Page 82 of Debugging Love

“That’s so freaky.”

“It’s not really. It’s just a story we tell when we’re ready for our guests to leave. But not you. You can stay all night. Luke has plenty of space.”

“I like my bed. But… You’ve piqued my interest. I think I’ll do a little ghost hunting.”

“You should definitely do that. Right away. Like now.”

“O…kay.”

“Did you bring your swimsuit?” Cassie asks as I turn to leave.

“I’m wearing it under my clothes.”

“Perfect,” she says with an odd, satisfied smile. The light has returned to her eyes, glittering like her ginormous diamond.

“Kay,” I say. “And the pool is? This way?” I point to the left with my elbow.

“Yep, through the family room. You’ll see it.”

I cross through the family room into an indoor/outdoor room with folding glass doors that overlook the pool. The doors are open to the hot South Carolina night, with Chance as the main attraction. I think I’ve been had. I glance over my shoulder, but Miss Sneaky, I mean Cassie, is nowhere to be found. I’m quite sure she orchestrated this little encounter. Matchmaking must be in her blood.

Chance is doing laps. He hasn’t seen me. If I turn slowly, quietly, and walk away…

While I’m pivoting, he pauses in the shallow end and stands, the chlorinated water cascading over his muscles like water soaring down a rocky cliff. Eyes closed, he slicks his hair back, triceps bulging, pecs putting on a show, abs knitted together in perfect symmetry.

I should have turned quickly and ran.

After what feels like five hours, he opens his eyes and notices me standing there, frozen like an ice sculpture but I’m not cold. I think I’ve discovered a new state of matter, one that looks solid but is really a liquid. Oobleck. That’s what I am. I’m oobleck.

“Hey,” Chance says.

I force my liquid legs to act like a solid and walk over to the poolside table, where I set my food, which is no longer appetizing. Shirtless Chance makes my empanadas look like rocks. Who wants to eat rocks when I can devour some eye candy?

I need to get a grip.

“It’s not safe to swim alone,” I say.

Chapter 19

Chance

Danni’s standing by the table looking a little uncertain in her loose-fitting floral dress that ends mid-thigh. The curves of her legs go on for miles.

I had to get away from her. That’s why I left the theater room and came out here for a swim. The second she walked in, something happened inside me. Is this how my sister felt when she first saw Erish? Or am I objectifying her? I don’t want it to be the latter. That’s why I came out here for some alone time. To sort it out. And now she’s here, looking at me innocently yet challengingly, like she’s ready to write me off if I say or do the wrong thing.

I don’t normally walk on eggshells around people. I say it like I think. But with Danni, I want to be careful. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.

“Then why don’t you join me? Did you bring your swimsuit?”

“I’m wearing it.”

“Come on, then. The water is nice.”

“And haunted.”

I swim over to her and rest my forearms on the pool deck. “Huh?”

“The pool is haunted. You didn’t know that?”

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