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Liam is talking to a girl with dark hair. I watch as she brushes her arm against his in a move that’s meant to look unintentional but lingers too long to be accidental.
Maeve Stevens approaches them and gives the girl a hug. I doubt it’s the first time one of her friends has shown an interest in Liam—but it’s the first time I’m having to witness it.
I stand. “Let’s shake it up a bit.” Gathering the hem of my cover-up, I start to pull it up, revealing the blue bikini I’m wearing underneath. “Three on three, Chris?” I call out.
Music is playing, but I know my voice is loud enough to carry across the pool. I keep my eyes fixed on this side though.
Wes’s best friend nods enthusiastically. Two of the other guys he’s standing with, Adam and Charlie, chime in as well. Word spreads through the entire Alleghany contingent quickly.
Jess sighs. “Pool basketball? Guess I shouldn’t have spent an hour on my hair.” She fingers the curls in her light brown hair.
“It’s apool party, Jess,” I say.
“We don’t usually go swimming though,” she replies, which is true.
I’m feeling the urge to prove something. To myself, to Liam, who knows. We didn’t just hook up inDaily Grind’s parking lot a few nights ago. We also talked. Hung out. He didn’t mention tonight, though, and I’m not sure why. Did he not think I’d come?
This is an important reminder.
He’s on one side; I’m on the other.
I walk over to the diving board, feeling plenty of eyes on me. My chin is up, my shoulders back. Each step is casual and confident. I’m no stranger to attention.
I only allow myself to steal one quick glance at Liam—as I’m climbing the diving board ladder. He’s looking at me now, even though the Glenmont girl is still standing next to him.
There’s an extra sway to my hips as I walk down the board, knowing he’s watching me. I bounce when I reach the end, testing it a couple of times before starting to build momentum. This was just going to be a way to get into the pool. But now that I’m up here, in front of everyone, there’s a thrill that lights me up inside.
I propel myself upward, letting my feet leave the board and spinning and twisting through the air. It feels like flying, until I’m surrounded by cool, chlorinated water instead of air.
I sink until my feet scrape the rough cement of the bottom, then kick back to the surface. Splashes sound around me as the boys jump in. Madeline jumps off the board, also executing a fancy flip. Someone produces a ball, and we crowd along the net set up along one side of the shallow end.
“Good call on claiming the pool, Jacobs,” Chris tells me as we start to organize teams. Most of the Alleghany contingency—about thirty of us in total, mostly former cheerleaders and football players—is in the pool now, either actually swimming or just relaxing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Fields.”
He grins at me, then glances at the Glenmont side. “Hey, Cole! You playing?”
I find Wes in the crowd. He’s talking to Maeve and holds a hand up in aone minutegesture.
Chris laughs. “God. He’s so whipped.”
“Do you think they’ll last?” I ask, watching them interact. Maeve is shaking her head and smiling at whatever Wes is saying. “They don’t even go to the same college.”
Part of me is fishing. I have no idea if Wes has made a decision about transferring or if he mentioned his plans to Chris. We haven’t discussed it since the party when he first brought it up, back in June.
“They made it this far,” Chris replies. He side-eyes me. “You asking for any particular reason?”
I shake my head, laughing. “No, definitely not.” The last thing I need is Wes’s best friend thinking I’m harboring some secret crush.
The sad irony is, I’m asking because of Liam. Because Wes transferring to Arlington will affect him directly, and every time I’m around Liam and don’t mention it, it feels like a betrayal.
“Chris! Natalie! Stop flirting!” Adam shouts.
I look at Chris. “Are you flirting with me?”
He grins. “Nah.”
“I sure hope not. I thought you’d have better game than that.”
