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Another strange comment. Lali knows he did. It’s like she’s using every excuse to bring up Sebastian’s name.
Sure enough, the next thing she says is, “By the way, Aztec Two-Step is playing at the Shaboo Inn in a few weeks. I thought maybe you, me, and Sebastian could go together. I mean, we could go, just the two of us, but since you always seem to be with Sebastian, I thought you’d probably want him to come too. Plus, he’s a really good dancer.”
At one time, I would have loved the idea of going to see our favorite band with Sebastian, but it suddenly makes me uncomfortable. On the other hand, how can I refuse without making it sound like something’s wrong? “Sounds fun,” I say.
“It’ll be a blast,” Lali agrees quickly.
“I’ll ask him this afternoon.” I twist my hair and wedge it under my swim cap.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Lali says, as if it’s no big deal. “I’ll ask him when I see him.” She strides out of the locker room.
I have a disturbing vision of Lali dancing with Sebastian at her party.
I take my place on the block next to her. “You don’t have to worry about telling Sebastian. He’s picking me up at four. I’ll ask him then.”
She looks over at me and shrugs. “Whatever.”
As my feet leave the block, I remember I have the newspaper meeting at four. My body stiffens, and I hit the water like a board. I’m momentarily stunned by the impact, but then habit takes over and I start swimming.
Crap. I forgot to tell Sebastian about the meeting. What if I’m gone by the time he turns up? Then Lali will get her clutches on him for sure.
I’m so distracted by the thought that I totally screw up my swan dive, which is the easiest dive in my repertoire.
“What’s wrong with you, Bradshaw?” Coach Nipsie demands. “You’d better get your shit together by the meet on Friday.”
“I will,” I say, wiping my face with a towel.
“You’re spending too much time with your boyfriend,” he scolds. “It’s throwing off your concentration.”
I look over at Lali, who is observing this exchange. For a second, I catch a tiny smile on her face, and then it’s gone.
“I thought we were going to the Fox Run Mall,” Sebastian says. He looks away, irritated.
“I’m sorry.” I reach out to touch his arm but he takes a step back.
“Don’t. You’re all wet.”
“I just got out of the pool.”
“I can see that,” he says, frowning.
“I’ll only go for an hour.”
“Why do you want to work for that lousy newspaper anyway?”
How can I explain? I’m trying to have a future? Sebastian won’t understand. He’s trying to do everything he can not to have one.
“Come on,” I say pleadingly.
“I don’t want to go to the Fox Run Mall alone.”
Lali strolls by, twisting her towel and snapping it into the air. “I’ll go with you,” she volunteers.
“Great,” he says. He smiles at me. “We’ll meet you later, okay?”
“Sure.” It all seems innocent enough. So why does his use of the word “we” make me shudder?
I consider ditching the newspaper meeting and going after him.
