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“What?” He blinked, meeting my eyes before his expression turned stony. “Oh, yeah. Kind of. They mustn’t be coming.”
“Well, I’m here,” I said cheerfully, and I wanted to punch myself.
I’m here.Like I was some sort of gift or something when clearly he was disappointed not to find Julie.
“I know, and that’s awesome . . .” His lips pressed in a thin line, and I sensed a “but” coming.
“I thought you wanted me to come,” I said while I pinched the neckline of my tank, fanning myself with the silky fabric. Pathetic or not, I hoped in vain he’d finally,reallylook at me and figure it out.
“I am. Of course I am,” he said. “Sorry. I’m just distracted.” He shook his head, his gaze falling to my clothes, and he frowned.
I swallowed. This was it. The moment of truth.
Regardless of his reaction, I was ready.
He scratched his head and narrowed his eyes. “Nice outfit.”
“You like it?” I squeaked.
“Uh, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry. I was . . . For a second, I thought—”
The sound of my pulse reverberated in my ears, and my mouth went dry.What did you think?
He closed his eyes a moment, and when he opened them, they met mine. “I was hoping to introduce you to someone, but she mustn't be here.”
He winced and gripped the towel in his hands tighter. “Sorry. I’m being weird. It’s just . . . I thought she liked me. I guess I was wrong.” He mumbled this last part under his breath, and it was like an arrow to my heart, because I knew that feeling. All too well, actually.
Disappointment settled inside me like lead. I should’ve known he wouldn’t guess Julie was me. He could never think the girl he’d had all those late-night chats with was Skunk Girl. I was an idiot for thinking otherwise. If I wanted to out myself, I’d have to tell him. Say the words, I’m Julie. It didn’t matter that I wore a red top and denim like she said she would. Topher would never guess I could be her because he couldn’t see himself with someone like me.
I inhaled deeply for courage, but when my lips parted and I began to speak, instead of confessing, I said, “Well, whoever she is, I’m sure she has a good reason for not being here. Don’t take it personally.”
The tips of my ears burned, and I hated myself for being such a coward. But I wasn’t ready to face the consequences of telling him the truth. I suppose that also made me pathetic.
“Anyway, all that matters is that you’re here, right?” For the first time, his smile turned warm and he nudged me playfully in the arm. “So, what did you think of your first water polo game? Are you obsessed? Taken aback by my raw talent?”
“Actually, I was.” I smiled.
“Hey, Toph!” Coach Paul hollered from behind, interrupting. “Come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.” He gestured toward a man next to him, ballcap drawn low, dark sunglasses over his eyes.
“Shoot. Be right back, K?” He reached out and brushed my arm with his fingers, and I shivered. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Okay.” I watched him go, skin tingling in his wake, and I realized how pathetic I was because, in that moment, I’d probably wait forever for him to return if he asked me to.
He jogged over to the coach, and I turned in the other direction, not wanting to stare when a man about my father’s age sidled up next to me. Where he came from, I had no idea. I hadn’t noticed him in the stands, though that wasn’t surprising. He didn’t really stand out among the crowd. The way he carried himself, his demeanor and attire—everything about him—screamed money. Which was typical for Lakeview parents. Nothing special.
His eyes drilled into mine when I lifted my eyes to his. Shrinking back, I angled myself away again, allowing my gaze to drift back to Topher.
“You must be a new acquaintance of Topher’s,” the man said.
An uneasy feeling crept up my spine. “What?”
The corners of his lips lifted, more a half-smirk than a smile. “I don’t recall seeing you around before.”
“Oh, um, yeah,” I said, belying my discomfort. Something about him set me on edge, and when he casually removed his dark shades, the sight of him hit me like a thunderclap. From the golden hair to the eyes and the perfect smile, this man was the picture of his son.Thiswas Topher’s father.
“Which means it must be you putting these crazy ideas in his head.”
I blinked over at him, unsure of whether I heard him correctly. “I—what?”
