Ryan studies me for a minute. I know he doesn’t buy it, just like Coach. “Okay. If you say so.”
***
As I pull into the town pool parking lot, I feel my anger building. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, because I know I need to pull it together before I go in there to meet up with Ash, but I’m not sure I can.
ASHLEY
The entire team is sitting around the edge of the pool as George runs through the game plan for our first meet.
When I feel Casey’s foot slip around mine under the water, I glance at him with a look that asks what he’s doing. He flashes his bright white smile at me, but he doesn’t pull his foot away.
“Casey?” I whisper under my breath.
“What?” he asks innocently.
“Your foot?” I say, pulling mine away.
“Oh, that.” He slides his foot back over toward mine and runs it along my foot.
This is all happening under the water, so on the surface, everything seems fine, normal even. In the water, however, there is some serious flirting going on, and we are just friends. Friends. He knows I’m with Todd. I don’t know what to think. Just when I thought I understood Casey, he does something like this. I need to make it clear that there is no us. No chance of us.
“Come on, Ash. We need to make the swim team interesting,” he whispers out of the side of his mouth while every other part of him looks like he’s listening intently to George.
“Casey, I’m with Todd. You know that.”
He gives me a quick, sly smile. “Yeah, but it’s not like you’re married.”
“It is exactly like that,” I say, returning his smile.
His smile doesn’t waver even for a second. “We’ll see.”
I pull my foot away with so much force it causes a splash in the water that breaks the silent stillness of the pool’s surface, pulling everyone’s attention away from George.
“Do you have something you want to say, Ashley?” George asks.
With all eyes now on me, I feel my cheeks burning, and I know they are bright red.
“Nope, I’m good,” I blurt out quickly. Fortunately, all eyes shift back to George.
“Okay, well, that’s it for today. That was a solid first practice. I’m glad we could keep the summer team together. We’re going to move practices to the indoor pool in the next few weeks when they close this one up for winter, but for now, we’ll keep meeting here. See you guys tomorrow.”
Everyone claps for no real reason, and then we start to move toward the bleachers to get our bags. I take my swim cap off, feeling my dry hair fall down my damp back.
“I’m really glad you can swim with us again, Ashley. Our team really needs you, especially on relay,” Janice, a small, spunky, blonde girl says with a smile.
“Thanks, Janice. Me, too. It’s good to have something to do after school other than watch my boyfriend play football.” I smile back.
“Oh, yeah? Who is your boyfriend? You go to Easthaven, right?”
I feel a hand swipe my hair around to one side and start to rub my shoulders. My immediate reaction is to fall into the touch—it feels so good—but as soon as realization sets in, I tense up.
I swing around to see Casey standing behind me.
“It doesn’t matter. He won’t be her boyfriend for very long,” Casey says with confidence.
“What is your problem?” I ask him, forgetting all about Janice.
He grins. “Maybe it’s your boyfriend.”
Janice looks back and forth between us, trying to figure out the meaning behind the words.
“Hey, Ash.” I hear Todd’s voice, and my stomach drops.
I know what this looks like: Casey’s hands on me, us standing so close to one another. I immediately pull away from Casey as Todd gives a gesture with his head as if to ask what is going on.
“Your boyfriend is Todd Hamilton?” Janice whispers to me with undertones of shock, which I don’t exactly appreciate. “Wow, I can’t wait to tell the girls at my school that God Todd is taken.” She says it so fast and matter-of-factly it’s as if it’s his real name. I can’t help giving a small laugh. Casey, on the other hand, doesn’t find it quite as amusing.
As Todd joins us, I can tell he is angry—his shoulders are squared, and I know he’s tense without even touching him.
Casey instinctively steps back when Todd slips his arms around me.
“How was practice?” He kisses me, and I feel wisps of his freshly showered hair brush against my cheek. His eyes don’t leave Casey, though, and I know there is so much more he wants to say.
“It was good.” I try to give him a tone that screams this is no big deal, but I can tell it’s not working. Casey isn’t backing down, either. I see him visibly stiffen.
Janice’s eyes continue to study both boys. She can tell something is off.
“Todd, this is Janice. Janice, this is Todd, my boyfriend,” I say with extra emphasis as I glare at Casey.
Todd gives a small head gesture since his arms are still wrapped around my waist. “It’s nice to meet you, Janice.”
I see her cheeks instantly flush bright red at the attention. I wonder if he realizes the affect he has on people. Casey definitely notices.
TODD
I’m pissed, and I’m pretty sure I’m not hiding it very well, but I don’t care. All of my fears already came true, and it’s only the first day. I can’t believe I walked in to see him touching her. I feel my grip territorially tighten around Ash’s waist, but I can’t help it with him. There’s something about his cocky smirk. I can’t believe I was ever friends with him.
“I need to talk to you.” I gesture to Casey with my chin, the words coming out before I can stop them.
“Sure,” he says as he steps closer to me.
“Not here. Break house.”
This is our pool from the summer. I know it like the back of my hand, and I’m pretty sure the locker room will be empty right now.
I see Ash give the other girl a look of panic out of the corner of my eye as we walk away. Only Ash knows exactly how I feel about Casey.
Sure enough, when we walk into the break house, we are the only two in here since the pool is closed and most of the swim team is already gone. It’s just us.
“Listen, we need to get a few things straight if this is going to work.” I’m uncertain where I’m going with this, but I’m going to drive myself crazy if I don’t say something. I hate this feeling. I hate being jealous, especially of him.
“If what is going to work?” Casey flashes me a smile that makes me want to punch his face in.
I step closer to him. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Oh, yeah? Enlighten me.” He takes a step toward me, bringing us way too close for a normal conversation, our faces inches from each other’s.
“Don’t touch her. Don’t stand next to her. Don’t even breathe next to her. Do you understand?” I feel my hands press into his chest.
“Or what?” He presses farther into my hands, making it clear he’s not backing down.
“I think you know what. We’ve done this before, Casey; do you want to go again?”
“Stop it!” I hear Ash scream. I didn’t even hear the door open.
Both of our heads snap toward where she and Janice are standing, and then we both instantly put space between us.
“Hey, Ash.” I try to sound casual, like I wasn’t just about to kill Casey.
“Your boyfriend here has a jealous streak,” Casey says with a grin.
He’s enjoying this. He is such an asshole. I feel my fists tighten at my side as I step closer to him without even thinking.
Suddenly, Ash’s hands are on my chest, pushing me back.
“Shut up, Casey.” She glares at him, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips.
Ashley’s friend is stunned silent. She definitely didn’t see any of this coming, but that doesn’t stop Ashley.
“He’s got a good reason to be, don’t ya think? You and I are friends. Just friends. Teammates. That’s it. Swimming teammates. You should go for Janice; she’s cute.” Ash gestures toward her friend.