by Tijan
toward Faith and Raelynn, who were now both looking in our direction. Correction: they were looking at me. There was no hostility or emotion in their eyes, but I felt an awareness in the air. Coach Langdon moved to the sidewalk, and the others began to stand up. It was almost time to run, but in that moment, everything faded to those two girls and myself.
They had competition, and they were now aware of it.
This could get interesting.
Courtney chuckled under her breath. “Nettie and Grace haven’t figured out who you are, but expect them to freak. Their reaction will be nothing compared to how they’re going crazy over Logan’s girlfriend.”
I gritted my teeth. I was Samantha Strattan. I wasn’t going to be known as Mason Kade’s girlfriend on this team. Not here. I was a runner, and I was good at it.
“Her name is Taylor,” I snapped before I could help myself. “Learn to use it.”
I broke away, grabbing Taylor by the arm and pulling her to our own section of grass. “We have to stretch quick. He’s going to blow the whistle soon.”
She dropped down with me, reaching for her toes. “How far will we go today?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.” I turned to see Courtney, Nettie, and Grace talking together in a small huddle. Their heads were bent together. I didn’t know what they were saying, but it didn’t matter. My blood had started to boil. All these girls were going to be in my dust.
I needed to run.
Coach Langdon gave us a few minutes, but when we hopped up, he raised the whistle to his mouth. The girls knew, and everyone was ready. Earbuds went in. People shook out their arms, jumping in place.
Faith and Raelynn stood at one end of the group, as if they were their own unit. The rest of the team stood together, and Taylor and I were at the opposite end.
I asked the closest girl, “How far’s the morning run?”
“We do five in the morning. Then you can run as far as you want for the afternoon practice.”
Only five? I’d hoped for more.
“Strattan.”
I looked over to Coach Langdon.
“Follow the girls. They know the route.”
Which meant I had to keep pace with them. I couldn’t go faster on my own. This is the first run, I reminded myself.
“Okay, Coach.”
He nodded and blew his whistle.
We were off.
It was about how I’d expected it to be.
Faith and Raelynn took the lead, and the rest of the group seemed content to run as a pack behind them. I stayed with Taylor, who kept up with everyone just fine. She held steady at the back end of the group, and I ran slightly on the outside, waiting and biding my time.
Faith and Raelynn had glanced back at me as we first started, but when I remained back by Taylor, they seemed to settle in and lead the team. Both were slender, their hair pulled up in high buns, and they had a confidence to their gait. They were good, and they knew it.
The other girls paid attention to us at the beginning too, but by the end of mile four, they’d lost themselves in their own running. Taylor was still fine. She looked like she could do another five. As if reading my mind, she looked over and winked.
“You can go,” she mouthed.
I nodded. That was all I needed, and I started to edge forward.
I recognized the feeling in my legs. I could tell when we’d started the fifth mile. The girls up front picked up their pace. A mile to them was just a jog home. It’d go fast, and as Raelynn and Faith pulled away, the gap closed between the team and them. The pack had picked up speed too.
I moved on the side until I neared the head of the pack. Some girls noticed, but I held back until we were at the half point of mile five. Then I surged ahead, still running on the side, but bridging the gap between the team and Faith and Raelynn. We were rounding the last quarter mile when they noticed me. I was right behind them, almost on their heels, and this time, I looked ahead.
If I were right, Coach Langdon would be there. And when we cleared a set of trees, I saw him waiting, consulting his stopwatch.
It was time.
I put my head down and moved around the last two girls.
They surged ahead, but I kept going.
I kicked it up to my normal pace, but Faith and Raelynn could handle their own, at least for this distance. They stuck next to me until we surged past the coach. Then they dropped to a walk, but I kept running in place. I wanted to do more.
He checked his watch as he walked over to me. “Well, you’re definitely on the team. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that everyone had faster times than usual.” He eyed me running in place. “You’re still hoping to run?”
I nodded. “I didn’t know the route.” I smirked. “I do now.”
He eyed me, cocking his head to the side. “Martin said you’d have good times. I expected that. I thought you’d keep with those two.” He gestured to Faith and Raelynn, who were stretching as the rest of the team trickled in. “Did you hold back?”
I wasn’t going to boast, so I shrugged. “Just let me do my thing. You won’t regret it.”
