Page 46 of Written In Flesh

Madden

MY ARMS CUT through the water, propelling my body forward. The momentum picks up, and my legs kick with exact precision to put me in the lead. Our college is currently on top of the leaderboard, and this last race of the afternoon will cement that win, even if we don’t place higher than third in the relay. Except Heath and Aero both do the relay and I trust that they’ll have no issues taking first place in that race as well. My muscles are starting to burn and my lungs are feeling the impact from the day. My mouth feels cottony, I’ve definitely taken in too much pool water throughout the different events. Once this win is in the bag, I’ll finally let myself think about what I’m going to eat after to get that taste out of my mouth.

The horn blares in the distance, and I know we’re under the minute mark. I kick faster, longer strokes. Now’s the time to take less breaks for air and really put my breathing techniques to work in order to get more momentum under the water. The thrill of winning chases up my spine. With one last twist of my body and push off the pool wall, my body glides and rolls toward the finish line. Even with the distortion of being under water, I can hear the crowd cheering. I can hear my name chanted despite the sound of rushing water a lane over from me. And when I finally bob up for air, slamming my hand against the pool deck, the crowd erupts.

“Winner. Madden Danvers, River Falls University, for the 200-yard freestyle at 1:26.30.” The announcer’s voice booms over the loud speaker. “New record for Danvers and for the NCAA.”

I’m hauled out of the pool by Heath, the rest of our team members slapping my back and shoulder and offering congratulations. My gaze catches once with Killian, who only tips his chin. He also placed today for the 200-yard backstroke. I can be proud of his team contribution while still wanting to pound his face in.

Three times now I have caught him with Skully. No amount of telling myself I’m over the past stops me from wanting to tear him apart each time. To punish her every time as well. She said he’s the one bothering her, but I don’t know if I believe it. I’ve heard her lies before and we all burned because of it. I know I reacted harshly in the library by refusing to help her learn our job at the Gate, and I’ve been paying for it with Gavin even further up my ass asking questions. When I heard from Aero that she was at the party last night, I left my post just to find her. For a split second I had planned to apologize and see if she wanted to go back with me, then I saw Killian behind her, touching her, and I lost it again.

“Hey, drinks after, we’re celebrating!” Aero cheers with the team. “We’re going to The Deck,” he adds, and I feel my resolve slipping. I shouldn’t feel this way. I shouldn’t be this desperate for another sight of her. It’s like I can’t stay away, and the more time I spend in her presence, the more drawn to her I am.

I grab my towel and sling it over my shoulders before following the rest of my team to the locker rooms. The hot water from the showers runs over my back and eases some of the growing tension. I’m able to drown out most of the talk from the locker room until I’m getting dressed.

“Well, we can’t go right there. Someone has to bring her home if she won’t go with,” Heath tells Aero, who pinches the bridge of his nose.

My brows furrow. “Who?”

Heath avoids my gaze and grabs his shirt from the locker. Aero shifts on his feet, shoulders shrugging. “Lily. She came to the meet but has no way to get home.”

“Why would she get a ride two hours away to see us if she can’t get home?”

Heath raises his brow at me and glances again at Aero. My friend this time is giving me the same incredulous look. But it’s Killian who disrupts the moment with his low whistle. All three of us turn in his direction.

“You do realize that the girl is in love with you, right? Or are you just that blind?”

My chest locks up and something sludgy inside of me runs down my spine. Not Lily. We’ve been friends for years, and I’ve never seen her as anything more.

Killian’s stare runs over my face, and he lightly chuckles. “Fuck. You don’t see it? Even your little bestie Aero has seen it.”

A deep flush hits Aero’s jawline, and he averts his eyes from me. I tilt my head, glancing among the three of them. “What does he mean?”

Aero clears his throat, and Heath rubs the back of his neck. “Ah, at the party last night, Lily confronted Skully to stay away from you.”

“From us. She knows what happened, how Skully played us all,” I argue.

“Madd, Lily was upset for us, but she gets on another level when it comes to you. Haven’t you noticed she won’t be without us lately?” Heath asks, his eyes watching me closely.

“You know she’s always been kind of fearful of Skully. She thinks Skully has always hated her and wasn’t nice to her before,” I remind them.

Killian full-on laughs and throws his jacket on before grabbing his gym bag. “Seems like you’re as set on rewriting the past as she is. Maybe you two are made for each other like she always said.”

He leaves the locker room and the silence surrounding us is deafening. My jaw clenches, and my mind wanders over bits and pieces of what I remember from the past and up to the present. Lily has never once shown anything more than friendship to me. Sometimes she can be a little clingy, but she has no one else besides us. It’s always been us four and Heath when he got older. “You guys know her. We’ve been friends for a long time.”

Aero closes the locker and glances again at Heath. My little brother drops his head before groaning. “Fine. I’ll bring her home. You two save me a spot at the Deck.”

“Good man.” Aero grins and thumps him on the back.

Ten minutes later, we’re on the coach bus; Heath’s been excused to bring Lily home and we’re all on our way back to River Falls.

The Deck is crowded by the time we get there later in the evening. The bar is full, and music is playing. The various races are on replay on the TVs, and the names on the chalkboard with the leading numbers have already been updated. My name is still at number one where it’s meant to be.

“Let’s grab a table in the back.” Aero waves me behind him before we plunge into the crowd. We’re met with various pats on the backs and a few girls stop us to take pictures. Aero drinks that shit up while I force myself to play nice. Other supernaturals know to give us a wider birth, but humans never seem to recognize when predators are amongst them. Either that or they’re drawn to the danger.

Despite all the reasons I shouldn’t, my gaze skims the crowd, looking for the object of my obsession. Without my permission, my shadows leak out into the space, searching her out, feeling for her in little pockets where I can’t get a good visual. Within seconds they slam back into me, and my lips tilt up in a small smirk. Her own magic tangles with mine, a clear sign she used her powers to shove mine back, probably irritated that mine wanted to surround her.

“What are you so happy about?” Aero chuckles, and I shrug. Truthfully, I have no idea if I’m happy or just looking forward to another chance to get under Skully’s skin. I don’t want her, but I like playing with her. Aero looks around me, and his eyes narrow slightly. My head swivels to find Heath cutting his way through the crowd to us.