Chapter 39
CECILIA
My muscles burn as I rotate my shoulders. It’s been over a week since I joined the swim team and the daily practices are kicking my butt into shape. “Looking good out there,” Coach calls out as I dry off beside the pool.
“Thanks,” I say. Wrapping my towel around my waist, I head over to where Adriana stands. We’re all done for the day, and I, for one, need something to eat.
“All set?” I ask her.
She huffs out a breath. “I swam like shit today.”
I bump my shoulder into hers. “No, you didn’t.
” I’m not lying. Adriana is more of an endurance swimmer whereas I’m a sprinter.
I’m fast in fifty and one hundred meter events, but once I pass two hundred meters, I noticeably slow down.
Whereas with Adriana, once she hits the two hundred meter mark, she finds her stride.
Anything over a four hundred meter event and she’s an absolute machine.
“My time is three seconds off.”
I snort. “In a four hundred meter medley after practicing relays with the girls for an hour first. What do you expect?”
She grumbles beside me, and we head for the locker room, making quick work of getting dressed.
“Have you given any more thought to the date?” she asks.
What? That kind of came out of nowhere.
I shake my head. “Not really. Why?”
She glances down at her phone and types out a quick text. “Willow’s brother—Wyatt—is asking about you.”
My brows pull together. “Who’s Willow?” And who is her brother?
She laughs. “A freshman on the team.”
Oh crap. I cringe. “I should probably try to get to know everyone, huh?” Or at least learn everyone’s names.
We did introductions that first day, but it’s sort of been a whirlwind since then.
There’s so much to learn, and when you’re spending most of your time face first in the water, you don’t really have a lot of time to chat and get to know people.
“Maybe, but she’s a freshman, so it’s not like she expects you to know who she is.”
Still— “Why is her brother asking about me?”
She shrugs. “He usually shows up at the end of our practices. Tall guy. Cute. Light brown hair. Athletic. He sits in one of the chairs by the door while he waits for Willow to finish. I think he takes her home after practices.”
I vaguely remember seeing him, but I tried not to pay much attention.
He wasn’t someone I recognized, and he was in our space.
The first time I saw him I cataloged his every move, but I don’t know.
I guess I sorta realized he never went far from his seat and the rest of the girls along with our Coach were here.
No one seemed bothered by his presence, so after a day or two, I stopped paying him any mind and let it go.There wasn’t a need to acknowledge him after that.
“I remember seeing him. But why would he ask about me?” It’s not like I stand out from the crowd. I’m wearing the same unattractive navy blue one-piece everyone else wears with a high neck, thick straps, and razor back. Most of the girls hate them, but not me. The uglier, the better if you ask me.
Adriana huffs out a breath. “How should I know?” We grab our things and walk back outside. “He asked Willow if you were seeing anyone, but I guess she didn’t know. She asked me the other day if you had a boyfriend, and I told her you didn’t.”
“Why would you do that?” I hiss.
“Because it’s the truth.” She lifts her chin toward my Jeep. “And it’s given him the balls to stick around after practice a little longer so he can ask you out. Duh.”
I whip my head around and my footsteps falter.
Wyatt stands beside my Jeep, his hands shoved into his pockets as he looks out at the soccer field to our right. I stare at him across the parking lot. He hasn’t seen us yet. I can turn around and go back inside—
“Nope,” Adriana says, looping her arm through mine and hauling me forward. “Deep breaths.”
Tugging on my arm, I attempt to drag my feet, but Adriana isn’t having it. “What are you doing? I do not want to talk to him,” I whisper shout.
“Why not?” She whisper shouts back so Wyatt doesn’t hear.
“I already did some digging. He isn’t known for random hook ups and seems like a nice guy.
Willow says he’s a good older brother. Doesn’t bully her or her friends and he hasn’t had a serious girlfriend in over a year, so he’s not some asshole looking for a rebound. ”
“I don’t—”
“Hey!” Adriana’s cheerful call draws Wyatt’s attention. What is she doing? His head swivels toward us, and I take in his nervous grin.
“Adriana—” I warn but does she listen? Of course not.
“You’re Willow’s brother, right?” she asks, striking up a conversation as soon as we’re close.
“Yeah. I’m Wyatt.”
Adriana nods her head. “Cool. I’m Adriana. This is Cecilia.” She dips her head to me. “What can we do for you?”
“Uh …” He’s visibly taken off guard by the question.
It’s kind of adorable. She wasn’t lying when she said he was tall.
Or that he’s cute. Not that I’m checking him out or anything.
I just happen to have eyes. Wyatt’s dressed in a pair of loose fitting jeans and a PacNorth hoodie.
He has a ball cap covering his hair and casting shadows over his face.
His eyes are blue, but not as piercing as Austin’s.
Wyatt’s eyes are softer, with a hell of a lot more warmth.
Sensing that her question has thrown him off balance, Adriana gives me a sly look. “I’m gonna head out so Wyatt can ask you out, but I’ll catch you later, okay?”
What? No. I cannot believe she just said that. My eyes widen in disbelief, and I shoot her a look that promises murder if she leaves me right now. Judging by the smirk on her face, she doesn’t care. She gives me a thumbs-up and then a wave before she walks away to her own car.
Great. She abandoned me with him. A guy I don’t even know.
Some friend. I grumble
“Sorry about that.” I clear my throat, feeling a little self-conscious without Adriana here to play buffer. “She can be kinda ... forward.”
Wyatt chuckles, his nervousness beginning to fade. “No worries. I appreciate a straightforward conversation.”
“Cool.” What am I supposed to say now? “Oh, and she was kidding,” I tell him, stumbling over my words. “About you asking me out, I mean. She just says weird things sometimes. So please, ignore that. What she said, I mean.”
God, I wish I could run away right now. Maybe find a hole to bury myself in.
He rubs the back of his neck. “I actually did want to ask you out. On a date. If you’re open to it.” The tops of his ears turn a bright shade of pink.
“You want to go on a date?” I ask. “With me?”
He nods, the top of his cheeks taking on the same pink hue. “Yeah. I do. You?”
Surprise flashes through me, and I blink at him. “Me?” I don’t know why I asked that again. I just can’t wrap my head around why he’s even interested. I mean, have you met me? I don’t exactly scream fun to hangout with.
Wyatt nods again, his gaze steady on mine. “Yes, you. I’ve seen you around, and I thought ... Well, I thought you might want to grab a burger or something sometime. I mean, if you’re not too busy, of course. I just figured it would be nice to get to know each other.”
His words are laced with a hint of awkwardness, but it only makes him more endearing. I don’t get any strange vibes from him, and he seems relatively safe.
I’m tempted to say yes.
But I wasn’t lying when I told Adriana I’m not looking for a relationship. Far from it, actually. But a date with Wyatt … it might be nice.
Besides, it’s just burgers, right?
I smile at him, ignoring the strange feeling in my chest. “I appreciate the offer, Wyatt. Burgers sound nice.”
His face lights up with a mixture of surprise and delight, and I can’t help but find his reaction contagious. “Yeah?”
I laugh and match his smile. “Yeah. Why not?”
We exchange numbers and decide on a date. Tomorrow night at seven.
As Wyatt waves goodbye and walks away, I watch him with a newfound sense of curiosity and, if I’m honest, a little anticipation. Maybe Adriana is right. Putting myself out there might be good for me.