I snorted. “You think so?”
He smirked. “Oh, I know so. You know how superstitious we are before meets. You’re part of the routine now.”
I remembered how he felt, the way he looked as I pleasured him. Yeah, I was down for being part of his ritual. “So what are you saying…I’m a habit?”
He slung a wet arm around me and whispered in my ear, “A bad habit—but one I never want to break, got it?”
My cheeks flushed at his comment but I knew how he felt. Every day I felt the bond with these guys more than the day before. I loved it. And loved them.
My phone vibrated just as his coach called him over. He had two more events before the night was
over.
I checked the message.
You on the way? I’m here and wearing my Terrance Ackerman jersey. #14—Noah.
I glanced at Anderson. The last thing I wanted was to leave him. He saw my expression and said, “I know you need to go do some stuff for your dad. It’s okay.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “Samantha’s going with me, so the guys can stay.”
He looked over at my suitemate and nodded. “Be careful.”
“I will. And good luck on the rest of the meet. I’ll have Oliver record it so we can watch later.”
He glanced at Samantha once again and mumbled “fuck it” under his breath before closing the distance between us. He pulled me in for a kiss—for luck—and a shot of electricity that curled my toes, lingering long after we parted.
I refused to look at his mom or even any of the other guys. I just said, “Good luck,” and walked over to Samantha. “You ready?”
“Uh,” she peeked at Anderson, who was already walking back to the swimmer bullpen. “Wow. That was hot.”
“It’s just a little good luck thing. Nothing big.”
She followed me out of the pool and into the much cooler and less humid night air. “You can say that wasn’t anything big, Heaven, but that guy…wow. It may not have meant anything to you, but it sure as hell meant something to him.”
I stopped abruptly, feeling defensive, but that wasn’t fair. Samantha was a friend. Or could be if I let down a few walls. “The relationship I have with these guys is complicated. We’re super close. We’ve dated. We’re all really good friends. But it’s also super private and something just between us.”
“Is that why you didn’t tell them you were going to meet a guy tonight?”
I blinked. “What?”
“You told them you’re running an ‘errand’ and being super vague about the fact there’s a guy waiting for you at the party.”
“That guy is the errand—set up by my father.” I rubbed my temples. “Do you have a problem or something? I invited you to be nice—not to get an interrogation.”
“I appreciate it, but I don’t know, there’s something shady going on with you and those guys.” She looked me up and down. “Ruthie told me how defensive you got over Anderson the other day. Now I understand why.”
I took a deep breath. “Look, my dad is a piece of work. I can’t—no, won’t—even go into it for your sake. But he’s asked me to jump and I’ve got no choice. So yeah, I’m hiding what I’m doing from the guys tonight because they would lose their shit if they found out, which ultimately would get them caught up in everything. It’s not a big deal. It’s just my dad, who is shady as hell. You’re right about that. But it’s easiest if I just do what he asks and then move on.”
“Okay,” she said.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, my dad can be a dick, too. When he’s even around.”
I fought off the feeling of anxiety from the vulnerability of revealing all that information. “I hear that.”
“Come on,” she said, easing her tone. “Let’s go run your errand and check out this party. Since you’re obviously not sharing, maybe I can find a guy on my own.”