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“I said stop calling me that.”
He snickered. “Okay, Daddy’s girl.”
“Not that either.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why? Because they’re only for Max to call you?”
My brow furrowed. “Why in the world would you care anyway?”
He shrugged. “He’s family. I’m his cousin. And you distract him.”
“So?”
“So that’s not good for business, Bambi.”
I pointed at him. “I said stop it.”
“Or you’ll what?”
I bent down to pick up my things again. But Benji stepped on the strap of my backpack. I’d had enough of this asshole. Enough of this--this needless scrap of human flesh. Without thinking, I pressed my hands into his chest, shoving him with all my might, causing him to stumble back. And as my eyes widened in shock, his filled with fury.
“Looks like Bambi’s got a bit of fight in her.”
I quickly gathered my things. “I have to go.”
He gripped my arm. “Not so fast.”
I ripped away from his grasp. “Touch me again, and Max will know about it.”
I hustled away from the boy, holding my backpack close to my chest. I felt his eyes burrowing into me from behind, but I didn't stop to look back. I tried my best to ignore him. Ignore his words. Ignore his stare. However, when I got to the top of the onyx steps, I caved.
I turned around and searched for him. Wondering where he was and what he was doing.
He was no
where to be found.
“Okay. This isn’t terrible. You’re good. Everything’s good. Let’s go swim.”
I pep-talked myself all the way inside the building. I scurried to the locker room and picked one toward the door. Not back in the back, where I usually resided. Because if Benji came to look for me again, I wanted the greatest chance at getting away. What in the world was it with him? Why did he hate me so much? I didn’t even know the guy. I hadn’t done anything to him!
What business was I distracting Max from?
More questions to haunt me with no answers in sight.
I stripped my clothes off and shoved them into the locker. I pulled out my goggles and my towel before shoving everything else in, too. And after closing the metal door, I made my way to the pool. I was ready to swim until I couldn't move any longer.
The water felt wonderful against my skin. From the second I dove in, I felt it washing me clean. My slick body glided down the lane like a mermaid in the depths of the ocean. My arms pumped, pulling me forward. My legs kicked, propelling me toward the wall. And as I circled around before pushing off, everything finally fell away.
Lap after lap after lap.
Blood pumped through my veins. My heart surged to life. I moved faster. Swam harder. Until my sweat mingled with the chlorinated water, bleaching my skin of its dirtiness. Around and around I went. Butterfly. Freestyle. Backstroke. I’d loved being on the swim team in high school. The competition of it all. Spending time with friends and kicking everyone’s butt in the metered races.
I slammed both of my hands against the concrete wall before I looked up, sloshing water over the edge. I drew in a deep breath, flipping my hair back. As I panted for oxygen, I heard footsteps walking along the edge, squishing into the puddles of water I had left behind.
Then he bent down and showed me his face.
“Didn’t know you looked so good in a bathing suit, Bambi.”
