Page 46 of The Comeback Pact

That was one hell of a kiss…

But it wasn’t enough.

I want more.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Kenna

My stomach catapultslike I’m standing in front of a stadium full of people. I’m an electric wire, buzzing and snapping as I watch the bus from under the triangle-shaped awning. The team razzes West while he makes his way down the aisle. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I can read West’s lips. “Shut up. Shut up.”

When he sits, he scoots to the window to find me. For a moment, I don’t know what to do.

Should I act like I haven’t been watching him? We’re past that, I’m sure.

I’m also sure I’ve never seen anyone fill out a Speedo like West Brooks. The man is a walking, talking—okay, not-so-talkative—sin. Ripped, tight abs. A huge chest. And I looked lower. Idefinitelylooked lower. It was unavoidable. Literally.

We lock gazes, and he lifts his hand just as the bus pulls away, pressing his palm against the window.

Never in a million years did I expect him to come to my meet. Or bring the whole team. Or get them to all cheer like that. Like we’re one of them.

I take out my cell phone to text Sydney.

Me: Emergency. Can you take me to the football game? The whole team showed up at our meet.

Sydney: No fucking way!

Me: In Speedos.

Sydney: Holy Mary, mother of God. Aidan in a Speedo??

Me: I wasn’t looking at him.

Sydney: Of course you weren’t, you dirty ho.

Sydney: I’m getting in the car now.

Sydney: Wait, I need to put deodorant on and freshen up, then I’m getting in the car. Will Aidan still be in his Speedo?

I shake my head, smiling. I’m practically giddy—a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time.

A body steps next to me. Up ahead, the bus takes a right out of the lot and disappears.

“So, you’re dating West Brooks now?”

My jaw snaps shut. I turn my head to find Laney standing off my left shoulder. Maybe she doesn’t mean it, but there was a hint of judgment in her tone. “I’m sorry, did you want something?”

Her shoulders deflate. “It wasn’t my idea, you know. To partner me with someone else. I don’t know what you thought would happen, though.”

“But it was your idea not to tell me about it or ask how I was doing. We’ve been friends for years, Laney. You know, you haven’t even talked to me since my last surgery, and even then, it was like it was a chore for you. I expected more.”

When she doesn’t say anything, I peek over at her to find her staring at my scar. I take in a deep breath. For a whole hour or two there, I almost forgot I had one. I’m not going to let it define me anymore, though. If anything, I’m going to let it fuel me.

“I needed more,” I tell her, and this raw honesty makes my stomach twist. I should’ve come out with it before, but now is as good a time as any. “I was recovering from two surgeries and dealing with helicopter parents and praying every night that I wasn’t going to look like Quasimodo for the rest of my life. Even when I thought it should have been you texting,Iwas texting. And regardless of what I should’ve assumed would happen with you as a synchro partner, it would have been a hell of a lot easier to hear the news from you.”

She swallows hard. “I…”

It hits me then that I don’t really care. Any excuse she has to give won’t make any of it better. Maybe the incident actually did me a favor. It showed me who deserves to be in my life.

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