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I’m still enjoying the comfortable calm when Aldo appears, freshly showered and looking decidedly chipper considering our loss.

“Hey, Coach,” he says with a wink as he comes to a stop in front of us. I’d chide him about it but he’s the first one out.

“You ready for the wedding?”

He nods. “Yeah. It’s tight, but I’ll make it. Got two hours before it starts.”

Aldo already cleared it with me that he’d fly down yesterday, and he’ll likely miss practice on Monday since he won’t fly back until Sunday night.

I give him a smile and he swallows, his own grin fading as he shifts his stance, gripping the strap of his kit bag with two hands, looking decidedly nervous.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. If he’s going to ask for more time off next week, I might have to be a hard ass and tell him no. The team needs all the training they can get if we want a chance of pulling this back.

“Nothing’s wrong,” he says, shooting a glance at Masters that has me narrowing my eyes. “I just . . . erm . . .”

I lean back in my chair and fold my arms. “Spit it out, Rossi.”

“Come to the wedding,” he blurts out. “I’d like you to come. As my guest.”

Of all the things I thought he might have said, this wasn’t evennearthe list. “What? Why?”

“What do you mean why?” He frowns, stepping closer and glancing around to make sure we’re still alone. “Because you’re important to me, Doug. Please, come.”

I tear my attention away from the big brown eyes and dark lashes scraping away at my willpower, only to find Masters watching me. “What about you? Are you going?”

He nods. “Yeah. And Joy.”

“Sounds like your guest list is full.”

Aldo reaches for where my arms are still tucked against my chest, but then drops his hands as though realizing what he was about to do in the open, and I watch his throat bob as he takes a step backwards. “It’s not,” he says quietly. “Please, Doug? Even if it’s just for the food.”

Okay. He totally knows how to play me. I love Italian food, and it’s a given that the food at a wedding for famous restaurateurs is going to be incredible. “Are you sure they’re not going to mind?”

Aldo glances at Masters again and gives me a small smile. “I already okayed it with my sister.”

“Presumptuous fucker.” I bark a laugh. “Fine. But I won’t be able to stay late, because I have to be on the bus tomorrow morning or it’s going to look suss.”

A flicker of disappointment crosses his beautiful face, but it’s chased away by the pure sunshine of his smile. “Great! Lane has all the details. It’s semi-formal, so don’t worry about getting a suit or anything, okay?”

I shake my head. “Go. You’ll be late.”

Aldo gives us both a beaming smile, then turns and leaves. It’s only once the door has swung closed behind him that I turn to Masters.

“You conniving bastard.” I shake my head. “How long have you had that planned?”

Masters grins and shrugs. “You could have said no.”

I could have. But Aldo put me on the spot. Those big brown eyes pleading with me like a fucking puppy. I don’t know who could have said no to that, but they’re a stronger person than me.

“Joy and I are getting a cab from the hotel at four fifteen,” Masters says. “We’ll meet you in the lobby.”

Shaking my head, I pull out my phone and start looking for shops near the hotel where I might be able to get something decent to wear tonight. Aldo might have said I didn’t need to make an effort, but his family is loaded, and I don’t want to show up looking like trash.

Even as I ignore Masters’ smug smile, concentrating on my screen, I can’t help the niggling feeling that I should have said no. I’ve said I don’t want to be part of whatever the three of them have going on—for their own sakes—but I keep allowing myself to be drawn back in. It’s the worst type of self-inflicted torture.

At least swim season is almost over. Joy and Aldo will graduate and I’ll never see them again. Lane will probably leave, too, if they choose to pursue what they have long-term, and then I’ll be all alone. The way it’s always been. Another fresh start.

The thought isn’t anywhere near as comforting as it should be.

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