~*~
I emerged from Suzie’s office on Sunday afternoon with a National Letter of Intent tucked in my backpack and a smile that was anything but tucked away.
Eric followed me out of the office. “Let me grab some things from my locker and we can head to O’Hare.”
I nodded, sinking into a chair in the hallway. My eyes felt drawn to the men’s swimming office, where I knew Reese was learning his fate. I was glad there weren’t any shouts emanating this time.
After a minute or two, the men’s coach opened his door, and this time he shook his swimmer’s hand. “See you tomorrow morning, Reese.”
“Okay, Coach.” Reese walked out, looking pleased, and when he saw me he rushed over to my chair.
As I stood, we both asked, “How’d your meeting go?”
I chuckled, and he said, “You go first.”
I almost squealed. “Suzie offered me a full scholarship.”
His eyes got huge. “You got a full ride? Wait a minute — what’re your best backstroke times?”
“Fifty-three in the hundred and one-fifty-five in the two-hundred.”
His jaw dropped. “I didn’t know you were so fast, Abby! That’s awesome.”
I shrugged. “The flipper feet help, I guess.”
He laughed.
I chewed the inside of my cheek. “So how’d your meeting go? Will you get to use your flipper feet in the Big Ten this year?”
He nodded, exhaling with relief. “Tyler really went to bat for me.”
“Tyler?”
“He’s still in there with Coach, trying to explain how things got so far. Coach isn’t too pleased with him and Adam.”
“I’m so happy for you.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, searching with my cheek for the alcove of skin and muscle I’d grown so fond of.
He enfolded me in his huge wingspan. “You’ve got my number, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll call you when I get home.”
“Good.”
I looked up at him, smiling. “Say hi to your brother for me.”
“And you say hi to your dad for me.”
I stiffened in his arms. “I don’t know if I can do it.”
“I bet he misses you like crazy.”
My throat tightened. “How do you know?”
“Because I already hate you leaving me, and I’ve only known you for a day. Your dad’s known you your whole life.”
I heard Eric’s voice. “Hey, Abby, are you ready?” He rounded the corner and stopped short, noticing me hugging Reese. “Uh, I’ll just wait in the car, okay?”
“Okay.” I grinned shyly.
Once Eric had left with my roller bag, I pouted, looking away. “Gotta go soon.”
Reese rested his long fingers beneath my chin, swiveling my face to him. His kiss was lingering and sweet, holding promise for the future. I couldn’t wait to share many more kisses like this one as students and teammates — and maybe even one before that, at prom.
~*~
By the time I reached my gate for the flight to Cincinnati, the weekend was catching up to me. I was exhausted. I’d just finished telling my mom about my great trip, and hanging up the phone left me with an incomplete feeling — a gnawing emptiness.
I glanced down at my phone, then up at the gate information, which said I had thirty minutes until boarding. Slowly I walked over to an empty seating area. I thought about Reese standing up to Tyler and Adam, and my finger trembled as it pressed an unused number on my contact list.
Nervously bringing the phone to my ear, I heard it ring a couple of times, then the deep baritone I loved. “Abs, is that you?”
“Daddy,” I gasped.
“Oh, Abby. I’m so happy you called…I — I missed you so much. How’ve you been? How are you, sweetheart?”
I smiled through my tears. “Guess where I’m going to school next year!”
About the Author
People fascinate the psychologist/author (psycho author) known as Jennifer Lane. Her therapy clients talk to her all day long about their dreams and secrets, and her characters tell her their stories at night. Jen delights in peeling away the layers to scrutinize their psyches and emotions. But please rest assured, dear reader, she isn’t psychoanalyzing you right now. She’s already got too many voices in her head!
Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love and empathy. She is the author of The Conduct Series—romantic suspense for adult readers—and is currently at work on the third and final installment: On Best Behavior. Streamline is her first foray into writing for young adults, but she’s found this sort of writing even more fun. A former college swimmer, Jen was able to put a lot of her own experiences into this book.
Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and hanging out with her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.
JenniferLanebooks.com
Other Titles by Jennifer Lane
Young Adult
Streamline
Adult
With Good Behavior
Bad Behavior
Swim Recruit Page 5
