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“Show me what you got, big guy,” he says.
I crane my neck to see him and he smiles widely at me.
“Scared?” he asks and I scowl.
I’m not scared. I haven’t been scared in a long time. Well, not counting these confusing feelings I’m having about this guy.
I don’t know what they mean. All I know is that I need to get rid of them, and fast.
Without answering, I dive under the water and Landon clings to my back, holding onto me tightly, and when I reemerge on the far end of the pool, Landon gasps for air.
“Oh my god. You’re part dolphin,” he sputters on a laugh. “I thought I was going to drown.”
He still hasn’t let go of me; his body is still plastered to my back.
“You could have let go.”
“I’m not a quitter. Now, do it again,” he breathes and I don’t even question it. I just let us sink to the bottom of the pool, my legs catching the wall and pushing off it.
I’m breathing hard when we make it to the deep end. My hands reach out and pull us up, holding the two of us above water.
“You’re going to make the team,” Landon says suddenly.
He moves off of my back and hangs off the side of the pool next to me, his foot hitting mine.
“I know you will.”
“We’ll see,” I say, not wanting to get my hopes up because I’ve done that before and have only been disappointed when it doesn’t work out.
He nudges me with his shoulder and the contact has me shivering.
“Trust me. You will and I’ll be there for your tryouts. I’m making you a sign.”
I peek over at him. “Don’t make me a sign.”
He grins at me and then disappears under the water, leaving me to stare after him, and when he pops up at the other end of the pool, his eyes meet mine.
“I’m making you the fucking sign, Finn!” he shouts.
And he did. He showed up holding a big-ass sign with my name on it. His dad and mom showed up too, both looking so proud.
My heart leapt in my chest when I saw him in the stands.
I didn’t even care that my dad didn’t show up becausehewas there.
And when I found out that I made the team, he engulfed me in a hug, holding me tightly to him.
“I knew you could do it, Finn. I’ll always believe in you.”
Fuck. I hope my dad doesn’t make us move again. I’m not sure my teenage heart would survive it.
I want to stay. I need to stay.
eight
LANDON
“Which one doyou think we should get?” I ask Finn who is hovering behind me with the basket. We woke up late and then made our way to the gym where I watched Finn swim while I lifted weights.
