Page 125 of Anyone But Her

Birdie laughs. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious. He did. Tell her, Cal."

"He offered so he could drown me and say I did it myself," she says.

"I actually did offer," Cal says, "but I knew you wouldn't accept."

Birdie opens her eyes and looks over at Cal. "You seriously offered to teach me to swim?"

"Yeah, but forget it. You're obviously not interested."

She sits up. "I'm interested. I really need to learn. How long will it take to teach me?"

"A couple weeks. Maybe a month."

She cocks her head. "What's the catch? Are you charging me?"

"No. But you'll have to work around my schedule. Sometimes it may have to be at night. And we can't start right away. It'll have to be in a couple weeks, or actually end of August would be best. Shit, you'll be gone by then. When do you start college?"

"End of August, but it doesn't matter because I'm staying here. I transferred, remember?"

He looks at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Taylor didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" He sits up straight.

"I'm going to Arizona State in the fall. I transferred so I could live at home and save money, although now the whole living at home thing is sounding less appealing. I won't have any privacy living with my parents."

"I didn't tell you she was staying here?" Taylor says to Cal.

"No." He lays back on the lounger. "You didn't mention it."

"Don't worry," Birdie says. "It's a big school. I'm sure we'll never see each other."

"Except for your swim lessons," Cal says. "Actually, it'll probably take more than a few weeks to teach you. I'm sure you suck."

"Asshole," she mutters, a slight smile on her face.

I could be wrong but I think those two are flirting. Either that or they're just being civil to each other for once.

We spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool. Birdie and Taylor talk, Cal sleeps, and I keep checking for messages on my phone for updates either from Lou or my dad. I'm worried my dad will do something like tell the media something to make me look bad or get me in trouble. He'll do anything for money, even sell out his own son.

Around four Birdie gets up. "I need to head home."

"Are you sure?" Taylor says. "We could all go out for dinner."

"I can't. I have a date tonight. I have to go get ready."

Taylor gets up and hands Birdie her sundress. "You have a date and you're just telling me this now? Who's the guy?"

I glance over at Cal who is now very awake, watching Birdie put on her dress and listening to her conversation with Taylor.

"It's that guy who came in the coffee shop yesterday. I told you about him."

"The bodybuilder guy?"

"Yeah. He works at a bank during the day. Lifting weights is more of a hobby. He said he just does it to stay in shape. But you should see his body. It's amazing."

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