“Wait, so hewasn’tscared?” Matt asks suspiciously. “He was totally shaking over there.”
I realise it’s not that deep, but at this point in the argument, why not have some fun?
“Nope,” Luca defends himself. “Adrenaline.”
“Actually,” I cut in, smiling, “he was terrified. So terrified he almost didn’t—ah!”
I shriek when he suddenly scoops me up.
“Remember when you told me you wanted to drown me?” he says.
“Oh no. No, no, no! Don’t you dare!” I kick and try to get out of his arms, but he’s stronger than me.
The only warning he gives me is, “Take a deep breath, Tilly.”
“Luca—don’t you—” I lock eyes with him.
He throws me straight into the pool.
Cold water swallows me whole, and I hear the lifeguard whistle somewhere above.
When I resurfaced, hair plastered to my face, I glare daggers at him. He’s doubled over, laughing.
“You’resodead , Rossi!”
Chapter 4
Luca
“Dude, where’s your head at?” Matt yells from the other side of the net.
We’re halfway through volleyball practice, and for the third time in a row, I completely missed the ball. I just stand there like a malfunctioning traffic light while everyone is staring at me.
“I’m just tired.”
Lie.
“S orry,” I look at Matt sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck. Then I turn to our coach. “Can we take five?”
He nods, clearly over it.
Matt catches up with me, sweat dripping down his temple. “You sure you’re okay, man? You’re playing as if you’ve never seen a volleyball before.”
I give him a tired half-smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep great.”
Ok, maybe it isn’t atotallie. I haven’t slept. But not because of school or stress.
Actually, I don’t know why. It’s like my brain is not working properly. I keep getting unwanted thoughts about unwanted topics, and it’s gotten to the point where I take at least two showers every night since the waterpark day.
Ever since the waterpark, something in my brain flipped like a switch I didn’t ask to be turned on. I couldn’t stop thinking about a certain someone — the way they laugh, and the way they tease me. I have known the person for years.
I’ve never thought about them like that before. And now I couldn’tnot.
I put my head in my hands.
Matt’s voice snaps me back into reality. “If you’re sure…”
He gives me the kind of look that saysI don’t buy it, but I’ll let you dwell in pain without questions.
