Oh, right.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “We’re not together.” Two weeks after that party, I told Arron that I thought we were better off as friends. He didn’t agree, and I haven’t spoken to him since.
“That’s too bad.” He doesn’t sound the least bit sorry. “What about now? Is there someone special in your life?”
These questions are becoming much too personal.
“I thought we were going to swim,” I blurt, unease weaving its way through my voice.
“We can’t swim and talk at the same time?”
Actually, I would very much prefer we didn’t. It’s difficult to ignore him when he won’t stop yapping at me.
“I’m trying to figure out what kind of competition I’m up against,” he says.
“Excuse me?” I whip around, disconcerted to find him a few feet away. When the hell did he get so close?
Ignoring my question, he asks one of his own. “Do you remember the last time we were in the pool together?”
All too well.
I’ve done my best to forget about that morning, but it’s been singed into my memory. Even thinking about the way he touched me under the blazing sun sends a thick shaft of desire spiraling through me.
I press my lips together and shake my head.
“Liar,” he accuses.
“No, I’m not.”
“Well, I remember how good it felt when I—”
“Beck!” I snap. “You know what? This isn’t working. Maybe I should go home.”
He raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. “All right, all right. Sheesh. I was just making conversation.”
“Well, don’t.”
“Fine. We’ll talk about something else.”
“We don’t have to talk at all,” I shoot back.
“Oh, come on, where’s the fun in that?” Humor simmers in his voice. “We have so much catching up to do.”
I scrunch my face. “Do we?”
“Sure.” There’s a pause. “So where’s your sidekick?”
The further I propel myself away from him, the more tension seeps from my body. “Alyssa left for England last week. She’s spending the year there.”
“Huh.” Surprise fills his eyes. “Colton never mentioned it.”
There’s a reason for that.
Colton and Alyssa called it quits after six months. Alyssa never came out and specifically said it, but I suspect Colton broke up with her because he wasn’t ready to be tied down to one specific girl. Alyssa might not realize it yet, but she’s better off without him. I hate that he broke her heart, but hopefully the year away will do her some good and she’ll get her groove back. I’m not used to seeing Alyssa down in the dumps. She moped around for a while and then applied for the study abroad program Wesley offers. Alyssa has been my best friend since middle school. This will be my first-time flying solo without her. The plan is for me to visit during Christmas break, but that’s five months away.
“How’s she doing?” he asks.
As I tread water, my muscles loosen. “She’s fine.” I don’t want Beck to report back to Colton that she’s not living her best life.
I don’t bother reciprocating the question. Colton is the one who pulled the plug on their relationship. I’m sure he’s doing fine. Drowning in groupie pussy.
After a few moments of silence, he asks, “Are you interested in playing a game?”
I shoot him a cautious look. “What do you have in mind?”
His arms cut through the water as he swims closer. “How about truth or dare?”
Truth or dare?
The tension that had sprung to life inside me, dies a quick death. “Seriously?”
Isn’t that a kid’s game?
I’ve played a few times with Alyssa and a couple of friends. Truth mainly consists of revealing deep dark secrets about your latest crush. Dares might be twerking in front of a passing car or calling the above-mentioned boy.
It’s juvenile stuff.
Why would Beck be interested in playing that?
What’s next?
A rousing game of Marco Polo?
When I don’t offer a response, he arches a brow. “Are you down with it?”
A kernel of unease blooms in the pit of my belly, which is ridiculous. What’s the worst that can happen?
It’s probably best not to answer that.
Sidestepping the question, I shoot back with, “Isn’t it time for you to leave?”
His mouth curves into a full-blown smile. The effect is devastating. It does funny things to my belly. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get rid of me.”
That’s exactly what I’m attempting to do.
Instead of admitting the truth, I shrug and tamp down my growing discomfort. “Wouldn’t want you to be late for whatever plans you have tonight.”
He swims so close, I’m able to pick out the tiny flecks of gold that dance in his green eyes.
“For you, I’ve got all the time in the world.”
The way his gaze pins me in place makes me realize that engaging in this game is a mistake, but it feels too late to back out now. The moment I saw him in the pool, I should have quietly retreated instead of allowing myself to get baited into joining him for a swim.