Page 47 of Bending Under Pressure

“Sure,” I agree.

“Fantastic. We would like to come have dinner with you one day this week. I know you have football practice, so whenever is best for you.”

“Uh,” I quickly think it over in my head. “The weekend would be better, Natalie. Practice doesn’t always end on time and I’ll have homework too.” I turn to face the pool when I hear Jess shout about playing chicken. She climbs onto Cam’s shoulders as a hesitant Haley gets onto Seth’s shoulders.

“Don’t drop me, birthday boy,” I hear her tell him.

“Keelan?”

I snap back to my conversation with Natalie, wishing I were the one in the pool with Haley. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked if Saturday was good.”

“Yeah, that works. Let me know when and where. I can meet you wherever,” I offer. I don’t even know where she lives. “I don’t know how far of a drive it is for you.”

“We only live about an hour away.”

Dang, she’s close.

“Oh,” is all I say. “I’m going to get back to the party. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.” I quickly hang up in time to see Jess falling into the water. Seth and Haley high-five each other as I make my way back to the pool.

“Rematch!” Jess sputters as she comes up for air.

I set my phone back on the table with my towel, forgetting about my thirst, and I jump back into the pool. “I’ll be Haley’s partner this time.”

“Hold your breath,” Seth warns right before he leans back so Haley falls into the water.

She comes back up, wipes her eyes, and then comes to climb onto my shoulders. I grip her knees while her feet hook around my back. Her hands rest on her thighs.

“No cheating,” Cameron tells me with a pointed look.

“I don’t cheat.” I used to swipe my foot out to

knock him off his so they would fall.

“Yeah, right,” Jess adds. She pats Cameron’s head. “Don’t let us lose again, Cam.”

“One, two, three,” Seth says, setting us in motion.

I do my best to stay balanced as the girls shove at each other. Seth is taller than us, so Haley had a height advantage last time. Now, they seem evenly matched. Taking a step closer, Haley is leaning forward, her stomach pressing into the back of my head. I grip her knees tighter to keep my hold on her. In one quick, well-practiced motion, I move one foot to hook around the back of Cam’s knee. Haley just pushed Jess hard and they fall as Cam loses his balance.

Haley laughs, her hands resting on the top of my head. I feel her lean forward a bit to look down at me. “Did you cheat?”

“No,” I lie. “I just helped you out.”

She giggles. We both realize only Jess popped her head out of the water when I feel hands wrap around my ankle and tug. Dang it, Cam! I slip and we go under. Our chicken games effectively end because Cam won’t play with a cheater. Seth’s party is fun though. His parents have a ton of pizzas delivered, his cake is so good I want to go back for seconds, and the best part is I get to watch Haley while she’s in a bikini.

I watch her and Seth interact. They seem like friends.

“Keelan!” Haley calls out my name. “C’mon. We’re going to play volleyball. You’re on our team.”

They are indeed getting a net set up in the pool. I hop back in and soon, we’re winning the game. Thoughts of Natalie and Keira are way in the back of my mind for now. I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts because somehow, I just know there will be a text from my sister when I get home.

“Hmm. Putting on makeup; you must be seeing Keelan tonight.”

I turn around at the sound of my mom’s voice. She’s caught me red-handed with a mascara wand in my hand. “Only mascara,” I point out. However, it’s only because I’m out of eyeliner and I don’t have time to run to the store. “JV is playing at home this week, so we’re going. I told you, remember?” I add, thinking she forgot about my plans for tonight.

Mom nods as she steps further into my room and takes a seat on the edge of my bed. “That means Keelan has an away game tomorrow, right?”

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