Page 5 of Strong Side
“Yes, please. You can carry me.” She holds her arms out as I get closer.
When I get to her, she wraps her arms around my neck, and I reach under the water and slide one arm under her knees and the other around her waist. I turn around and wade back into the deeper water, and she drops her head onto my shoulder. I know I shouldn’t read into times like this, but they keep happening more and more since she and Trey broke up.
“You doing okay, pretty girl?” I rest my head on top of hers for a moment.
She nods, and her hair tickles my skin. “I’m good. Just tired. But, um, Trey was calling me again all morning, so I finally blocked him. At first, I’d thought he would take a hint. I mean, I think I was pretty clear when I broke up with him that we wereover, but he won’t let it go. I don’t even really think he wants to be with me. I think he’s just pissed that he can’t have me and isn’t controlling me anymore.”
I’m really trying to stay calm here, but I’m over this fucking guy. I think she’s right in a way. He’s pissed that he doesn’t have a say in her life anymore. But I’ll keep my mouth shut and just listen because that’s what she needs from me right now.
“You know I’m here for whatever you need. Trey is not my favorite topic, as you know, but I also don’t want you to feel like you have to hide things from me if you need to talk.”
She brings her hand up out of the water. “It’s fine. And I know. I’m sorry I even brought it up. It’s just really annoying. Anyway, enough about him. Are you staying for the fireworks?”
I nod, happy to change the subject. “Charlie and Beck are coming tonight to hang out. I told them we would meet them on the dock after we clocked out. I figured we could eat with them and watch the show. But if you’re too tired, that’s cool. I can take you back to your parents’, and I’ll come back and chill with them.” I stop moving and sway us slowly in the water.
“Oh, that sounds fun. I’m sure I’ll get a burst of energy at some point. I think I just need to eat a snack and have a Dr. Pepper. Anyone else coming with them?” she asks.
I shake my head even though she’s not looking at me. “No, just them, as far as I know. Bo left for California yesterday for a week, and most of the other guys are home until the end of July.”
“Are you getting excited to get back to football? Or are you dreading the workouts?” She lifts her head off my chest to look at me.
“I’m pretty excited to get back to it actually. It’s not like I haven’t been training, just not with the team. Beck and I work out every day, and I get my miles and sprints done in the morning. It’s pretty quiet around there right now, so I’ve beenrunning through campus.” I start bobbing up and down in the water.
“I’m not really sure how I feel about going back. Like, I’m excited to get back to student teaching and going to your games, but I just feel so betrayed by my friends right now for not telling me that Trey was cheating on me with Zoey, so I’m dreading that part.”
I kiss the top of her head before I lift her higher in the water because I’m gonna toss her. “You’ll be just fine, pretty girl. You always have me, and Charlie wouldn’t mind if you hung around with her and Arbor and Lily. You get along with them, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do. What are you doing?” She starts to squeal as I bounce us up and down. “Don’t you dare dunk me, Casey King!”
“Noelle, I’m offended you would think I would stoop so low as to dunk you. I’m gonna toss you instead.” I lift her out of the water and toss her a few feet away.
When she surfaces, I can’t help but bust out laughing. Her hair is covering her face, and she looks … pissed at first. Once she swoops her hair out of her face, she gives me a pretty fierce staredown, which just makes me laugh harder. This girl doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.
“It’s not funny, Casey!” Although she starts laughing too. “I didn’t want to get my hair wet before going back into the store.”
“Oh, come on. I did you a favor. You were hot and sweaty. And no offense, but you were a little stinky, so I rinsed you off.” I smirk.
She didn’t smell. I just love to tease her.
“Excuse me, sir. I smell like roses at all times. How dare you!” She splashes me with water, which triggers a splash war.
I love it when we’re like this together. She’s been pretty messed up by the Trey situation, and I’ve done my best to try to make her happy again. Because she was never really happy withhim. Sure, when they met, she was all about him, but the longer they were together, the more I saw her sparkle dim. It pissed me right off, and there were more than a few times I had to go over to her apartment and pick up the pieces. I fucking hate that guy.
“Okay, okay, I surrender!” she sputters. “We need to get back. Let’s go, King.” She starts walking out of the water to the beach.
I dive into the water and swim my way over to meet her. “Hey, did you bring any towels?”
“Oh, poop. No, sorry. We’ll have to air-dry on our way back.” She picks up her clothes and shoes and climbs back into the boat.
“I can help you get in the boat, you know?” I tell her.
“I know, but you need to untie it. And hustle so I can grab my DP before it gets busy again.” She claps her hands.
“I’m comin’. I’m comin’.” I untie the rope from the tree and push the boat off the sand. Once it’s deep enough to start the engine, I lift myself into the boat.
When I’m in, I look up to see Noelle watching me, so I wink at her. Something I’ve noticed more lately is that she’s been looking at me a little differently, watching me more maybe. Or it could be wishful thinking on my part.
She clears her throat, turns back to the wheel, and starts the engine. Because I’m a guy and like to do stupid things, I walk over to her and shake my hair right next to her. It would be easy for me to point out that she was checking me out, but I won’t.
