Chapter 25
twenty-five
. . .
RORY
After three hours of dryland training and swim practice, followed by a high-protein meal and ice bath, I spend an hour with Coach reviewing this week’s training goals and the upcoming meets. Then, video analysis of my recent breaststroke form to evaluate how my rehabbed knee is performing, and a check-in with the team’s dietician.
Now, after a strength training session in the weight room, I’m toweling off from my shower.
It’s my usual Friday routine. Same grind. Same goals. Same sore body.
But ever since Summer and I got married, nothing feels the same.
I’m here doing the work, pushing my body through every set and rep, but my mind keeps drifting back to her.
Every spare second, I’m back on my couch holding Summer during that thunderstorm. Recalling how she’d looked at me like I was the safest place in the world while the rain pounded against the roof. And then, she’d told me about her ex, how he used to hate it when she touched his hair. How he made her feel like she was too much in even the small way she wanted to give love.
So, I’d let her run her hands through my hair.
The way she’d started out so careful, so tentative, before she got bolder. Her fingers finally threading deeper through my hair, tugging, and exploring. I’d loved watching her confidence grow. Not to mention how amazing it had felt to have her hands on me. Even the softest touch from her had wrecked me.
Now, I notice everything about her.
The way she hums when she’s sketching in her notebook. The way she tugs the sleeves of my hoodie over her hands when she’s cold. The way she kicks her toes against mine under the table like she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.
She’s driving me crazy without even trying. Every small, unguarded thing she does just makes me want her more.
And lately, it’s getting harder to pretend I’m not dying to be the one she turns to for everything , not just comfort after a storm. I want to be the one who shows her exactly how much she’s wanted. How much she’s already mine.
“You good, man?” Eli asks. “You’re awfully quiet today.”
He’s right. He’s typically the quiet one, while I go full podcast mode on him. But today, Summer’s presence in my head has me turning inward.
“Just tired.” I try to play it off.
“That’s never stopped you before.” He smirks, drying his hair off with a towel.
I meet his assessing gaze. “I’m fine.”
“I know that look. This is about your wife .”
“Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what? Like wife ? ‘Cause that’s what she is.” He studies me a moment. “It’s only been a week. Is there already trouble in paradise?”
Eli is my best friend and he’s the one who understands me the most. He also understands relationships. He was set to propose to his college girlfriend, Blair, but they ended up breaking up instead. Even though he hasn’t dated anyone seriously since, he’s more knowledgeable about relationships than Logan and Charlie.
“You know that we’re not really together, and our arrangement has rules.”
“Yeah, you told me.” He dries his hair with a towel. “You also told me it wouldn’t be a problem.” He shakes his head. “You’re so fucking screwed.”
“I was expecting a more motivational pep talk. You know, something along the lines of ‘You got this, man. I’ll help you through it.’”
“You got this, man. Your hand will help you through it.” Eli grins.
We look up to see Connor exiting the showers. He’s kept to himself since that first day, and for my part, I’ve done my best to ignore him. We’ve got a meet in Fort Lauderdale in a few weeks and I’m curious to see how Connor’s presence affects the team’s results.
How his presence affects me .
We get dressed, then Eli and I head for the locker room exit.
On our way out, we run into Charlie. “What are you guys up to tonight?”
“Rory here is in need of a distraction.”
“From what?” Charlie asks.
Eli smirks. “Longingly staring at his wife’s lips.”
Charlie nods knowingly. “How about you have people over tonight? Do a bonfire on the beach.”
I nod at Charlie’s suggestion. “That could work.”
We’re on our way toward the front door when we run into Vivian.
“Eli, I need to talk to you,” she says.
Eli sighs like he’s been avoiding Vivi and he just got caught. “It doesn’t matter what the payout is, the answer is no.”
“Seriously?" Vivi turns to gape at me. “Will you talk some sense into him?”
I shrug, because there’s nothing I can do.
I get that Eli wants to keep a low profile, but it’s not like we’re celebrities that can’t walk down the street without getting mobbed. And while it’s important to do the research and be selective about our brand endorsement deals to understand who we are aligning ourselves with, Eli hasn’t done a campaign in years. We call him the endorsement snob.
“First off, it’s annoying that you’re shooing me away like a car salesman even though you don’t know what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Eli nods apologetically. “I’m sorry, Vivian.”
“Apology accepted. Now if you had checked your emails, you’d have seen I was trying to tell you that you’ve been named All Sports Sexiest Athlete of the Year.” Vivi claps then wraps her arms around Eli in a celebratory hug. “Congratulations.”
