Page 54 of Whistle

“Why are you two standing around wasting oxygen?” I said, interrupting their little bro meeting. Yeah, I knew what they called things around here.

“We just wanted to apologize to Bodhi for tossing him in the pool,” Ryan said.

“I told you to stop doing that,” I demanded. “I meant it too. Twenty extra laps. Each.”

Jamie groaned. “You also told us to treat him like we do everyone else. We throw all the new guys in the pool.”

“Sometimes talking to you is like finding spam in my inbox,” I bitched.

Jamie put a hand to his chest. “That hurts, Coach.”

Not as much as it hurt seeing Bodhi sink in the pool and my heart lodging in my throat. I can’t lose him.

He’s not yours to lose.

“Vargas!” I called to one of the other swimmers nearby.

“Bro!”

I blew the whistle. Only a little water sprayed out this time. “I’m not your bro!”

“Sorry, br—I mean, Coach.”

It wasn’t even seven a.m., and this was my day.

“I want Jamie’s time,” I said, tossing him a stopwatch. I pinned Jamie with a look. “It better be good.”

Jamie grinned and did some obnoxious handshake with Ryan and then went off to swim.

Ryan turned to Bodhi. “For real, welcome to Elite. I know it’s been a rough start, but you’re one of us now.”

Bodhi didn’t say anything.

“If you need anything, let me know,” Ryan added.

I gave Bodhi a pointed look. I knew he could feel it.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

Ryan nodded and got back in the pool.

“Bleachers,” I told Bodhi.

He hesitated. I glanced over and sighed.

“Sinclair, Navarro, and Andrews, why are you still at my pool?”

“We’re waiting to go eat breakfast,” Win answered.

“Wait in the parking lot!”

They ignored me, and I prayed for patience.

“Go on,” I told Bodhi. “They won’t bother you.”

Bodhi made a face. “Like I’m scared,” he snapped and then stomped, barefooted, over to the bleachers and sat down.

It was going to be a long fucking day.

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