Chapter 17
The sound of the cheering crowd filled my ears every time I tipped my head to breathe through my freestyle stroke.
I was half a body length ahead of the racers in the lanes either side of me, but I knew the swimmer from Pierson U over in lane two must be right up there with me; I just couldn’t see her.
It was the final race of the meet and I’d already placed first and second in my breaststroke and backstroke races. The success made me push harder. I wanted to finish my first meet swimming for Triple C strong.
My stepbrothers were here. I’d seen them arrive and make their way up the stands to sit next to a stunned-yet-stoked Arena. Why were they even here? Years with my father meant suspicion was an in-built reaction for me. But if the last few weeks and the way they’d defended me, saved me, and had my back had taught me anything, it was that Presley, Dacre, even Sinclair, had meant it when they said I was one of them. Maybe their presence here was just another kind of support they were offering me.
It was a dangerous thought. I could get addicted to this feeling of belonging that flooded me as I propelled my body through the water. Whether I wanted it or not, I was an Aston now, and my stepbrothers seemed determined to show me what that meant. I’d seen them show up for Presley every time he drank too much. Maybe coming to my swim meets was a much more sober way of showing up for me,
Better make it worth their while, Dempsey.
I pushed my body harder, working it over and willing it to go faster. I glided through the water, only tipping my head to suck in a breath when I absolutely needed to.
It was so peaceful in the pool. Even with racers swimming on either side of me and the crowd roaring when I took a breath, it was still so quiet. Just me and the water.
Powering to the end of the pool, my fingertips met tile and I pulled up, chest heaving with exertion. I had to be close to taking out the win.
Glancing at my coach while we waited for the times to flicker across the board, she gave me a solid thumbs up. She was confident too.
I dared a peek into the stands, Arena smiling at something Presley said to her, Dacre joining in, their excitement evident. Sinclair was focused solely on me, his eyes burning down at me. I glanced away.
The board flickered as the times were displayed, my name sitting at the top. The Triple C section of the pool deck erupted in cheers and a grin split my face.
I’d done it. I’d successfully taken out my first college swim meet.
Ducking under the lane ropes, I hauled myself out of the pool, grabbing my towel and accepting a high five from my elated coach. I’d planned to make my way to the locker room and rinse off, but Arena and my stepbrothers bounded down the stands to cut me off.
“Way to freaking do it, superstar!” Arena said, grinning at me. “I’d hug you, but…” She screwed up her nose at the water dripping off me.
“I love getting wet,” Presley said with a broad smile, scooping me into his arms and swinging me in a circle.
“Oh my god, Pres, put me down. I can hardly breathe.” I choked out a laugh.
“Nice job,” Dacre said with a nod, eyes trailing over my wet form.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Thanks.”
Things had been a little weird between us since he’d beaten up Trenton on my behalf.
Presley turned to Sinclair. “Sin? Anything you want to say to Dempsey?”
All eyes turned to him.
“Congratulations,” he said flatly.
Presley chuckled shaking his head, and Arena rolled her eyes.
“It isn’t often you see the Astons all together in one place that doesn’t have a bar,” a deep voice said from behind me and I swiveled.
A tall man, with broad shoulders, thinning dark hair, and a thick dark moustache offered me a greasy smile.
“Congratulations on your performance today. I’m sure your new stepfather will be very proud.”
I pushed my shoulders back. “Thanks. Do we know each other?”
Presley offered the man his hand to shake. “This is Robert DeGrossi.”
“Trenton’s dad,” Arena added, and my brow twitched in surprise before I could stop it.
That totally tracked. He was creepy as fuck.
Trenton pulled up at his side with a smarmy grin I’d love to wipe off his stupid face, despite the purple bruising still evident around his eyes. “Nice effort, Dempsey. Shame about the loss in the backstroke.”
“She came in second,” Dacre cut in. “She didn’t lose.”
Something swelled in my chest at Dacre coming to my defense. Again.
Trenton smirked. “She definitely didn’t come first.”
“Now, now, Trent. Credit where it’s due. Dempsey swam beautifully.” There was a hard glint to Robert’s eye as he uttered the compliment, making it clear that some kind of sucker punch was about to land. “Talent clearly runs in every adopted member of the Aston family.”
My jaw clenched at the clear slight on Sinclair and the reminder that Presley and Dacre were additions to the family. As though they weren’t true members.
The guy was a snake and I was ready to tell him as much, when Sinclair cut in from behind us.
“We’d be happy to spend some time with Trent in the hopes some of our family talent rubs off on him, if that’s what you’re angling for, sir.”
Robert’s gaze cut to Sinclair, eyes pinching at the corners.
“I doubt there’s anything you could teach him that he couldn’t already learn from me.” He moved to leave. “You all have a lovely rest of your day and be sure to say hello to your mother and father for me.”
The two of them moved past us, poolside, and I had to hold back the urge to shove Robert DeGrossi in the damn pool.
“We could teach him how to be a decent fucking human being,” Dacre muttered.
Presley clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s a lost cause, bro.”
“Let’s go,” Sinclair said, staring back at me. “Do you need to shower?”
I nodded and the guys wandered off towards the exit, telling me they’d meet me out front to take me home. I’d have to let the coach know I wouldn’t be taking the bus back to Triple C.
Arena linked her arm with mine. “See what I mean about Trent’s dad? Total asshole, just like his son.”