Chapter Twenty-Nine
T he happiness from Christmas stayed with me even through Tuesday as we met at the high school for Justin’s intersquad meet. The school was filled with people who’d come to watch the friendly competition between the teammates. The hallways felt more lively than they had in the last couple of weeks before we went on break.
I still wasn’t quite sure, but from what Paxon explained, the intersquad meet was the team against itself, competing with each other without the pressure of having to rank or break world records or anything.
It was all in good fun.
The bleachers by the pool were packed, parents and friends all munching on baked goods. Vendors had set up tables by the entrances, selling everything from cookies to pies. Half the proceeds were going to the team to help fund their away games, and the rest to a local charity. It was such a wholesome atmosphere that it was hard not to feel swept up in it all.
Toby sat behind me, practically drowning in muffins and cookies, his lap piled high. Some of the treats even slipped onto the floor. At least they were in baggies so they weren’t wasted.
“What?” he asked when he caught me staring. “I’m supporting the team.”
“Is that so?” I asked, smirking.
“Supporting their dentist is more like it,” Paxon teased, shaking his head. Toby grinned, not caring, before popping a bite of a blueberry muffin into his mouth.
Paxon and Bryan sat on Toby’s other side, each armed with their own slice of pie.
“I think this is cherry,” Bryan said, inspecting his slice before taking a bite. “Oh, that’s not just cherry.”
“It’s a berry pie,” Paxon said around his own bite. “It’s good.”
I was working on a cupcake with a caramel filling, its frosting thick and sweet. Seth was next to me, nothing in his hands. “Not hungry?” I asked, nudging him with my elbow.
He shrugged, his lips curling into a smile. “I’ll steal a bite from yours later.”
Janice sat on the other side of me, a giant cookie balanced on her lap. I knew she had another stashed away in her bag for Ezi. He had stayed behind to take care of Rowan while he napped. They weren’t ready to bring him to public events yet—not with all the germs floating around. And they didn’t want to carry him around in the cold if they didn’t need to. I didn’t blame him. I had gotten my flu shot a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t know if that was something they could do for such a little baby or if they’d done it.
The announcer’s voice crackled over the speakers, signaling the start of the meet. Everyone in the bleachers clapped, some shouting encouragement for the different swimmers.
Justin walked out in a line with some of the other swimmers, stopping at the edge of the pool, shaking out his arms and talking with one of his teammates. While this was supposed to be a fun competition between teammates, Justin still looked focused. Another swimmer who was a couple rows down from him, tall with broad shoulders and a confident grin, seemed just as intense.
I turned to look back at Toby. “Who’s that?” I asked.
“Noah,” Toby said around a mouthful of cookies. “He and Justin are always neck-and-neck at these things. They push each other hard.”
The whistle blew and the first race began. Everyone dove into the pool, their movements sharp and precise. Sleek, with no wasted movements. The water erupted in splashes as Justin and Noah raced down the lane, their strokes perfectly synchronized as they pulled ahead of the other swimmers.
The crowd got loud, cheering and clapping as the two of them reached the wall and made the turn.
“They’re so fast,” I murmured. I’d still be at the start.
“They are,” Seth said, his eyes fixed on the pool. “Justin’s got the edge though. His kick—it’s stronger.”
Sure enough, as they approached the finish, Justin pulled ahead by an extra stroke, touching the wall just before Noah did. The crowd erupted into applause, and Justin expertly pulled himself out of the pool, grinning triumphantly. Noah was at least laughing, meeting Justin and clapping him on the back.
It was a good-natured rivalry. Even as they moved to let the other swimmers line up for their race, they were playfully shoving each other as they went back to their seats.
I turned my attention back to the crowd, scanning faces. That’s when I spotted a familiar figure—Arden Laurens. Seated a few rows down. He looked slightly out of place in the sea of parents and siblings, but he seemed at ease, watching the races with interest.
“Is that Laurens?” I whispered to Seth, nudging him.
Seth followed my gaze, stiffening as he spotted the man. He worked his jaw before saying, “Looks like it. Why is he here?”
I didn’t have to wonder for long. The drama teacher, Mrs. Hayden, joined him, holding a bag of treats. They exchanged a few words before Mrs. Hayden reached into her bag and handed him one of the small boxes they used for the tarts.
Laurens flashed her that signature smile of his that was all charming and effortless, the kind meant to disarm anyone who saw it. It wasn’t fake exactly, but there was always something about it that felt off. Calculated, as if he was always measuring the people around him.
Mrs. Hayden motioned to go further up the bleachers and Laurens stood with ease. As he turned, his gaze locked with mine. His lip twitched, clearly amused at catching me watching him. Then he gave me a brief nod, acknowledging me. Nothing to it as he turned his focus back to the drama teacher. Still, his nod was enough to send a ripple of unease through me. His expression didn’t betray anything beyond being polite, but there was weight to it that made me regret eating so much sugar.
I exhaled slowly as Laurens disappeared out of sight with Mrs. Hayden. I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath. Forcing myself to relax, I looked back at the pool, trying to figure out what was going on. The second race was just wrapping up. Why did I have to see him here? He always set me on edge, no matter how normal he acted. There was always something to it that felt off to me.
Seth leaned in slightly, his voice low so only I could hear him. “You okay?”
I nodded, though my hands turned into fists in my lap. “I’m fine,” I said, but the tightness in my voice betrayed me.
Seth’s frown deepened. He shifted closer, his arm brushing against mine. That simple gesture grounded me a little, reminding me that I wasn’t by myself. Whatever unease Laurens brought with him, I had people by my side to face it.
“Don’t let him ruin your night,” Seth murmured, his tone firm yet gentle. “He’s doing his own thing. You do your own thing.”
“I won’t,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing considering I didn’t really believe myself. I straightened in my seat, forcing my focus back to the race. Justin was gearing for another event and I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss it.