He seemed to mull it over before he nodded. “I’ll send the girls in and wait. You do another five. Blow me away with your times, Strattan.”
That was all I needed.
This time, I ran for myself.
The second run didn’t take as long.
I soared past Coach Langdon, and he showed me my time, shaking his head. “What year are you?”
“Junior.” I pulled my leg up behind me, stretching my quad.
Taylor waved from the curb. She’d showered and had two cups sitting next to her. I could smell the coffee from where I stood. Its aroma mingled with my sweat.
“Why are you joining this year? You wasted two years, Strattan.”
I gulped, lowering my leg. “There were reasons.”
He snorted, heading back to the building. “You’re on the team. Your friend too. We run in the mornings and at three every day. Meet here by seven thirty and meet at the running track at three. Our first meet is in two weeks, but I have no worries about your performance. Hydrate. I’ll have a meal plan for you later.”
He nodded as he passed Taylor, who stood and brought over the coffee. “I made the team. Did you hear?” She offered me a cup.
Hearing the excitement in her voice, I grinned. “Did you really think you wouldn’t make it?”
She lifted a shoulder, sipping from her cup. “I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. But I’m happy. Logan will flip for me.”
I laughed. “He’s going to buy some kind of ATV and follow us. You know that, right?”
Her lip tugged up. “You’re right. He’ll blast music, and he’ll have towels, water, and protein snacks for us.”
I nodded. I expected more than that. “Nate will be with him too.”
“And Jason.”
“We’re bringing our own fan club to the team. Now they’ll really love us.”
“Man.” Her eyes lit up. She glanced over my shoulder, and I turned. Some of the girls were coming out of the building. All were showered, and some held their own coffees as they laughed together. I waited, but neither Faith nor Raelynn came out behind them.
“If you’re looking for the two divas, you missed them,” Taylor said. “Not that they threw a big scene, but when you took off, no one said a word. It was complete silence. I think everyone was waiting for an explosion, but then those two just stormed off. They were the first to leave, and they were pissed.”
I wasn’t that surprised, but I didn’t get to say anything. Courtney, Grace, and Nettie were coming over. Courtney was grinning now, almost as wide as the other two.
Grace gushed first. “You’re a bitch. You let us think you were the bartending staff at that party.” She punched me lightly. “We had no idea you were Mason Kade’s girlfriend, and oh my God—Faith and Rae are livid. We’ve been hearing about you, but you never joined the team. They thought they were clear
to take the top two spots. Now they gotta fight like the rest of us.”
Courtney touched my arm, jerking her head to the side.
I frowned, following her.
“Be careful,” she said once we were a few steps away.
“What do you mean?”
“Faith and Raelynn are rich. Both of them. They grew up running together. Their fathers are best friends, and they’re kind of like sisters.”
“Are you saying they’ll do something to hurt me?”
“No. I’m not saying they’ll physically hurt you, but I wouldn’t put it past them to figure out a way to get you off the team. Just watch your back.”
I nodded. “I will. Thanks for the heads-up.”
She nodded. Her shoulders lifted in a deep breath, and she started grinning again. “I can’t believe it. Our team’s always fun, but today was a whole other kind of practice. I’m kind of excited to see what happens.”
I glanced over. Grace and Nettie were still chatting up Taylor, who was watching me.
For so many reasons, I was happy Logan had caught her. It felt nice to have someone behind me. I’d been missing Heather since I started at Cain. There’d been random friends, but no one had stuck.
Taylor headed my way. “Ready to go? Logan’s blowing my phone up. He wants to meet for breakfast.”
Grace and Nettie followed. “Where are you going?” Nettie asked.
“Uh . . .” Taylor opened her mouth.
Courtney cut in, adding, “Because maybe we’ll check the place out too. You know, another morning or something.”
“No, I was ask—”
Courtney shot her a meaningful look, interrupting again. “We have plans this morning. We’ll go another time.”
“Oh.” Nettie closed her mouth.
Grace frowned.
Taylor tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear and glanced around, looking anywhere but at the girls.
This had just turned awkward.
Logan wouldn’t want new people at breakfast. Taylor didn’t have the words to express his exclusivity sometimes, but Courtney knew. Or it seemed like she did. Logan did have a reputation. He liked people, but he was selective. He didn’t do breakfast with just anyone.
I cleared my throat. “We have some family things to talk about, but we should do breakfast tomorrow?” I gazed around the group.
