Page 116 of Choosing You

After a few incredible, mind-blowing minutes, he slowly pulls away.

“Do you like it when I do that?” There’s that cocky smile I know and love.

I smile back. “I’ll admit you’re pretty good at that.”

“Finally! A compliment.” He lets me go, forcing me to grab the edge of the pool. He sets himself up in the lane next to me like he’s preparing to swim laps.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I have to practice.”

“So we’re just done here?”

“We haven’t even been on a date. I was only kissing you because I was trying to find something you thought I was good at. And I did. So we’re done.”

He takes off swimming, leaving me wanting more. Much, much more.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

I watchhim go back and forth in the pool like the kiss never even happened. Like it wasn’t the greatest kiss ever between two people. Maybe it wasn’t for him. But it was for me. And then he ended it, just like that!

“Who’s in there?” I hear Blake’s voice echoing in the room. “Garret?”

Garret stops swimming. “Hey, Blake.”

Blake saunters over to the edge of the pool, staring down at me. “Ohio, what are you doing here?”

I can’t stand Blake. Since the day we met, he insists on calling me Ohio, despite the fact that he knows my real name and he knows that I’m from Iowa, not Ohio. He’s also rude, disgusting, and almost always drunk. And he wears this woodsy-smelling cologne that makes me want to gag.

Today is the first time I’ve seen Blake sober. I thought that maybe he wouldn’t be such an ass if he wasn’t drunk, but that was wishful thinking. He’s only been here a minute and I can already tell that he’s still an ass.

“Jade’s just hanging out here while I swim,” Garret answers for me.

“Are you a swimmer, Ohio?”

“No. I was just doing some laps.” I avoid looking at him. I have absolutely no desire to see his gross, lanky body in swim trunks.

Blake jumps into the pool right next to me, splashing water in my face. “Shit! That’s cold.”

Garret swims over to me.

“What are you doing, Kensington?” Blake asks. “Afraid I’m gonna try to steal Ohio from you? I’m just saying hello.”

The thought of Blake even considering that I would go out with him makes my skin crawl.

“Just leave her alone.” Garret gets in front of me, blocking me from Blake.

“Are we going out tonight? Decker’s having some people over. I’m sure we’ll be bored off our asses, but we could check it out and then head somewhere else. He’s stocked the bar, so we could at least get a buzz going.”

“No, I’m busy.”

“You’ve got nothing going on. You’re going out.” Blake bobs up and down in the pool. He’s one of those people who’s constantly fidgeting. It makes me nervous.

“I told you. I’m busy. I’m going out with Jade.”

Blake swims around Garret to glare at me. Blake hates me about as much as I hate him. Ever since I came along, Garret stopped drinking, even at parties, and it totally pisses Blake off. He wants his drinking buddy back.

“You go out with Ohio all the time. And if you don’t hang out with me tonight I’m sure your dad would love to hear why.”

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