Racing Ahead

I win at everything but might lose when it comes to love.

I excel at sports and academics, but stink at relationships. I’m a think with your head over your heart kind of girl. Chad and I were set up by our parents, but we agree to fake date to please them and will reveal the truth after I graduate high school.

Luke is off-limits as my older brother’s best friend, but we team up to find my brother a date. Luke is determined to discover something I’m not good at. The more time I spend with him, the more I find myself using my heart over my head. Soon I’m living a lie with a fake boyfriend and a secret boyfriend. Telling the truth will only cause a tidal wave of trouble.

When I decide to come clean, the timing is wrong. A family emergency pushes me to choose between pleasing my family or giving into my feelings for Luke. Will I win or lose with my choice?

A stand-alone novella in the Love is a Triathlon series, Racing Ahead tells the story of Taylor’s senior year and her sweet romance. Get a glimpse of Ash, Dylan, and Paul from Taylor’s point of view before or after diving into the three full novels in the series.

I eat stress for breakfast and spit out fear. That’s how Ash, my friend and co-captain of the swim team, describes me. I’m not sure it’s accurate, because I don’t think about stress and fear. Certain emotions aren’t worth the time and only get in the way.

If I reacted on emotion, I’d shove a bowl full of something into the mouths of the student council members right now. They keep diverging off the arranged agenda and we need to stay on task.

“Alright, everyone,” I say in a clear, affirmative voice. “Give Alexis your attention and let’s finish this meeting. I’m starving, and I’d like to run home and eat before practice.”

“We don’t want to deal with a hangry Taylor,” Justin, another senior, says.

“You know it,” I say with a grin.

“If you didn’t eat, I’d swear you’re a robot programmed to excel.” Justin grins back at me.

“Maybe I am.” I nudge Justin’s knee with mine and turn to the student council president. “Alexis, what’s next?”
Alexis gives me a grateful look. She adjusts the glasses on her face as everyone quiets. “After winter break, we need to form the committee for the senior prom.” Alexis looks at me. “Taylor, would you mind heading that one up when we return?”

“Sure,” I say. “But-”

“I have a few suggestions for themes.” Justin’s grin is full of mischief.

“I can guarantee all your suggestions will be rejected.” I narrow my eyes at Justin. His ideas are hilarious and a touch risqué. They will not fly with the administration. “And we’ll talk after break. Moving on.”

Alexis marks something off her list of topics and the meeting soon draws to a close.

“I like your new glasses,” I tell Alexis as we exit the room. “They look cute on you.”

“Thanks.” Alexis sheepishly smiles and pushes the large tortoise shell framed glasses up her nose. The golden brown of the glasses matches her eyes and compliments her short dark brown hair. “I heard my brother might be doing some remodeling work at your house.”

“Luke?” I ask. Alexis’s older brother and mine are friends, but since Peter has been at college, I haven’t seen Luke.

“Yeah,” Alexis replies.

“I guess my parents are serious about remodeling the basement for Peter,” I say. My family is poor at communication. Academics and athletics get top billing, and everything else is shoved aside, especially if it deals with feelings.

“Doesn’t your brother have another year of college?” Alexis adjusts the bag on her shoulder as we head down the hall.

“The overachiever is graduating a year early and returning to start his graduate program at the State University this summer.” I shake my head with a grin. Peter is living up to and going beyond expectations.
Alexis’s mouth falls open slightly. “You’re a family of overachievers.”

“Over committed is more like it,” I say.

My mom arranges a top tier college application list of activities for me. I willingly participate in the swim team, classes at the local university, volunteering at the hospital, competing with the speech and debate team, and of course, joining the student council. And I study…a lot. There’s no time for a job, but my parents fully fund my life if I keep up with expectations and avoid trouble.

“Are you going to have time to help with the prom committee?” Alexis asks.

“Sure,” I say. “And it’ll be fun.”

The slapping of feet on the tile floor sounds behind us. “Promasaurus!” Justin yells. He slows next to me, out of breath. “Or how about a night under the-”

“Don’t,” I interrupt. “Don’t say it.”

“Stars?” Justin smirks. “I was going to say stars.” He has a round babyface with a grin which reminds you of a toddler and is probably the reason most people put up with his nonsense. Justin’s all talk and no action. His head of crazy, curly hair only contributes to his quirky nature and makes him easily identifiable. I sometimes have hair envy, as mine lies in a sleek black line down my back.

“I’m saving you from humiliation in case you happen to ask Alexis to prom,” I say. “She doesn’t need another reason to say no.”

“And here I thought he was gearing up to ask you,” Alexis chimes in.

“I won’t risk having Chad come after me.” Justin’s dark blonde hair sways as his entire body shudders. “That guy is ripped.”

Chad is my boyfriend. He’s also a swimmer, and in his first year at Stanford.

“I’m sure Taylor could take you down on her own,” Alexis says, and I nod in agreement. I have a muscular swimmer body and outweigh Justin, who is as skinny as a broomstick. He’s shorter than me but appears taller because of his hair.

“Will Chad be back for prom?” Justin asks as we arrive at the front doors.

“I’m not sure.” I wrinkle my nose. Come to think of it, I haven’t talked to my boyfriend much since Thanksgiving.