Page 21 of Collide
She hums. “None that you need to be telling me, I suppose. God knows what you college kids are doing these days.”
“Not me. I’m an angel.”
“I’m sure you are. Good night, bean.”
“Night, Grandma.”
7 | SUMMER
IT’S FOOLPROOF.
Those are the words I said to my therapist before she gave me a long list of reasons why my self-proclaimed foolproof formula is extremely detrimental.
One of the prerequisites for grad school is to attend a counseling session with an on-campus therapist last semester. I was all for it until we got down to the nitty-gritty and unearthed my abandonment issues. Who said therapy isn’t fun?
Sophia, my assigned counselor, had a lot to say about how I treated relationships. Apparently, my plan to abandon people before they abandoned me isn’t healthy. Go figure. She said my only friends since freshman year have been Amara and Cassie, as well as Sampson who doesn’t count since I’ve known him forever, because I don’t create attachments to people in fear I won’t be good enough for people to stick around. Thanks, Dad.
Heavy stuff, but we worked through most of it. I say most because I still haven’t talked to my dad. Sophia suggested that calling him would give me closure without having expectations. That was our last session because after I completed my credits, there really wasn’t any motivation to go back.
A splash from someone diving into the pool sends water to hit the glass of the waiting area. Sitting in the DC Aquatic Center, I watch the doors for Aiden who’s meeting me here for today’s session.
My phone buzzes with a text from my sisters. It’s a picture of the Dalton hockey team at last night’s game.
The Prestons
Serena: You go to school with these guys?
Serena: Because holy hotties.
Shreya: I knew your ‘stay away from hockey dudes’ spiel was so you could keep‘em for yourself.
Shreya: Do any of them have brothers?
Summer: You two are fifteen. Keep it in your pants.
Summer: How did you even get that picture?
Serena: We went to the game with our school. UofT got their asses kicked byyour boys.
Summer: Is Dad with you?
Serena: You don’t know? Dad’s in Boston, he’s their Interim Coach.
My heart sinks into my stomach. My dad is here. Well, a few hours away but he’shere. Has he come closer to work on our relationship? Or is he doing it for his career again? It makes sense that my sisters snuck off to a game that I’m sure they weren’t supposed to be at. However, the love for hockey runs deep in Preston blood, so I can’t fault them for it.
“How did you manage this?” Aiden’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
The afternoon light surrounds him like he’s some kind of deity, and I don’t know how he looks so put together after traveling for hours after his game. I offered to reschedule but he insisted we don’t waste time. Safe to say we’re both eager to get this project over with.
“You’re not the only one with connections, Crawford.”
The Aquatic Center is empty on very rare afternoons. It took me weeks of memorizing schedules to figure out the best time to sneak in. Today, the divers are gone for competitions, so the pool is pretty much empty.
We head into the respective changing rooms, and I regret my choice of bikini when I see myself in the mirror. I probably should have donned something more conservative. Though this is the only bikini I could find both pieces of. The rest are missing a bottom or strings.
Aiden’s waiting for me by a bench when I step out, and his gaze glides up my legs to fix on my face. He’s in red swim trunks and nothing else, obviously, but I’m stunned. Trying to bring my eyes to his face is challenging because the guy isshredded.
“You know, if you wanted to see me shirtless all you had to do was ask, Sunshine. You didn’t need to plan a whole swim lesson.”
