Page 66 of Borrow My Heart

The participants stood, lined up along the edge of the pool, waiting for the countdown. Some were wearing goggles and even swim caps. Some were wearing their everyday casual clothes and looked like they had wandered in off the street. There were about fifteen who were going to swim. But those fifteen had brought friends and family members to watch. Half of Asher’s family had come and were holding up signs that saidGo Bean!andAttaboy!

Asher’s mom had stopped by to say hi when they first arrived and gave me a hug. I wished I had let Asher hug me earlier insteadof talking to Bean to avoid him and my red cheeks and my insecure thoughts.

I was nervous, my heart beating fast, as I stood next to the contestants with Bean, the noise of the spectators echoing all around us. Bean seemed a bit nervous too, and that wasn’t helping either.

The rec center director walked over to Asher, who was on the far side of the pool. I’d told Asher to talk to him because, of course,Bean found him suspicious when I tried to have a conversation with him earlier. So I was now keeping Bean away from the director so that the contestants didn’t see what a punk he was. Asher said something that made the director laugh. Then Asher caught my eye and mouthed,You got this.

Could he really see my nerves from that far away?

I nodded. It would be fine.

The director cleared his throat. “Welcome, everyone, to this canine race.” The audience went quiet. “Our pool is open all year and we hope you’ll consider us for your aquatic needs. My codirector, Sally, over there is ready with membership applications if you’re interested after the event.”

Sally, a redhead holding a clipboard by the bleachers, raised her hand.

“But for now,” the director said, “let’s do some swimming. Remember, the winner earns a free oil change from Niles’s Auto Shop. And if Bean wins, he gets a free oil change.” Everyone laughed.

I rolled my eyes. As if my dad’s boss offering a free oil change would make up for years of underpaying him.

The director held his hand in the air. “Contestants ready?”

Several loud cheers sounded.

He dropped his hand and yelled, “Go!”

All fifteen people jumped in the pool. But Bean, who had been itching to get in the water earlier, just stood staring at it, like his whole future didn’t depend on looking fun and adorable right now.

“Come on, Bean. Go! Go!” I said.

He looked up at me as if asking why in the world he would dothat.

“You can do it!” I said, pretending I was about to jump in, fully clothed. Bean called my bluff, staring up at me, seeming to say,You think I’m stupid, don’t you?

Then, as if to show me what he thought the pool was for, he lifted his leg and sent a stream of pee over the edge. The audience groaned.

Someone from the bleachers yelled out, “It’s not a great color! He probably needs to drink more water!”

Loud laughter followed.

I wanted to melt into the ground from embarrassment.

Bean barked in the direction of the rowdy crowd as if defending himself.

“Seriously, Bean?” I was tempted to pick him up by the handle of his doggie life jacket and drop him in. But I would never do that. He had to choose to jump on his own.

A chant of “Go, Bean, go!” started in the bleacher section where Asher’s family sat.

“Look, they’re beating you,” I said, pointing to the people, who were halfway across the pool now. Right as I said it, a body streaked by me and crashed into the water with a loud splash. When the person surfaced, hair matted to his face, I saw it was Asher.

“That’s cold,” he said. Then to Bean, “Come here, Good Boy!”

Bean gave a happy bark and went flying, landing in a belly flop next to Asher. The audience laughed and clapped. And then Bean and Asher swam side by side the length of the pool. When Bean climbed out on the other end, I rushed around to join him. He walked into the middle of the group of contestants who had already finished and sprayed water all over them with a shake. Thenhe barked at each of them and took off running when someone reached down to try to pet him.

Asher, who had just joined me, his wet shoulder bumping into mine, said, “He really wants us to get our cardio today.” With that, he reached for my hand, a questioning tilt to his head. “Are you with me?”

Rule:Never pee on your future.

“I feel like this is going to be your pep talk after every event.Don’t worry, I’ll fix it in editing,” I said as Asher and I sat poolside.

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