Unless you let them.The words rang in my mind.
I stared at the courtyard bricks until they blurred as my eyes teared. “I understand.”
“You need to crush him, Alexander. Not for pride. For clarity.”
He believed that. Believed it completely. That dominance would free me from whatever he thought Liam was to me. But I already knew it wouldn’t, because just a few mornings ago I’d already beaten Liam.
Don’t mention the race. Don’t even think about mentioning it.
If he knew I’d raced off-campus without approval—with Liam there, of all people—he’d tear apart my year before it began.
I swallowed hard.
“Do you hear me?” he pressed.
“Yes,” I said, though it came out barely above a whisper.
“Good. Coach Eldridge will confirm the scrimmage later today. Act surprised. And don’t disappoint me.”
The line went dead before I could respond.
My chest tightened. Hot, tense, too close to panic. If he knew about the scrimmage ups early, what else did he know? Did he know about the unsanctioned race?
He couldn’t have, or he would have destroyed me already.
Disowned me.
I let the phone fall onto the table.
A breeze rustled the oak leaves overhead, scattering tiny specks of sunlight across the bricks. Everything in the courtyard looked exactly the same as before the call, but I felt like something had been carved out of me.
I thought about calling my mom. She’d at least listen. But she’d never stand up to him. No one did.
If only that summer never happened. If I’d never crashed the boat. If Liam wasn’t even a name I knew. Just a hot guy I passed by at the marina and a rival rower from a state school. None of this would be happening.
And at the same time, I couldn’t lie to myself. I’d rather endure all of this and have kissed him than never have kissed him at all.
I thought back to our last day at Brackett Lake.
I could still see the rain streaking off the roof of the gazebo, hear the storm roaring around us.
Kingswell University.I’d said, trying to sound proud.
But instead of pulling back, Liam smiled. Relief softened his whole face.
I’m going to Riverside. We’ll be right across the river.He said.
For one reckless moment, my heart lifted. I saw a fall where we met by the river, snuck out for dinners, stayed in each other’s lives the way we wanted to.
Then reality hit. Riverside. Kingswell. Opposite sides of everything.
Liam... they’re completely different worlds.I told him.Everyone expects us to hate each other.
So what? That has nothing to do with us.He had looked at me with utter confidence.
It has everything to do with us.I said.
He stepped closer.I don’t care about any of that.
