Read Rival Love for Free Online

here and tell me how to act. He broke up with me. He had the nerve to wrap his arm around that skanky girl’s waist at my work and he’s telling me not to be difficult. I narrow my eyes. “Difficult? You’ve got some nerve.” Turning away, I call out, “Alex, I’m taking my break now.”
    The girls in line drool at the sight of my boss coming near my register to take over for me. He’s twenty-two, totally has that mysterious glint in his blue eyes, and fresh out of college. Yes, he’s drool worthy. Kevin hates Alex, but that’s because he thinks Alex flirts with me. Men and their egos.
    Slipping around the counter, I hear Roger ask Kevin, “Dude, what’s up with you two?”
    “Sky’s no longer one of us. She’s going to Delmont this year.” And there it is, the elephant in the room. The dreaded words hang in the air like decorations for a long-past holiday, and they literally steal all the air out of me. Avoiding their faces, I exit CJD and take a deep breath.
    Sulking toward my car, I hear, “Skylar?”

Chapter 8
     
    Caleb
     
    Walking out of Music Muses, the smile on my face quickly unfolds to a frown when I spot Skylar. She’s pressed against the side of the coffee shop, not even ten feet away from me. A guy wearing a backwards Bulldog baseball cap is hovering near her. Either she’s hooking up with this dude, or she’s in trouble. I can’t really tell from this distance.
    Something inside me is telling me not to ignore her. Another part of me wants to walk away. Keep walking. Those are her dumbass people, just keep walking.
    When I get closer to the coffee shop, I hear her sob, “You’ve been what?”
    “Look, things happened. It’s not like we were going to be together forever, you’ve got your heart set on Duke and I plan on going to Alabama. And now, you’re a…” He leans in close, too close for my comfort.
    “Are you kidding me? I was your girlfriend! Two years, Kevin!” She shoves him. “For the past three months you’ve been hooking up with Mia?” She shakes her head and he reaches for her.
    I rush over to them and without realizing what I plan on doing, I clamp my hand over his and push him away from her. The quarterback to Harris Academy eyes me up and laughs. “What the fuck, Sky? You call me a cheater? Then what’s this?”
    I press my fingers into Kevin’s chest. “Don’t talk to her!” I hear her gasp and then she hisses my name. This is my form of repaying her for dinner last night, but I’m not about to mention it. She tugs on my shoulder.
    “Please…Caleb.”
    Kevin snorts. “Morgan.” He cranes his head over my left shoulder and laughs. “Really, Sky? Can’t have me, so you go after this wannabe quarterback.”
    I’m just about to make a reply to his comment but Skylar beats me to it. “You couldn’t have this, so you got with Mia. Really, Kevin? She gives more rides than a school bus.”
    He points his finger at her and yells, “Exactly! Dating you, Sky, is like dating a goddamn nun. Two years, and the best I got out of it was a hand job.”
    I wait for Skylar to say something but she only sobs into my back. If she wasn’t a Bulldog, I’d comfort her. Kevin smiles. “Have fun with little Miss Tease, Morgan.”
    He heads back to the coffee shop. I turn and examine Skylar. Her makeup is all runny and her nose sounds like a dripping faucet. Her eyes won’t meet mine. I’m at a loss for what I should do now—hug her, say something like, “Well, I’m going to go,” or just leave?
    She scuffs her foot against the sidewalk and mumbles, “I didn’t need your help, just so you know.” She tilts her head slightly back. “But thank you.” She wipes a few tears and sniffles. “I still hate you for the shower thing.”
    I offer her a smile. “Fine by me. I’ll see you later.”
     
    ***
     
    Chilling in Lance’s basement, all I can think about is how I defended a Bulldog. What the hell is wrong with me? The tears, that has to be it. “Dude! What