Page 64 of All In Good Time

Reaching over the side of her chair, Becca opened her bag and pulled out the assigned reading she had been given a month earlier when school was let out. At least this way, she was doing something productive on her day off and getting a tan at the same time.

A pool might not have been the best place to complete schoolwork, but the background noise of laughter and Derek’s whistle didn’t bother her at all. Combined with the hot summer air, reading a book could be more enjoyable in a place like this.

For about thirty minutes of reading, Becca did her best to get enthralled with the written word, making sure to annotate her thoughts as per the instructions of the assignment. She got about five chapters in and would have gone further if a shadow hadn’t blocked out the sunlight she had been using to write down a note in the margin of the page.

She paused midsentence and looked up at the source of the interruption. For a split second, she thought it might be Derek coming over in the middle of his rounds, but the person standing there didn’t have his long, curly hair or blue eyes.

He had slick dark hair, tanned skin, and dark eyes, and this might have been the first time she’d ever seen him wearing something other than his basketball jersey.

Becca barely knew Chance. They’d never spoken before, and the only interactions they’d had might have been when she went to watch Derek occasionally play football or basketball after school. And calling that an interaction might be too generous when she was only cheering for Chance as much as she cheered for any other member of Derek’s team.

That’s why it didn’t make a whole lot of sensewhyhe was standing by her.

“Aren’t you worried about that getting ruined?”

“What?” Becca raised a single brow, confused.

He gestured at her hands. “The book.”

She looked down at the pages she had been working on, expecting something to be wrong with them. But they looked exactly as they had before he’d distracted her—perfectly fine.

“Wouldn’t it get ruined if you get it wet?”

Oh, that’s what he was talking about. “Oh, no. Not really. People don’t usually splash this far away.” She nodded toward the bone-dry ground around her to make her point.

She thought that would be it, but to her surprise, he wasn’t on the same wavelength. The chair next to her, which had been occupied by some kid a minute ago, was now empty, and Chance settled into it sideways so he was facing her rather than lounging back like it was meant for.

Becca watched him, the book still open in her hands, intrigued by his sudden approach. For a second, her eyes flicked over his shoulder to the lifeguard post, where Derek lounged back, to check if he had even noticed Chance’s random approach.

He had.

In fact, all of his attention was focused directly on her and Chance. His sunglasses were off again, clutched between his fingers as he held the tip of them between downturned lips.

Becca raised her brow higher. She thought that Derek would have been amused to see her awkwardly singled out by one of his teammates, but now she couldn’t read his expression. His lips were halfway between neutral and a frown, but his eyes were entirely unreadable. She’d never seen his face like that.

“Why are you reading it so early? The assignment isn’t even due until September.”

Becca forced her attention away from Derek and back to Chance. He was leaning over to get a better look at the cover of it, and she held it up. “How did you know I’m reading this for school?”

“I have the same one collecting dust in my backpack. Mrs. Johnson, right? I’ve got her for fifth period next semester.” He shrugged and leaned his hands back against the seat of the chair, making himself at home next to her. “Couldn’t imagine anyone would willingly choose to read it.”

Now she couldn’t decide if she was more surprised by the fact that Chance was talking to her or that he was also taking an advanced placement course. Maybe it was her own case of prejudice that led to the assumption that a basketball player would never be in an AP class. He wasn’t wrong, though. This book was nothing like what she would normally choose.

“I have her for third,” she said.

His friendly smile dropped a bit, disappointed. “Too bad. We could have partnered up for any projects. I hear they’re brutal.”

Becca laughed, closing her book and setting it down next to her. Maybe Chance wasn’t so bad. He was also reasonably attractive.

“Why aren’t you swimming? It’s a hot day, doesn’t the water look better than whatever is in that book?” He stood up and looked toward the pool.

Becca followed his gaze. He was right, again, the water did look much nicer than anything in some book with hidden meanings she needed to decipher for a class.

“She can’t swim.”

Chance jumped in surprise at the abrupt voice next to him.

Becca was so focused on Chance, she didn’t notice that Derek had come down off his tower and crossed the pool. His glasses were back on, hiding his unreadable expression.

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