Logan wouldn’t come. That was the unspoken part of the deal.
Nettie smiled. “That sounds like fun.”
Courtney cleared her throat. “And on that note, my stomach is growling. Let’s go, chicas. I still have to stop in at my job for a few hours.”
After they left, Taylor expelled a breath. “Logan would’ve been a lot ruder about that.”
I chuckled as we started for the cars. “He would’ve been blunt, not giving a shit if he hurt their feelings.”
She glanced at me from the side. “You were smoother. Thank you.”
I shrugged, coming to my car. “I’m a little more experienced, that’s all. I’ve been with them since high school.”
“Yeah.” She looked over at her car for a moment. “I was doing my own thing when Logan and I started dating. Then second semester was just about him—and Jason. My other friend faded. She started doing her own thing.” She looked back at me. “I’ve been so intimidated by you.”
“Well, there’s no need for that. Whatever changed, I’m happy. I’m glad you’re on the team with me.”
“Me too.” She smiled. “See you back at the house?”
I smelled my shirt and wrinkled my nose. “Yes. I need to shower. Logan can drive.”
“See you soon.”
We ended up eating at a restaurant a few miles from the university, and when we walked inside, we weren’t the only students there. I recognized a table of football cheerleaders. They weren’t in uniform, but their hair was done in pigtail braids, and their faces sparkled with glitter. Some girls I remembered from my freshman dorm were there too, in a back corner booth. We passed several tables of guys as the host led us to our seats. I didn’t think anything of them until Logan stopped. A cheer went up, and he pounded fists with a few of them.
Taylor leaned back toward me. “You know who they are?”
I shook my head. “No clue.” They weren’t football players, but they were tall with long, lean legs. “Some basketball players, maybe?”
A moment later, when we were seated in our booth, Logan confirmed my guess.
“It’s a team day here. I wasn’t sure if it was today or later this week.”
“What do you mean?” I asked
“All the teams are showing here. Mason’s coming too. Whoever’s around is coming today for a big meal.” He nodded to me. “You guys are on the cross-country team.” He smirked. “I got in because I’m just awesome. I’m my own team.”
Taylor met my gaze. “We weren’t told anything about this.”
“Really?” He pointed across the restaurant. “That girl has a cross-country jacket. That’s your team, right?”
Courtney, Grace, and Nettie hadn’t said a word. They’d made me believe we were the ones ditching them, but when I looked over, he was right. They sat at a large table, along with the rest of the team, and at a separate booth with the coach and a woman I didn’t recognize were Faith and Raelynn. They both wore smug looks, like they hadn’t a worry in the world.
They purposely hadn’t told us.
Logan narrowed his eyes. “You guys didn’t know?”
“They didn’t say a word.” I clenched my jaw.
Taylor jerked back in her seat, glaring. “This isn’t going to slide.”
I shook my head. “Fuck, no.”
“Are you guys serious? You were cut out?” Logan whistled under his breath. “And you guys think it’s me who’s going to get Mason in trouble.” He laughed. “What are you going to do?” He glanced at Taylor, but she was watching me.
It was my decision.
I tried to formulate the best plan of action.
Then I saw Faith and Raelynn say something and start laughing. The woman and Coach Langdon seemed oblivious, absorbed in their conversation, but the rest of the team looked over. Faith leaned toward them, saying something, and soon that table was laughing too. The only one who seemed uncomfortable was Courtney. Grace and Nettie laughed, but not as much as the others. The three of them shared a look.
They were talking about us.
My brain shut off. I stood. I wasn’t going to be someone’s joke. Not now, and not ever. Experiencing flashbacks to my junior year at Fallen Crest Academy, with Jessica and Lydia laughing at me—leading the rest of the students in one big fucking laugh at my expense—some of that old Sam rose up.
I wove through the tables. There must’ve been some look on my face, because as I went past them, people quieted. I was drawing attention. I didn’t care about that either. I was climbing the stairs to the section where the team sat when they saw me.
A collective hush fell over the table and booth. The only two who still had no clue were the coach and the woman. I stopped between them and looked at Faith and Raelynn.
“Whose idea was it to leave us out?”
Courtney looked down at her plate. Grace bit her lip, and Nettie pressed her lips together in a flat line. I looked right at Faith and Raelynn. “Was it you guys?”
