Prologue #3
My heart started to bang again in my chest. I was ready to agree to anything she asked of me. Almost. “What?”
“Let’s race to the other end of the pool. If you win, I will be your girlfriend. If I win, we’re never dating.”
My mouth popped open. “Never? Like never ever ever?”
She nodded and held out her hand. “Yes.”
“Huh…can we still be friends?” I had no idea what dating would change between us, but it sounded more serious.
More grownup. After all, in a few days, we’d be in seventh grade.
“If I lose, I mean.” I wasn’t scared to lose.
I was good at holding my breath under water and always won when I made bets with Craig.
“Maybe. But I prefer to have girls as friends than boys. Boys always get into trouble. I have a big brother, remember? He plays hockey, and he dates girls. Lots of girls. Mom always says there’s no rush and he should take his time to find a nice girl instead of looking desperate.
Anyway, he’s cocky and doesn’t like to follow rules.
Dad has a lot of talks with him in private about his behavior. I overheard them talking many times.”
I shook her hand. “I won’t get into trouble. I swear.”
She studied my face for a moment like she was trying to decide if I was speaking the truth, then nodded without saying anything.
We positioned ourselves on the float on one side of the pool.
“Ready?” Melinda asked. I nodded, and before I could take a full breath in, she dove forward and swam to the other end as if propelled by an engine. It took me a long second to get into motion, hypnotized by the way her body speared through the water.
I touched the wall seconds after her. “Whoa. How did you do that? You were fast. Like super extra lightning fast.”
Her smile brightened her entire face. “I’m gonna be on the school swim team this year. I practiced a lot over the summer.”
I blinked, still surprised she had beaten me. “You are really good.”
“Thanks. It’s like you and football. It’s no big deal.”
My happiness slipped away. “So, does this mean we’re not dating? Like ever?”
She shrugged. “Sorry.” She grabbed the edge of the pool and lifted herself out of the water, gathered her stuff, and neared me as I dried myself. “Thank you for inviting me tonight, Mason. I had fun.”
She inched closer and dropped a kiss on my cheek before grabbing her bag and running away.
She turned once to watch me over her shoulder.
“For what it’s worth, I think you are pretty too.
For a boy.” She didn’t wait for my reply as she reached the driveway and disappeared behind the line of trees separating our properties, the sound of her wet footsteps on the pavement echoing behind her.
For a long moment, I stayed there, watching the same spot, wondering what I had done wrong.
When I couldn’t decide, I grabbed my stuff and followed my dad inside.
Once in my bedroom, I neared the window when I spotted movement next door.
Melinda’s parents were sitting in their backyard, sipping wine.
I watched her as she joined them. Sensations I’d never felt before tingled low in my body.
Even though I tried to shift my gaze away, I couldn’t.
I had no clue what was going on with me since she had come over to play basketball earlier, but I didn’t want to share her with the guys once school started next week.
I wanted Melinda to be my special friend.
Chase would be all over her on Monday. He loved girls, and she was new in town, so he would want to make her his special friend too.
He had dated Samantha Johnson for a whole month last spring, so he had experience, while I didn’t.
He had even kissed her on the lips. He said it was gross, but he was ready to do it again.
I had to find a way to let the guys know I’d played with Melinda first and called dibs on her. That she was my friend. After all, we already had a date together. It had to count for something.
Tonight, we had a great time until I opened my big mouth and messed it all up.
Why did I have to tell her we were dating?
I had seen Chase’s older brother flirt with girls many times.
He always told us the trick was to look confident.
I was pretty sure I’d nailed that part. He also said to invite them to eat, which I had, and to set the mood.
I had done that too. Melinda had even commented on it.
I had followed all the steps. I had no idea why she didn’t agree.
We had fun together, and she could play ball.
Mom even said to Dad earlier that Melinda and I had chemistry, whatever it meant.
Yet, after she won the race, she’d run away from me as if I had cooties.
She looked up my way, and I lifted a hand to wave at her, but she turned around before I could.
Seconds later, she entered her house, and I sighed.
Was this what being rejected felt like? Because I didn’t like it. It knotted my stomach.
Lying on my bed, I dreamed about the girl with the sparkling eyes who made my heart race.