Blurb
I’ve been in love with her for two years.
The first time around, I screwed things up. I hesitated and the moment was gone.
I passed when I shouldn’t have.
Not a total loss. I gained a best friend instead of whatever we might have been.
Sydney is hands down the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’ll do anything to keep her in my life. Even bury my feelings deep inside.
But one hot summer together at the lake filled with lots of teeny-tiny bikinis and I’m ready to risk it all for a second chance.
It’s time to take my shot.
1
Tanner
Two years ago
“I feel like Cinderella.” My buddy, Datson, spins in a circle, his arms held out to his sides and head tipped back in wonder, in the entryway of The White House, Valley University’s unofficial basketball house, best party spot on campus, and our new digs.
I snort and drop my bag on the tile floor. “It’s a little hard to picture you in a dress, dude.”
“I guess that makes me your fairy godmother then.” Joel skips down the stairs to greet us. His dad, the university president, owns the house, so he basically is our fairy godmother. This place is a palace. “Welcome, guys.”
“This is so dope,” Datson says, still taking it all in like he’s never been here before.
There are only four bedrooms at The White House and being asked to move in is an honor. With the new school year, two of the previous guys graduated, opening up two spots. Joel lives here, as does our other teammate Nathan.
“Wes and Zeke’s rooms are all cleaned out for you guys. We’re having a party tonight, so get settled in and then let’s celebrate.” Joel claps me on the shoulder and then heads off toward the kitchen.
Datson and I go upstairs, stopping briefly to stare inside the half-sized basketball court that we’re now going to be able to use anytime we want. It’s just one of the perks of living here. There’s also a theater room and a back yard with a huge pool and lots of space that’s perfect for parties.
“Sure beats dorm living.” Datson takes a step down the hall. “Which room do you want?”
“I don’t care, man. I don’t plan on spending a lot of time in it when I can be outside in that pool.”
I let him pick and then walk into the other one. It isn’t a lot bigger than my dorm room was, but it’s a hell of a lot nicer. The walls are white and smell like they’ve been painted recently. A mural of the Valley U Roadrunner mascot is above the bed and there’s a stack of bedding folded neatly on the end of the mattress. A desk and chair round out the furniture in the room.
After putting away my stuff and taking a shower, I don a pair of swim trunks and a T-shirt and head outside. It’s early, but a few guys from the team are already out back chilling by the pool. The White House is the unofficial hangout even for the guys that live in the dorm or off campus.
“Incoming.” Datson tosses me a beer as I take a lounge chair next to him.
I catch it like I’m cradling a football, pop the top, and take a long drink of the icy-cold beer. “Fuck, this is the life.”
“I may never go to class again.”
Nathan, the team’s resident partier and now one of my new roommates is sitting on the hot cement in jeans rolled up so he can dangle his feet in the water, cigarette in hand. “I tried that. Turns out you aren’t allowed to live here if you flunk out.” He smirks so I think he’s kidding, but you never know with Nathan. I wouldn’t put anything past him.
“Yo, Nate.” Datson holds up a beer and when Nathan turns, he throws it to him. Nathan catches it but then tosses it back. “No thanks, man, I’m good right now.”
“Pacing yourself?” I ask. “That’s new.” Nathan’s usually the first person with a drink in his hand and the last person to stop.
“It’s going to be a long night. I suggest you do the same. The back-to-school party every year is insane and now you can’t just leave to get away from it.”
“Sounds rad to me,” Datson says as Nathan stands and pulls out his phone, ignoring us. “Why would I ever want to leave an awesome party?”
“No clue.” I hold up my beer. “Cheers to a long night.”
An hour later, I’m three deep when I notice the party has really started to bump. All around shirts are coming off—that’s always a good sign fun is being had—and people are jumping into the pool. That’s exactly where I am, watching the patio where Valley U students continue to pour out.
Datson named himself party host and is jumping around chatting people up, offering cups, and acting like he’s lived here for years instead of two hours.
Several of my teammates are in the pool with me shooting the Nerf basketball into the hoop set up on one end, but I don’t have any interest in playing.
I spot Nathan near the edge of the pool. He’s got a cute blonde hanging on him, but he doesn’t seem to be enjoying her company. She’s got fun written all over her which I would have guessed is his type. He tips his head to me in the universal sign for, go ahead, she’s all yours, and I start toward them, but not before she throws her arms around an unsuspecting Nathan and brings him down into the water fully clothed.
“Oh shit.” I bust up laughing, as does everyone else that witnessed it.
She’s giggling when they resurface, but he is not. Nathan climbs out, jeans and shirt sticking to his body, mouth in a hard, straight line. I haven’t quite figured out what his problem is until I see him walking toward a chick from our communications class. She’s a transfer and hot. Hot enough to ditch a good time apparently.
I reach them as he and the communications chick, Chloe, are saying hello. I jut my chin in greeting to her and then slap a hand on Nathan’s wet shoulder. “Dude, that was hilarious. You should have seen your face when she pulled you in.”
He responds, I’m almost positive, but I lose the ability to hear. I scan the group of girls with Chloe and my gaze gets stuck on a tall blonde with big brown eyes that render me stupid. She’s wearing a neon pink dress that hugs her athletic frame. She’s staring at me too, although not quite so blatantly. Her gaze flits to me and then darts away. A shy smile tugs at her lips.
I know I’m gawking but I’m having a hard time doing anything about it until Nathan interrupts my thoughts by elbowing me in the ribs. “Shaw, can you lend Maureen some dry clothes?”
“Definitely,” I say without thinking and before I realize Maureen is the girl that took him down in the pool and not the one I’m currently eye fucking. Reluctantly, I give my attention to Maureen who bats her eyelashes at me as she wrings out her dripping wet hair. I wrap an arm around her shoulders while not taking my eyes off Chloe’s friend. “Right, yeah, come with me.”
As quickly as I can without being rude, I get Maureen some dry clothes and a fresh drink, then head back outside. Chloe and Nathan are nowhere in sight, but the friend in the neon dress is easy to spot. As I’m making my way toward her, she turns away from her group of friends as if she could feel me coming.