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I can do this. I can pull the team together. With the exception of freshmen Jordan, Josie and Elsie, we were all on the team last year. Everyone knows the drill. And Jordan’s one of just three people at Franklin West on a sports scholarship, so he works his ass off without being told.

Truth is, I don’t know why we failed so spectacularly at the meet. Our times weren’t bad. I’d blame it on the fact that people haven’t trained over the summer, but that clearly wasn’t an issue for the Portland CC team.

My loud exhale is swallowed by the thumping bass vibrating through the room. The Wolves’ opening party is always good, but this year it holds extra weight. Our last one.

The party is officially only open to seniors, but all the lacrosse team is here because their captain is the vice president, so when the entire swim team walked in, no one really cared. Plus, three of the team, Erik, Colton, and Parker, are Wolves.

Glancing around, everyone seems to be having a good time. My smile slides from my face as I see Wes fucking Bowers checking his watch for the fourth time.

“Seriously?” I snap.

He has the decency to look sheepish. “I was only seeing what time it was.”

Bullshit.

“Come on, Wes. This is our last year at Franklin West. You know what happens after graduation?”

His dark eyes bore into me from behind his glasses. “I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me.”

“The real fucking world, Wes.” I shake my head because I can’t shake him. He’s got at least thirty pounds and four inches on me. “All the boring shit that comes with being an adult. Between classes, swimming, and the newspaper, do you ever just enjoy yourself?”

“I enjoy swimming,” he says. “And the newspaper. And I have plenty of fun.”

“Sure you do, big guy.” I snort into my drink. Wes is the most serious fucker I’ve ever met. I’m not sure he’d know fun if he walked into it face first.

“I do,” he insists.

Sighing, I reach up and place a hand on his shoulder. “This time next year, or even a few years down the line, will you look back and have regrets? Did youtrulyenjoy college? You might be here, but you’re nothere, if you get what I mean. Maybe try looking up from the computer screen this year. Take a look around. Because it’s going to be gone before you know it.”

My own words cause a nervous tingling in my stomach and I’m grateful when Colton playfully punches me in the arm, grabbing my attention.

The Wolves are all wearing expensive suits and the girls are going wild for it. A few of the guys, too. I glance again at Wes. He’s gay, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him date anyone, and we’ve been on the team together since freshman year. I squint at him. If the Wolves looking the way they are tonight isn’t so much as piquing his interest he must be beyond help. Maybe he’s a cyborg.

I try really hard to focus on what Colton is saying, but my thoughts keep slipping back to Doug. He’ll never admit it, but I know I hurt him when I broke it off. It feels dramatic to even say that. We fooled around for a few weeks, and yeah, it was possibly the most fun I’ve had at Franklin West, but it was reckless and stupid.

When he’d opened up to me about his parents, the sadness had pooled in his stormy gray eyes, and the way he’d almost folded in on himself . . . It had been too much to take. I’m from a big family of huggers, so I did what Rossis do. I hugged the heck out of him. What I hadn’t been expecting, was how nice it was. He fit against me in a way that had my heart racing, his beard scratching my neck in a way that had me wriggling closer.

It should have felt weird hugging my coach, but it didn’t. He’s such a kid himself, he’s never really managed the whole authoritative thing. He’s not that much older than us either. I don’t know exactly, but I’m pretty sure he’s only just over thirty.

“Hey, Captain.”

Joy elbows me out of my thoughts and I blink, wondering when Colton stopped talking to me, because he’s got his back to me now.Fuck.

“Hey, Captain, yourself.” I smile. “Enjoying the party?”

She wrinkles her nose with a shrug. “I’m looking forward to next week’s. This is . . . meh.”

I shake my head, my smile feeling a little more natural. Joy is in the sorority, Beta Epsilon Delta and the rumors about their party have been circulating since I stepped foot back on campus.

“Sorry Coach was a dick to you,” she says, tossing her thick black waves over her shoulder. “Totally unfair.”

There’s not much I can do but shrug. I know exactly why he was hard on me. “Danny left big shoes to fill.”

Joy pins me with a look. “That has nothing to do with it. You don’t see Coach hauling my ass into his office or chewing me out poolside.”

“Hey,” I soothe. “It’s fine. It wasn’t personal. Maybe he had a tough summer.”

She mumbles something about it not being an excuse and I fix the reassuring smile to my face.

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