Falling For My Nemesis

The sound of Carson’s voice startled the smile from my face. I brought a hand up to my racing heart and swiveled around to face him.

He approached the stairs, taking them slowly in that unhurried air he always had about him, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be so relaxed all the time, so nonchalant about life. Once he neared the top step, he paused, so we were almost at eye level, both of us facing off, lost in our own thoughts.

His hair was still damp from swim practice. A pair of goggles dangled from his grasp, along with a Wild Cats duffle bag that I imagined contained a change of clothes. The soft cotton of his long sleeve t-shirt clung to the hard plains of his chest, while the swell of his biceps strained against his shirtsleeves, toned from hours in the pool and the gym lifting weights.

Realizing I was staring, I wrenched my eyes I away. It was probably the longest either of us had ever gone without speaking in each other’s presence. Usually, we were racing to the punchline, trying to see who could offer the most snark. When I finally slid my eyes to his, he was already watching me, his mouth curling in amusement.

I cleared my throat and mumbled, “Your brother invited me for dinner.”

“Ah. And here I thought you were just eager to see me.” His grin broadened, and he took another step. One more and he’d be close enough to touch.

I shot him a warning glare. From this height, I was almost as tall as him. It was weird being able to see him from this level, and I relished the power the extra six inches gave me.

A soft breeze drifted between us, ruffling the front of his dark hair. I opened my mouth to say something smart, one of my typical biting remarks reserved only for him when the scent of his body wash drifted toward me, rendering me mute.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Carson winked.

I scoffed. “Creative. How long did it take you to think up that one?”

“About as long as you were staring at me, so a while.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Please. I was just trying to figure out who you looked more like, Sloth from the Goonies or The Elephant Man.”

Carson grinned. “Funny.” Then he reached out and tugged on a loose wisp of my hair. “What color is this, anyway? I think I’ve had vomit the same shade.”

I crossed my arms, hugging my fists to my chest. “Nope. I should know. I puke looking at you almost every day.”

“Could you be any shorter?” He raised a brow, staring me down, and I fought the urge to stand on my tiptoes. I would not give him the satisfaction. The hair was a low blow, but I was used to him mocking my height.

“I’m almost as tall as you.”

He arched a brow, sliding his gaze down my body. “You’re standing on the stair above me.”

I harrumphed, ignoring my mistake, and hating the way it felt like he was just checking me out. “How’d you do? Drown anyone in the water today?” I asked, motioning toward his bag and goggles.

He followed my eyes and glanced back up. “You weren’t there, remember? But if you’re so interested, I smoked everyone.” He grinned. “I’ve got State in the bag again this year.”

I nodded wordlessly. Of course he did. Was there anything he was bad at?

Carson took the final step until he stood right in front of me, forcing me to tip my head back to meet his eyes, miles above mine. It was such a disadvantage, being small.

He reached his free hand out toward the bruise below my eye and I flinched. For a moment, I thought he was going to deliver the final death blow. Our rivalry would end right there on his front porch. But instead, he gently brushed a fingertip over the sensitive skin. I swallowed, frozen, and afraid this was some sort of mind game. Just in case, I couldn’t let my guard down an inch.

“Look, Mia, I—”

“Hey, Mia, when’d you get—” Ethan flung the front door open, cutting Carson off.

I leaped away from him so fast, a wave of vertigo hit me, and I stumbled. My head spun. I flailed for balance, trying uselessly to steady myself when a set of strong arms wrapped around me.

CHAPTER FOUR

These were not the arms of my best friend.

Nope. I’ve felt those arms—slightly wiry, familiar, comforting. Instead, these were hard and muscled, so long I wouldn’t be surprised if they could wrap around my tiny body twice. That was probably his plan, squeeze me like a boa constrictor until I give.

I quickly righted myself and took a step back as if Carson had caught fire, knowing Ethan was watching, his gaze heavy on the side of my face.

I curled my upper lip. “Ugh. Any excuse to touch me. Who knows where those arms have been.” Likely wrapped around someone like Olivia.