Chapter 7
LIVVI
Iclimbed the stairs to the top floor of the library. Turning down the last aisle of books, I froze.
A light shone from the small alcove ahead, the door to my hidden study room wide open.
No. Absolutely not.
I had thought for sure he’d been joking. Especially since it had been a week since our ab-video encounter.
I marched down the aisle, my flats clicking against the tile like punctuation marks to my irritation. Stopping short in the doorway, I found Talon Everhart—six feet, three inches of smug swimmer—typing quickly on his laptop like he owned the place.
“Livvi,” he said in that stupidly sexy voice of his, dimple flashing. “I was wondering when you were finally going to show up.”
“Why?” I demanded, hands on my hips. “Why do you insist on sharing this room with me?”
“I told you.” He shrugged, like this wasn’t some kind of crime against my sanctuary. “I like it back here. It’s quiet. No people.”
“Except for me,” I shot back. “In case you forgot—I’m a person.”
His gaze skimmed across me, lingering in a way that sent heat rushing up my neck, before returning to my face. “Yeah, but I like you.”
My cheeks went nuclear. The way his eyes had taken me in and the way those five words seemed to land like a direct hit—it wasn’t fair.
“Well, maybe I don’t like you,” I said, but the wobble in my conviction gave me away.
His smile widened, like he knew exactly how flimsy my protest was. “I think you, me, and Calico all know that’s not true.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, cursing myself. Of course he’d bring up Cali. One slip about talking to my best friend about him—and his abs—and now I’d never live it down.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes, shoved past him, and claimed a chair. If he wanted to invade my study room, fine. Two could play at the whole ignoring game. I had plenty of work to keep me occupied. Coding didn’t leave space for distractions.
Or at least, that’s what I told myself.
I started setting out my laptop, notebook, pens, coffee, and water bottle in the exact order I liked as his voice broke through my thin shield of determination.
“Why are you double majoring?”
I snapped my laptop open with a little more force than necessary. “Because I want as much knowledge as I can get to land a great job and actually be successful. It’s always been the plan. Always what I’ve wanted.”
He leaned back in his chair, considering me.
“That must be nice. Being so sure of what you want to do.” His voice sounded so sincere and contemplative that it caught me off guard.
I glanced over at him, his gaze seemingly lost as he stared at his computer screen.
“I’m not sure I know what I want to do. Not that I have the option to figure it out for myself. ”
Without meaning to, my curiosity got the better of me. “What about swimming?”
“Ah, swimming.” He tipped his head back with an exaggerated dreamy sigh. “The love of my life.”
I snorted. “Didn’t take you for the romantic type.”
His gaze flicked back to mine, something softer slipping past the cocky surface. “You’d be surprised.”
My throat tightened, and I looked away quickly, unprepared for sincerity from him, of all people. I had a feeling there were a lot of things about Talon I hadn’t anticipated.
“Dear old Dad wants me to put swimming behind me and get serious about my future,” he said, moving the spotlight away from whatever had just passed between us.
“But aren’t you trying to make it to the Olympics?” I asked, remembering whispers I’d heard—that he’d just barely missed making the team last time.
He nodded, jaw tightening. “I’m trying. My dad thinks it’s a waste of time since I didn’t make it to the last Olympics. He’d rather I get a real career lined up since that’s what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.”
The way his shoulders slumped with each word made my chest ache. How could a father not be proud of his son for being one of the best swimmers in the country?
“This might be your last chance, though.” I shook my head. “You’ll have the rest of your life to work. But this? This window doesn’t stay open forever.”
His lips curved. “Look at that. You and I actually agree on something. That, and how amazing my abs are.”
I fought a smile, rolling my eyes instead, though warmth bloomed in my cheeks.
He laughed. “Come on, Livvi. You can let the smile out. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
Fine. I let the corner of my mouth curve. “It’s no secret you have nice abdominal muscles.” Then I jabbed a finger at him, schooling my face into seriousness. “But just so we’re clear, I am not like all those other women drooling after you, lining up for their turn.”
His grin transitioned into something darker, more deliberate. A smolder. “Oh, I know you’re not like all the other women. You’re way more enticing.”
My lips parted, no comeback forming fast enough. How was anyone supposed to withstand this? He was temptation wrapped in confidence, laced with charm, and backed by pheromones strong enough to pull women in from miles away. Including me.
This was bad. Very, very bad. I couldn’t let myself be distracted by him. Not when I’d worked too hard to build a different life for myself. Not when he was clearly a player who’d left a trail of broken hearts behind him.
I would not be one of them. Even if it meant giving up my favorite study room.
Nothing—and no one—would keep me from achieving the future I wanted. Not even the ridiculously charming, unfairly alluring Talon Everhart.
I told myself that on repeat, like a mantra. Like it could drown out the way his presence altered the air around me. But then he shifted in his chair, leaning closer to the keyboard, and my treacherous eyes betrayed me.
A quick glance, just one, at the flex of his forearms as his fingers flew across the keys, his feathered wing tattoo that always caught my attention making me wonder if there was meaning behind it.
Veins, muscle, that careless strength he wore like a second skin.
My breath snagged before I yanked my gaze back to my notes, cheeks prickling.
Control. I was supposed to be in control. Not sitting here wondering what it might feel like if those same arms ever—
“Livvi.” His voice broke through my spiral, low and too steady.
I forced myself to look up, heart tripping. “Yeah?”
He leaned back, chair tipping onto two legs, eyes never leaving mine. “So … not sure if you’ve heard, but there’s a swim meet this weekend.”
