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My eyebrows shoot up at the last suggestion. “Why the hell would anyone date in senior year?”

“Come again?”

I sigh. “It’s pointless. In just eight months’ time, we’ll all be scattered across the country. What’s the point in investing time and effort into something that’s not permanent?”

Aldo stares at me with the same confused look as before. “But what if it lasted past college? That does happen. My parents met in high school.”

I shake my head. “It’s just not worth the risk.”

“The risk?” Aldo pushes a hand through his hair. “So, you’re not even remotely open to the idea of dating?”

My skin heats a little and I clear my throat. Is he asking me if I want to date in general, or date him? I mentioned my senior year manifesto half in jest, but now I’m painfully aware that my answer is going to fence me into a corner I’m not sure I want to be in.

“I’m not planning on it,” I say. “I want to enjoy my senior year without drama. How’s that?”

Aldo smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “No drama sounds like a great plan.”

Glancing down at my cup, I realize it’s long since been emptied, the sides cold against my hands. Outside, the rain is still coming down, the sky as bleak as ever, and I shudder at the thought of leaving the cozy cocoon of the red velvet couch. “Do you want another coffee?”

Aldo frowns down at his empty cup, then looks up at me with a smile. “Sure. I’ll have a cappuccino, please.”

Peeling myself from the seat, I take his cup, relieved that he’s taken me up on my offer. I might not want a relationship, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to put a stop to whatever is happening between us. Wait. Issomething happening?

My heart skips a little at the thought and I resign myself to the fact that I’m not going to be walking away from Aldo Rossi any time soon.

Well, unless it’s getting us more coffee.

Hoping my muddled thoughts aren’t painted across my face, I throw him an easy smile. “Coming right up.”

LANE

Pretending to stare at the clipboard I’m holding, my pen tapping on my lip, I keep flicking my gaze to where Joy’s standing, chatting to Aldo. Her laugh carries across the pool, and it carves into my lungs like a knife. Part of me is glad she’s laughing. That she’s happy. I just want it to be with me.

I watch him smiling at her, nudging her with his arm as he teases her about something. They look cute together. The two swim captains. It’s perfect.Fuck.

For the hundredth time in the past few weeks, I wonder whether maybe I should just quit. I thought I could do this, but I can’t. It’s torture. Absolute torture. Worse than lying on my bed flicking through the millions of photos we took together over the years. Worse than tormenting myself with the last text conversation we had. Worse even than the last ten messages she ever sent me. The ones I never replied to.

Doug walks past, knocking my elbow and my pen slips, jabbing me in the cheek.

“Hey,” I shout. “Watch where you’re going.”

He doesn’t even acknowledge me. My fingers grip the clipboard so tightly, the green acrylic creaks under my fingers. I long to smack it over the back of his egotistical skull. He thinks he’s so damn hot. Strutting about with that beard, in those fucking sweatpants.

“You ready, Coach?”

I force the glare from my face as I turn to Jordan Summit. He’s the smallest and youngest of the men’s team, but it’s clear why he got his scholarship. Bursting with raw talent, he’s incredible in the water. With the right help, he could go far.

“Ready,” I say, nodding to the starting blocks. “Let’s work on your butterfly. Concentrate on your DPS.”

As Jordan gets into position, slicing perfectly into the water, I feel eyes burning into the back of my skull. I’m almost getting used to it. Begrudgingly, I take my attention off Jordan to glance over at where Doug is glaring at me like I expected. I give him a warm smile and a thumbs up before turning back to the pool.

Walking along the side, watching Jordan’s form, I struggle to concentrate. At some point while I was seething at Doug, Joy got in the pool, and I watch her move effortlessly through the water. My chest burns with more memories than one heart can hold. Years of splashing, racing, laughing. I swallow.

Jordan reaches the side and stops, pushing his goggles off as he looks up at me for my feedback. Shoving Doug, Joy, and everything else to the back of my brain, I give him a smile and do my job.

“I’m so glad you finally came,” Drew says, clapping me on the shoulder. “If you spend too much time on campus, you can get a little stir crazy.”

I nod in agreement, taking a swig of my beer. He’s been inviting me out with them for weeks. but because I convince myself every other day that I’m going to quit, I’ve declined. I guess the loneliness must have finally become too much to bear.

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