TAINTED

Chapter 12

RHYS

My chest glistened with sweat, and I ached as I pushed myself up the hillside. I broke through the pain, hoping to silence my mind and focus on nothing but my body. I desperately needed the escape, and working on my songwriting and busying myself around the ranch wasn't enough lately. Even though I loved football and had a full-ride scholarship at USC, my conscience kept nagging at me that maybe "the accident" wasn't an accident at all. Maybe I was destined for other things, and maybe, just maybe, I needed to listen harder to my inner voice.

My trainer, Holly, caught up on the trail and jogged beside me, her red hair bouncing at every step. She was a very skilled personal trainer and did a great job keeping me focused and motivated. Physically, I wouldn't be lacking on the football field, with Holly pushing me to reach my fullest potential. The woods were quiet, and we kept jogging in an easy, wordless rhythm. I welcomed the silence because I genuinely needed it.

We ran side-by-side back to the ranch. When we were about twenty yards away, my body was spent, and I slowed to a walk for a cool down, eventually stopping at the deck's stairs.

"Good work today, Rhys. You were killing it on those inclines," Holly said, wiping the sweat from her face.

"Thanks," I smiled at her and walked up the deck stairs. I slid open the patio doors and stepped into the kitchen with Holly behind me. I poured each of us a glass of water.

Holly was about to say something when my phone rang. I frowned at the screen. It was Grayson. What did he want? Wasn't he at work right now?

"Hey Rhys, what's up?"

I stiffened, my thoughts immediately going to Ivy. She was working at the resort, too, so Holly met me at the ranch today and not at the local gym. My mind involuntary flashed to a vision of Ivy, her blonde curls tossed into a messy knot on the top of her head, and her lips lightly coloured a soft pink. I shook away the vision and refocused on my conversation with Grayson.

"Just finished a workout."

"Oh..." Grayson continued. "I wanted to invite you to a party this weekend at my place on the lake. A bunch of us from the resort are getting together, and a few of our old high school buddies are coming too...I thought I'd extend the invite."

Holly listened intently, scanning my face for any indication of what was happening. I knew my face must appear overly intrigued all of a sudden, blatantly curious whether or not Ivy would be at this party, too. I wanted to know the answer. I didn't want people to know I was back in Moose Creek mostly because I didn't want people questioning what I was doing back here for an entire summer. But mainly because if I were supposed to lay low and stay focused, re-engaging with my old friends, going to lake parties would be the opposite purpose of my return. But I wouldn't say I liked the idea of Ivy going to this party without me.

"Ah, okay. Thanks for the invite. I should be able to make it," I took a sip of my water and glanced over at Holly, who was not hiding the fact she was eavesdropping on my conversation. "Ah - who's a bunch of us from the resort?" I asked.

"Charlie, Veronica, Missy..." his voice trailed off. "The usual."

"Was Ivy invited too?" the question spilled out of my mouth with too much intrigue before I could stop it. I pressed my palm to my forehead and cringed. "I'm only asking because I didn't want to mention it in passing if she wasn't invited."

Holly raised a brow, studying me. I wouldn't say I liked how she read into my end of the conversation with Grayson. What was she still doing here anyway? Our training session was over.

"Of course, Ivy was invited," Grayson laughed. "Will I see you then?"

"Yeah, you'll see me then."

He ended the call, and I looked back at Holly smirking.