Eli stands stock still, simply patting Vivi on the back during her moment of celebration.
“Why aren’t we celebrating?” she asks, clearly annoyed with our lack of enthusiasm.
I clear my throat. “ All Sports is the magazine that you know who works for.”
Vivi’s eyes widen when she understands what I’m telling her. Eli’s ex, Blair, is a Brand Partnerships Manager at All Sports . His nomination likely had nothing to do with her because she’s responsible for securing advertisers and sponsorship deals, but that doesn’t matter.
Vivi sighs. “You have to say yes, or I’ll cry. I’ve always wanted one of my clients to be picked.”
“Hey, what about me?” I ask, rubbing my chest while attempting to sound hurt.
“You got the title six years ago. I wasn’t the PR manager then.”
Eli groans. “I’ll think about it.”
“Hey, Viv. Bonfire at my house tonight. Tell everyone.”
“Did I hear someone say bonfire?” a voice calls out.
I turn to find Whitney darting toward us.
She’s weighed down by a large backpack, its weight swinging wildly with every hurried step she takes, but that doesn’t stop her from launching herself at me.
“Hurricane Whit…incoming!” she calls out.
Catching her midair, her impact is solid, but I hold my ground. I squeeze her tight. Feeling the solid strength she’s built over the last four years, a flash of pride hits me. My little sister isn’t so little anymore.
Vivi laughs at the sight of us.
“It’s good to have you home,” I say, as Whitney finally drops to her feet.
“Thanks! It feels good to be here.”
She shoves a strand of hair out of her face and smiles up at me with the same stubborn sparkle she’s had since she was five years old and convinced me she could swim out to the sand bar without floaties.
“You look good,” I add, studying her. “Not too worn out from the season.”
“Give her a week with our training program,” Charlie teases.
Logan, who just exited the locker room, catches the scene and jogs over, grinning.
Behind him, Connor walks by, his eyes on the group. No, not the group, on Whitney. Protectiveness surges through my veins and every brotherly instinct I have kicks to life like a starting gun. Connor’s got a reputation for being a loner in the pool, but from what I’ve heard, it’s the opposite where women are concerned.
I lift my chin in his direction, giving him a hard look.
It’s not an invitation, it’s an order. Move along.
“What’s on the agenda today?” I ask, redirecting my attention to Whitney.
“I just got myself settled into Winnie’s house and I’m meeting with Alex for weight training.”
“Winnie’s house?” Logan lets out a low whistle and shakes his head. “Good luck surviving all her rules.”
Whitney laughs. “Not eating on the couch isn’t the end of the world.”
Logan lifts his brows, looking personally offended. “Speak for yourself, Whit. Couch snacks are sacred.”
Whitney ignores him and flashes me a curious smile. “Oh, and I can’t wait to meet my new sister-in-law.”
“That’s right. You haven’t met Summer yet.” My chest tightens with a strange mix of excitement and nerves. Whitney’s opinion matters to me, and Summer’s quickly taking up residence in my thoughts and if I’m going to admit it, my heart.
What if they don’t hit it off?
“You’re going to love her,” I add quickly.
“She’s really great,” Vivi adds, saving me.
Whitney lifts a brow, but she lets me off the hook. “I’m sure I will.” Then she turns to go. “Gotta head to my training session.”
“Before you go, I’m having people over later. Bonfire on the beach. You in?”
“For sure. Text me.” She waves, then moves toward the locker rooms.
“I’ve got a meeting. I’ll see you guys later.” Vivi’s eyes drop to her phone as she walks toward the offices.
Charlie, Logan, Eli, and I keep walking toward the exit.
“You mentioned Summer is asthmatic,” Eli says. “Isn’t smoke a trigger for asthma?”
Oh shit. Is it? I can’t believe I didn’t even think about it.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
The more I think about it, the worse I feel. How am I supposed to be a supportive husband if I don’t know even know what her triggers are? Sure, I could Google it, but that’s not the same thing as knowing what Summer needs specifically.
Now, I’m recalling Summer has a doctor’s appointment today.
Thanks to the Current’s staff, they managed to fast-track her insurance application but first-time applicants have to do a full health exam. With how stubborn Summer was about getting her prescription filled, I can only imagine she’s not going to be the easiest to talk to about her triggers and limitations, but getting the information straight from her doctor would be helpful. It would put me at ease, that’s for sure.
I glance at my watch. She should be there now.
“I’ve got an appointment, but I’ll let you guys know about the bonfire later.”
After exiting the aquatic center, I head straight for my car, and then Coral Cove’s medical center.