The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1)(23)

“Seph, are you okay?”

Nodding, she rolled onto her back and her eyes opened. Her gaze ping-ponged around at all the people crowded around her and she sat up straight.

“I’m fine. Thank you, everyone, for your concern, but I’m fine.”

She coughed a few times and jumped up from the floor, scurrying into the locker room.

“Shit.”

“Do you know her?” someone asked.

“Yeah, I was supposed to be helping her get comfortable in the water.” I smacked my hand against the floor and a sharp spray of water hit me.

“Maybe just stick to the field, Reece.” Someone laughed, and everyone backed away.

Rushing into the locker room, I grabbed my clothes. I changed like Clark Kent and parked myself outside the exit of the women’s locker room. A few people came out, eyeing me as I tried to get a look in through the cracked door. I checked the time for what had to be the hundredth time. Is there another exit? Did she go back to the water? After what seemed like an hour, she finally came out.

She tugged the door open with her bag tucked under her arm and her hair in a couple of braids hanging down over her shoulders. The damp ends made small wet patches on the front of her coat.

Relief washed over me. “Seph!”

She jumped and nearly dropped her bag. Her gaze snapped to mine and she grasped a small strand of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. She looked at that hair like a wayward student who’d stepped out of line.

“You waited.” It didn’t have a hopeful or excited tone. Her voice was flat and distant, nothing like the nervousness and eagerness from earlier.

“Of course. Listen, I’m really sorry about what happened back there. For some reason when you said you’d studied swimming, I didn’t realize that meant your level of swimming was not swimming at all.”

“It’s a pretty comprehensive level of not swimming.” She tucked that fallen piece of hair behind her ear.

“Now I know. We can stick to strictly shallow end swimming until you’re more comfortable.”

“That’s probably not a good idea.” Her gaze darted to the front door like she was ready to bolt at any second.

The locker room door opened behind her. A girl came out and stopped beside Seph. “Hey, I saw what happened out there. Are you okay?”

A scarlet flush crept up Seph’s neck. She was becoming more of a human beet with each passing second.

I squeezed the back of my neck.

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.” Her smile was so plastic I could practically smell it.

The girl left, and Seph stared down at the floor between us.

“We can give it another try.”

“I’ll let you know.” She didn’t look at me. Her eyes were firmly trained on my shoes. Good thing I kept them nice so she wasn’t looking at an unholy abomination like the ones Berk wore. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later. Bye.”

It was all practically one word, and then she was gone.





*



As I got into my car, a sharp ping came from my phone.

Nix: Heard you almost killed someone at the pool today.

News traveled fast. Like I didn’t feel shitty enough already.

Me: She’s fine. No harm, no foul.

Nix: That’s not what I heard.

Berk: We heard you tried to feel her up while giving her CPR!

Me: There isn’t an emoji to tell you how stupid that is

LJ: You guys cool with Marisa coming over tonight?

LJ and his completely platonic but always around him best friend had been practically joined at the hip since they’d arrived at Fulton U.

Nix: No problem. I’ve got to have dinner with my dad tonight, so if anyone would like to run me over with my car, please feel free.

Me: You mean the brand new Mercedes S-Class your parents got you over the summer? That one? If I do, do I get to keep the car?

Nix’s dad had played pro for a hell of a lot longer than my dad had and his family had reaped the rewards, not just in the money he made playing but in the endorsements and post-season contracts.

Nix: Everything comes with a price.

Me: I don’t mind if Marisa comes over, but for the love of God don’t let her cook anything in the kitchen. Not even popcorn.

We’d barely gotten the smell out from the last time she decided to pop a bag in the microwave.

LJ: She’s not that bad.

Berk: I’m surprised we don’t have ulcers from her Spaghetti Surprise.

Me: The surprise was rolling on the floor praying for death an hour after eating it.

LJ: She’s trying!

Nix: To kill us.

Berk: And have sex with our corpses!

Me: What did we ever do to her?

LJ: ENOUGH! Leave her alone. Forget I asked, I’ll go to her place. Her roommate makes better drinks anyway.

Nix: Touchy, touchy.

I got home, and it felt like I was trying to outrun my guilt.

Nix’s music blared in his room behind his closed door. I had no idea how he studied with that pounding, but even with that, he still kicked my ass in the grades department.

Throwing my wet trunks and towel into the pile of clothes in the corner of my room, I pulled my phone back out.

Me: Seph, I’m really sorry about today. It’s completely my fault and I take full responsibility.