AllFreeNovel
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“Kinda seemed like you did. Seems like you’ve needed my help a lot lately.”
The next thing I know, I’m sprayed with water directly in my face.
“Who needs help now?” I hear Lo singsong as I sputter. More laughter erupts around us as our friends join in the game, lots of splashes coming from every direction.
I swim away from them, and when I reach the floating platform, I climb the ladder on the side and hurl myself up. Throwing my hands into the air, I yell, “The King has arrived.”
My friends know the code. It’s time to race. The loser has trash pickup duty after the party tomorrow.
Not gonna be me.
* * *
“I never knew you could swim so well,” Lo says again the next day as we help set up for the party. It starts in an hour, and Carter’s mom said she needed all the help she could get.
I shrug my shoulders. I never really thought about it that way before. I just always loved to swim as a kid, and you know, the more you do it, the better you get. My love for the water started when my mom took me to my first lesson around the age of six or seven. While I’ve had no interest in swimming as a sport or a career, it’s still one of my favorite things to do. “I’ve just always loved to swim.”
“That’s awesome. You’ll have to teach me a few things.” Lo gives me that gorgeous smile of hers, and I work hard not to get swept up in it.
“Anything you want.” I watch her while she works and am happy she came. Swimming yesterday, the bonfire last night, and brunch this morning all were better because she was here. Even with Cat by her side, I catch her sneaking glances my way, usually at the same time I’m trying to sneak glimpses of her.
Tomorrow morning, before we leave in the afternoon, I want to take her on a canoe ride around the lake. I just need to think of an excuse to get her alone. I want to experience it with just me and her. No one else.
But there isn’t much time to plan because soon guests start arriving and the party begins.
* * *
It’s a perfect night. The air is warm, and the lake breeze is just enough to cool you off but not enough to make you chilly.
“So you and Lo? Round two?” Colby asks before sipping his beer.
“No, there’s no round two.” I flash air quotes around the words round two. “We’re just friends now.”
“You sure about that?” Colby’s words slur, and it’s easy to tell he’s half sloshed already. The party started an hour ago, and the food still needs to come out.
“Yeah. I think I would know. Besides, it didn’t work before when we were together. Why would it work now?”
“You never know.”
“True. But I’d rather have her in my life as a friend than not at all. So it’s not worth the risk.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my friend Tyler?” Colby pats my shoulder before he finishes his drink.
I shrug. “I’ve grown up, man. You should try it.”
Colby narrows his eyes but then laughs. “Nah, I’m good.”
We chat for a while longer, and my eyes scan the crowd in hopes of the first signs of food. I spot a platter of hamburgers, and my stomach growls. No time to waste. I want first dibs.
After stuffing my face, I search the party for Chloe. I haven’t seen her around in a while. I find Cat chatting with Colby with a plate of food in her hands. Yet no Chloe anywhere.
Maybe she went down by the lake or is somewhere else in the house. I walk around the house and check the deck but don’t find her.
I walk through the yard and over to the bonfire, but again, no sign of her.
As I walk closer to the lake, I spot her and stop dead in my tracks. There she is with a plate of food in her hand, and she’s laughing at whatever the dude she’s with is saying. He’s standing close to her, and my fists clench when he takes another step forward.Who is he?
Chloe throws her head back in laughter, and my stomach turns.What the fuck?