Of course I’d heard about the swim meet. As usual, it was all this town could talk about.
“I might have heard something about it,” I said nonchalantly.
He gave me a smirk, like he knew I’d more than heard about it. “It always helps to have spectators cheering us on, helping us beat our times. And I have a feeling you’d be a great motivator.”
For half a beat, I forgot how to breathe. My pen stilled in my hand. “Me?” I managed, then winced at how unsteady it sounded. I hurried to clear my throat, shaking my head, annoyed at my reaction to him. “No. I don’t do the whole sports-and-cheering thing.”
Talon let his chair settle back down on the ground, tilting his head with that infuriating half smile. “Really? Not even to see one of the best swimmers in the country in action?”
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the small smirk tugging at my lips. “I didn’t know I had a personal invitation to watch one of the best swimmers in the country.”
“Well …” He leaned forward again, hands resting lightly on the edge of the table. “You do now. And I’m asking. Personally.”
My heart skipped a beat. Him asking me—it was somehow … different than if anyone else had. “Talon, I don’t know …” I tried to sound serious, but the words came out weak.
“Don’t know what?” He leaned in just a little closer, his voice low and teasing. “You don’t want to watch me destroy my own times? Or you’re worried about not being able to take your eyes off my abs?”
That instantly turned my look into a pointed stare. “It was Cali that wanted to see your abs, not me.”
“Uh-huh, sure.” He smiled that grin of his, the one that showed off his dimple. “You keep telling yourself that.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words stuck. Because maybe … okay, fine, yes. The thought of being there, seeing him (and his abs) in action, even just for an hour, made my pulse race in a way that was not entirely rational.
“And let’s be honest,” he added, leaning forward again, “having you cheering in the stands? That’s probably going to help me go even faster.”
I tried to hide the shiver that ran down my spine. “You really know how to make someone feel responsible for your performance.”
“Hey, like I said, I’m just being honest.” He smirked. “And admit it, you’re curious.”
“I am not curious,” I said quickly, though the tremor in my words betrayed me. “I just … want to see if you actually live up to the hype. That’s all.”
He didn’t look like he was buying my excuse at all.
“If that’s what gets you there, then I’ll make sure to give you a good show.”
I swallowed and finally nodded. “Fine. I’ll come.”
His victorious grin told me he’d won this conversation way too easily.
A part of me was excited to go, but another part, a bigger part of me, was disappointed that I couldn’t seem to stay strong in my resolve to keep Talon out of my life.
Now not only were we sharing a room at the library together, but now I was going to a swim meet to watch him swim.
And maybe I wanted to—because who wouldn’t be curious to see a legend in action? Because he’d asked, and I knew it mattered to him. And because, for once, it felt like I had the chance to be part of something instead of watching life go by from the sidelines.
Talon leaned back in his chair, clearly savoring his victory. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Don’t get used to winning, Everhart. This is a one-time exception.”
He raised an eyebrow, smirk still firmly in place. “Winning is what I do.”
I rolled my eyes, forcing myself to focus on my laptop. “Now can we please get back to work? I have code to write, and apparently you’re turning out to be a distraction.”
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, eyes flicking to my screen. “I’ll try not to distract you … too much. But no promises if you keep looking at me like that.”
I froze, cheeks heating again. “Like what? I am not looking at you in any other way but frustration.”
“Uh-huh.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Sure, Livvi. Whatever you say.”
I turned back to my screen, forcing my fingers to type. But even as I tried to focus, I couldn’t help sneaking glances at him from the corner of my eye. I’m going to a swim meet tomorrow to watch Talon Everhart, who personally invited me, my brain whispered.
I couldn’t believe I was in this situation. Just a few days ago, I’d never even spoken to Talon. And now, he sat across from me, smirking like he owned the place, had waited for me here, and he wanted me to go watch and cheer him on at his swim meet. Me.
And somehow, despite my best intentions, the idea of going—even watching him—made my stomach twist in ways I couldn’t explain. How had things escalated this quickly?
I straightened my notes, shoved my pens into a neat line, and took a deep breath. Focus, Livvi. Don’t let him get to you.
I reminded myself that I had a plan, goals that didn’t involve getting tangled up in the havoc a man would surely cause. No matter how tempting the distraction, no matter how much my body reacted every time he smirked or leaned closer, I couldn’t let him and those blue eyes derail me.
But even as I tried to bury myself in lines of code, part of me couldn’t help replaying our conversation, the way he had asked me to the swim meet, and the image of how I imagined he’d cut through the water effortlessly, like he belonged there—and maybe, I had secretly wanted to be there too.
I shook my head, forcing a smile I hoped looked like pure determination, and tapped at the keyboard. Tomorrow, I’ll be ready. Focused and in control.
Silence surrounded us again, punctuated only by the soft clatter of keys and the occasional shuffle of papers.
Outside, the sun dipped lower, painting the shelves with golden light.
Somehow, the thought of the weekend, of the swim meet, made the quiet study room feel a little charged, a little alive.
I didn’t know what was coming next—not with him, not with this new and unexpected part of my life.
Oh, and I couldn’t forget my growing feelings for TheWriteGuy either.
Just days ago, my life hadn’t involved any men, and now somehow it included two, both demanding pieces of my attention in completely different ways. For now, I had my space, my work, and my resolve. And that had to be enough.
Except, I was worried one weekend at a swim meet might have the possibility of changing everything. And I wasn’t sure if that thought made me more frightened … or more excited.