Fallen Crest Forever (Fallen Crest High #7)

“Sam?”


I ran a hand down his chest and stomach and shook my head again. “No.” I pulled him down to me, fastening my mouth to his.

Naptime was over. I wanted something else now.

And a second later, his arm slid under my back and he lifted me farther up on the bed before coming back down to me. I wanted to feel his weight all over again, the way that made me writhe underneath him. Mason did just that.





“No.”

The next day Coach Langdon gave Faith and me his pitch. He wanted us to run together. We were the only three in his office.

I folded my arms over my chest and said again, “No way.”

“Why not?”

He sounded aggravated, and he should’ve been. We were going on minute thirty-five of him trying to change my mind. It wasn’t happening.

“Sam.” He stood from his desk.

I didn’t care. He could stand. He could pace. He could wring his hands together. He could do anything he wanted. None of it was going to work.

“You have to tell me why.” He took a deep breath, seeming to calm himself, and sat back down behind his desk.

Faith sat in the corner next to me, her legs crossed and her arms folded over her chest. She’d turned to sit at an angle so she was more comfortable to watch this spectacle. And that’s what it must’ve looked like to her.

Hell, if she’d been eating popcorn, it would’ve looked like she was at the movies.

“I already did. I don’t trust her.”

“But—that was in the beginning. I thought things had changed.”

“No.” I shook my head. “She thought she could keep up with me in the beginning because I held back. Only thing that’s changed is that she knows she can’t now.”

His eyes flicked to hers, like he was worried about Faith’s reaction.

I spoke for her, almost sounding bored. “She knows it. She’s just learned running against me makes her a better runner. Why would I want to help her with that?”

“Because she’s your teammate!” He threw his arms out wide before they rested on his head.

“She didn’t choose that. I did. I joined the team. She tried to kick me off.” I wanted to sneer at her, but it was obnoxious and rude. I refrained. With effort. “It didn’t work.”

Faith snorted in laughter, but didn’t say anything.

“This makes no sense to me.” He shook his head. “No sense at all. I’ve never had a teammate who didn’t want to do everything she could to help another teammate.”

“Bullshit.”

“What?” His eyes latched to mine, shocked.

“I call bullshit. Have you met Faith Shaw?” I jerked a hand to my right.

“That was uncalled for.”

“No.” I thought about it. “It’s not. She got the whole team to exclude Taylor and me from a breakfast thing. She threatened us too. She threatened Taylor, saying I couldn’t protect her if I was running ahead of everyone else. She’s a prime example of someone who didn’t want to help another teammate.”

“You know what I mean.”

I leaned forward, my arms still folded over my chest. “You’re right. I do, but you don’t realize you’re being biased here. You’re not putting yourself in my shoes, and if you did, you’d understand why I don’t want to run with her. The only kindness she’s showed me was after Friday’s race when she thanked me for helping her. That was it.”

He frowned, seeming to see me for the first time. His eyebrows pinched together, and he looked at Faith. “That can’t be right.”

“It is.”

I turned to look at her. She was being honest now?

Noticing my look, she shrugged. “What? I mean, there are witnesses to everything. Even if I tried lying, I know at least Raelynn would back you up. Or she would’ve. And you were right. She thought I dropped her friendship.”

My lips parted. That didn’t sound good. “I take it that’s not the case anymore?”

She preened back at me, giving me a close-mouthed smile. “Don’t say I’m not a quick learner. You threatened me, and I read between the lines. I circled the wagons, so to speak, and yes, Raelynn is back to being one of my besties. Thanks for that.”

Well . . . Fuck.

She grinned. “I should thank you again. You’ve made me a better runner, and a better friend.”

It burned. Deep down. There were all sorts of burning going on down there.

“Look, Coach.” Her arms unfolded, and she sat forward. “Samantha has a valid point. I was horrible to her in the beginning, still am actually, so based on our past, you can’t force her to run with me. If she fought you and wrote a claim against you, she’d win eventually. Even public opinion would side with her, so you can let it go. I’m not going to force my teammate to do something against her will.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s so considerate of you.”

“I’m trying, actually.”

I studied her; it seemed she was genuine.

Then she flashed me another smug grin and ruined it. “You’re wrong about one thing, though.” She stood.

I waited.

“I am going to beat you. Eventually. It might not be this year, but it’ll happen. You’re not the only one qualifying for the Olympics.”

She seemed so sure of herself. Her head was high, and she held my gaze steadily. She meant what she said.

Well, fuck. Again.

“Let us both run on our own,” she said to Coach.

He frowned heavily. “I don’t like this.”

“Come on,” she said. “The other girls distract me too. You want us to do better. This is the way.”

“You’ll do your sprints and weights too?” He was asking both of us.

I nodded.

“You know I already do,” Faith answered.

“I lift with my boyfriend.”

He pointed at me. “You do sprints with him too from now on.”

I stood next to Faith. “I will.”

He waited a minute, staring at us, and then he gestured to the door. “Fine. Go. Our next meet is Friday. Check in with me every day with your progress.”

I followed Faith outside and asked, “What are you doing? What was all that about in there?”

She stopped and turned to face me, cocking her head to the side. “Why do you think that was a charade? Maybe I really am grateful to you for making me a better runner and friend. I’m a better person, thanks to you.”

“You have an angle. What is it?”

“Right.” She snorted, starting to walk backward, away from me. “Because that’s a good battle tactic: declare your intent to the enemy.” She rolled her eyes. “I thought you were better than that.”

I was . . . but no. I wasn’t. That was Mason and Logan’s job. They fought the fights. I just followed behind and reaped the benefits.

“You’re right.”

“What?” She stopped, her forehead wrinkling as she frowned at me.