Page 28 of Choosing You

“That’s it? Let’s go get something quick.”

“I don’t need anything. Besides, they say not to swim right after you eat.”

He stands up, holding his hand out. “That’s a myth. Come on, my car’s right over there.”

“No, I’ll get something later.” I grab his hand, letting him pull me up. “Why do we have to wait until 7? Can’t we just do this now and get it over with?”

“I guess we could.” He watches as I finish up my soda. “You know, maybe you could act a little more excited. After all, you get to see me practically naked.”

I stare at him. “Did you seriously just say that?” I shake my head when he doesn’t respond. “Well, someone’s full of himself. Now I’ll make sure I look the other way. Like I really want to see that.”

He gives me a cocky grin. He knows damn well I want to see his nearly naked body. Every girl on campus would like to see that.

I pick up my book and take my garbage over to the trash while Garret shakes the grass off my blanket. We go to my room and I realize that he hasn’t been in there since the night he helped me move in.

“You don’t have much stuff,” he says, surveying the room.

“I don’t need much stuff. I think most people have too many things. It just ends up being clutter.”

“My parents have a TV you could have. It’s just sitting in storage if you want it.”

“I don’t need one.” I go over and wait for him at the door. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

He laughs. “You could at least pretend this’ll be fun.” He goes out in the hall and waits while I lock the door. “Don’t you want to bring anything?”

“Like what?”

“Change of clothes, shampoo. I don’t know.”

“You’renot bringing anything.”

“All my stuff is already over there in my locker.”

“We’re coming back here after we swim, right? I’ll just change clothes when I get back.”

* * *

The pool isin a building down by the track, next to the fitness center. We go to the locker rooms to change. In the girls’ locker room, there’s a plastic bin full of black, one-piece suits. I find my size and put one on, then grab some towels and wrap one of them around my waist.

When I get to the pool Garret’s already swimming laps, moving effortlessly in the water. He stops when he sees me. As he stands up, I gaze at his chest and abs which are pure muscle, each one defined. His arms are equally chiseled. The boy could be on the cover of a men’s fitness magazine. I look farther down into the water and see that he’s wearing black swim trunks. They’re short and tight but they cover more than those skimpy ones guys wear in the Olympics.

“Get in.” His voice echoes in the large open room. “It’s cold at first, but you’ll be okay once you start moving.”

I peel my towel away, feeling self conscious. I haven’t worn a swimsuit since gym class junior year.

I sit on the edge of the pool, dangling my feet in the cold water.

Garret swims over to me. “You gotta get in all at once. It’s easier that way.”

“Maybe this was a bad idea. I don’t really like swimming.”

“And I don’t like running. But I did it.”

He reaches up and puts his hands around my waist, picking me up. Before I can protest, he dips me slowly into the pool until the water is just under my collarbone. I grab the edge of the pool, holding myself up.

“How’s that?” He lets go of me, but part of me wishes he hadn’t. I really liked him holding me like that.

“Still cold.” My feet search for the bottom of the pool. I can’t find it. It’s not that deep, but I’m not very tall. If I let go I know the water will be at least chin deep, maybe deeper.

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