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Yeah, not my wisest decision.
Nicole was his only contact, considering I wasn’t allowed to have a cell phone at that time. Thank goodness Dad changed his stance once I got to college.
“I really thought we’d find a way.” And I did. After leaving Bellow Bay, I wholeheartedly believed fate would bring us together. Call it naivety or plain stupidity, but I once thought that when two people loved each other, they were destined to be together.
I could not have been more wrong.
“I don’t see how.” Nicole’s quipped response reveals how much she believes in fate—zero, zilch, nada. All of which she told me three years ago.
“You know my dad would never approve of anyone like him.”
“Okay. So what you’re saying is, CC’s the better choice?” CC being my boyfriend, Bobby. He earned the name Carbon Copy—shortened to CC—after visiting my dorm one night while Nicole was tipsy. Appalled she partook in that “ungodly act of drinking”—his words—he lectured her about being underage and the consequences of getting caught. After he left, Nicole rolled her eyes and said he was too rule orientated like me. Then she gasped as if discovering an earth-shattering innovation. A smirk played on her lips as she said, “He’s basically your carbon copy except with a dick.” Thus, CC was born.
“Quit calling him that. You know he hates it. And yes,Bobbyis better.” I frown, not liking what that statement implies. Bobby may be the better choice to garner Dad’s approval, but that doesn’t make him a better person. Dalton may have his share of faults, but he never showed them around me.
“Yeah, whatever, but from your lackluster expression, I’d have to disagree. I don’t understand how you put up withBobbyall these years.”
“We’ve only dated two of them, and he was . . .”
“Safe?” She fills in when my voice trails off.
“Yes, I mean”—I shake my head in frustration—“no. It doesn’t matter. I’m breaking up with him when he comes home.”
“Think you’ll go through with it this time?”
I let out a groan. Before Bobby left on his mission trip, I tried to break up, but I did a poor job conveying it. I had dropped subtle hints that he either ignored or didn’t get. Frustrated, I gave up trying since he was leaving for four months and decided to save the argument for later. Later has come. “Yes, but it will still be hard. He’s done nothing wrong. For the most part, he’s a dutiful boyfriend.”He’s just controlling.
“Which is why his name is CC.” She slaps the pool water, causing a spray of droplets to rain down on me. I jerk away, tipping the raft, and almost fall off.
“Don’t make me tip over,” I say, laughing. “I don’t want my hair messed up. I don’t have time to fix it.”
Nicole’s eyes narrow as she gauges me. “Wanting to look good for the new roomie?”
“No!” I shake my head again but then shrug. Because, really, who am I fooling? “Well, okay, somewhat good. In my defense, I wouldn’t want anyone seeing my wet hair.” With my blond curls piled into a messy bun on top of my head, it’s not as if I’m at my best, but my hair gets funky when wet. A wild, frizz monster isn’t the impression I’m aiming for.
“Fair enough.” Nicole settles back onto her raft, staring up at the blue sky.
Bellow, my miniature pinscher, starts yelping. He wags his tail and goes over to the screen door.
“Oh crap. I think Dad’s here already.”This is not good.I paddle my hands along the side of the raft, but Nicole blocks my way. I need my towel to cover myself up before Dad sees me in this bikini. He’ll throw a fit. “Hurry up.”
“I’m trying, but—”
The slide of the screen interrupts what she says. I close my eyes momentarily and prepare for Dad’s wrath. Dad’s strictness never used to bother me. I got used to being the daughter of a preacher, but these past three years have been suffocating. He’s gotten worse after Mom’s passing.
Nicole’s shocking gasp pulls me out of my thoughts. My eyes fly open, but I can’t see anything but her stiffening back.Oh no.Dad must sport that mean look he gets when angered.
“Nicole, move. I need to get out of here.” I try to shift to see around her, even though staying out of sight would be smarter. But I need my towel. Covering up is the only thing I can think about.
“What are you doing?” Dad’s voice booms across the backyard.
Breaking free from the logjam Nicole created, I go to respond, but my answer dies a quick death the moment I spot the black leather jacket.
It can’t be.
My gaze darts to the face the jacket belongs to. Dark brown eyes meet mine and widen in shock. Then everything happens at once. Nicole grabs my raft to shove it behind her at the same time I rear back from the surprise. The sudden shift jerks my body to the right as the raft pulls to the left. I try to steady myself, but I’m off-balance. My feet tip upwards. I grab hold of the side, but I can’t hang on to the slippery vinyl. I slide off and slip beneath the water’s surface.
All noises cease to exist, but I welcome the silence and let gravity pull me under. I don’t know what’s more shocking to my system: the fact I’m sinking to the bottom of the pool or Dalton Boyd—the boy I waited for fate to bring me—is here as our new houseguest. Part of me wants to remain submerged forever because what’s waiting for me on top of the surface is nothing but trouble.
