Page 8 of The Comeback Pact

“Dude,” she declares, eyes wide like she’s as astonished as I am.

“I know.” The sting of it hits me again. Telling someone makes it worse because it feels real now.

She blows out a breath. Out of everyone, she knows how much I was counting on this win. I may have just moved in with her at the end of last semester, but we became fast friends. My parents didn’t want me in the dorms anymore after what happened, and Sydney was on the hunt for a roommate. It’s only a bonus that we actually get along and that her house is super charming and perfect.

“So, what are you going to do?” she asks, clenching her water bottle.

“She says they’ll evaluate me to see where I’m at, and we’ll go from there.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, but I’m still devastated. The cold shoulder from Laney felt like a bigger betrayal. She should’ve been keeping me updated on what was going on, but instead, she was already diving with a new partner for crying out loud.

Sydney stays quiet as I fall down the rabbit hole of self-loathing. She gnaws on her bottom lip like she does when she’s nervous about saying something. When I first moved in, she did it a lot until I told her she didn’t have to be reserved around me. Before the incident, I was actually a lot of fun.

“Spill it.”

“I’m saying this with heaps of love and unicorn sprinkles…but I wouldn’t wait on your coach.” As soon as it’s out of her mouth, she rushes on with the rest of her thoughts. “She gave your spot away already. She told you there wasn’t a place for you even before she evaluated you to see where you were at. Sounds like someone who doesn’t care if you make it back on the team. I say you take matters into your own hands.”

“So…like, do what?”

“I don’t know. Dive shit. What do you need to do to ‘get back in shape’?” she asks, using air quotes with her fingers.

“Conditioning, strength training, extra practice time…”

“Cool. Do it.” When I just blink at her, she puts her serious face on. “Kenna, you need this. Diving is what kept you motivated during the surgeries and everything else. Don’t let them take this away from you. Do you think Einstein just sat back and let someone else come up with his relativity theories?”

I think I know what she’s saying, but—

She groans. “Okay, do you think David Booty just—”

“Boudia,” I correct her. “David Boudia.” Honestly, I should be surprised she even knows the Olympic diver’s name.

She glares at me. “Do you think David Boudia just sits back and lets things happen to him? No, he goes out and gets it. He sees a problem and fixes it.”

“Okay, okay,” I say, trying to cut off her rant before it ramps up. She’s absolutely right. Coach isn’t doing me any favors, so this is all in my hands. I need to make a comeback plan on my own.

I need— Shit, I need another coach. Or someone like a coach. A trainer.

I’m trying to come up with a plan of action when Sydney’s stare skates past me a few times. Finally, she locks gazes with me. “Don’t look now. Football players are eyeing you up.”

My body automatically stiffens. I remember the interaction I had with West Brooks earlier, and a sheet of ice freezes my spine. Sydney knows all about my past, my hatred for that team, and how they get away with freaking everything. They took part in the antics that permanently scarred me and none of them got so much as a suspension.

The dean even had the audacity to tell my parents that the rivalry with Hamilton went back to when both universities were founded, like it was a legend he wasn’t going to apologize for. I was just an unfortunate bystander to kids who went too far.

“They’re walking this way,” she says under her breath.

“Who?” I gasp, my muscles locking up.

Her gaze flicks up. “West and Aidan.”

I groan internally. West freaking Brooksagain, and Aidan, the new hotshot starting quarterback after our old quarterback graduated and got drafted to play professionally.

“They’re not cominghere, are they?” I whisper, my foot bouncing up and down. My stomach churns, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“God, they are fine pieces of meat,” Sydney states, her stare drifting to the floor like she’s taking them all in. I kick her under the table, and she snaps out of it. “Fine pieces of type-A arrogance, I mean.”

I roll my eyes. The truth is, they are unfortunately handsome with their big muscles and strong jaws. However, their disregard for others is abhorrent. If you have nothing to do with football, you aren’t even on their radar. I’ve only caught their attention because of what happened.

The right side of my face burns at the memory. I’m suddenly super embarrassed and pissed at the same time, so I prop my head on my clenched fist and look the other way, simultaneously covering up my scar. Maybe if they don’t notice it, I won’t be an unwanted beacon for them.

Sydney suddenly freezes, and I peer over to find her gazing at me in surprise. She eeps out an “I’m sorry” two seconds before a masculine throat clears.

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