I slap my hand over his mouth and hush him. “Don’t draw attention. No one is supposed to be in the pool at night.” I look around. “I don’t want anyone to know that I do this.”
“You are so stupid.” He says with his brows drawn together. “I saw you get in and freaked when you sank and didn’t come back up. Were you trying to kill yourself or something?”
“No!” I whisper shout outraged. “My bunkmates are annoying, so I come out here to think.”
“You don’t need to be at the bottom of the pool to think!” He yells again.
“Be. Quiet.” I get in his face and slap my palm over his mouth again.
His lips are soft.
Ewww, that’s a gross thing to think. Yuck.
He licks my palm. “Gross!” I squeak and scramble back.
“Quit putting your hand over my mouth then,” he smirks. “How do you hold your breath like that?”
“I have good natural lung capacity.” At least that’s what my dad tells me. I’m not totally sure what it means, but I sound smart saying it.
“Right.” He blinks. “I’m Levi.” He holds his hand out.
Manners from years of boring adult parties have me taking his hand to shake. His grip is firm and adult-like. He’s really big. He has to be a few years older than me.
“Ivy.” I look down and see that he jumped in with his sneakers on. They’re as waterlogged as the rest of his clothes. “I’m here for swimming. You didn’t need to belly flop into the pool to save me.”
“I didn’t belly flop,” he grins.
“Sounded like a whal
e breaching.” I shrug.
He throws his head back and laughs, and I see he’s got the fancy kind of braces, not the wire kind with garish colored rubber bands.
“You’re funny. I’m not here for swimming.” He says.
“Clearly.” I snark sarcastically. “Can’t come off the block like that. What are you here for?”
“Football and basketball.” I’m not surprised. He’s built for those two sports. “How old are you?”
“Eleven.” I answer hesitantly. Even though he’s annoying, I still kind of like talking to him. I don’t want him to ignore me when he realizes I’m younger than he is.
“Me too, well at least until next week.” Surprise must be written all over my face because he grins at me with twinkly eyes.
“I know. I’m big, everyone always thinks I’m older than I am.” He’s about to say something else when he notices movement across one of the fields beside the pool. “Shoot! Someone is coming. We need to go.” He pulls me up, barely giving me time to grab my clothes and shoes.
“I’m this way,” I point down the wooded path toward the girls’ cabins.
“Oh, right.” He looks at me, then the trail, and back at me. “See you around, Ivy.”
Levi looks as shaken as I feel when our eyes collide for the first time since that night a little over two years ago, when we gave ourselves to each other for the first time. He has grown some more, both in height and form, but his gorgeous face is exactly the same. His sandy blonde hair looks damp, like he recently showered. His skin is perfectly sun kissed and covered by a tight black t-shirt and blue basketball shorts. His midnight blue eyes spear me with a look that is equal parts lust, happiness, and hurt.
Relentless (Titans of Founder's Ridge Book 2) Page 1
