by Hughes, Maya
I picked up my napkin and wiped at the spot. Checking the fabric, I didn’t see anything on it. “Did I get it?”
He cleared his throat and went back to his incredibly sensible meal. “You got it.”
I demolished the burger along with polishing off half the fries and milkshake. Sitting back in the booth, I rested my head against the back of the upholstery and held my stomach. I was bursting at the seams. “I think that was a mistake.”
“See.” He stole a chili cheese fry from my plate and pointed it at me. “What did I tell you? This is what happens when you rush things.”
“It’s not possible to gorge yourself on sex like you can on food.”
“You’d be surprised,” he mumbled.
“So you’re a manwhore?”
“I’m not a manwhore. A manwhore would have pulled you into the broom closet of Uncommon Grounds and banged you without a second thought, but being an athlete on campus during a few winning seasons has given me many opportunities to entertain the opposite sex, yes.”
“A baby manwhore, then?” I smirked at him and pushed my plate away.
“Maybe a little bit.” He held up his thumb and pointer finger barely an inch apart.
“To make sure I don’t end up exploding myself on indulgences, sex or otherwise, maybe I could use a guide, someone to help me navigate the world of excess without killing myself.”
He ran a spear of asparagus through the melted cheese on my boat of fries and shoved it into his mouth. With his head tilted to the side, he stared into my eyes. The same charge that’d shot through me when he walked into the coffee shop sparked again. “I’ll help you complete your list on one condition.”
“Yes, whatever you want.” I sat forward, barely wincing at the half a cow crammed into my stomach.
He popped the asparagus into his mouth. “No sex.”
I sank back like a deflating balloon. That was like walking a kid into a candy story and only letting them buy spearmint gum. The hormones that had been running rampant around him would have to get shoved back into their box. Running through my options, I felt like none were great.
He’d show me around, maybe introduce me to some people outside of the math department. I could always run guys past him to get his take since my radar when it came to the opposite sex was all out of whack. He’d come here after practice when he didn’t have to, and damn was he easy on the eyes. I could keep things platonic between us. I totally could.
Wiping my hands on the napkin in my lap, I held one out to him. “Deal.”
We shook on it. He paid the bill. Did that make it a date? Screw it, I’m counting it. First date! So what if he wasn’t in on it; I knew. My internal dance continued as we walked outside.
I buttoned my coat. Nervousness coiled in my stomach like a snake ready to strike. “When do we start?”
8
Reece
Saying yes to being Seph’s life guru was a mistake. I’ll admit that. Probably the biggest one since I’d bought that pair of Air Jordans that were one size too small because it was the only pair left and I nearly crippled myself, or the last time I even flirted with the whole relationship thing last year.
Seph walked like nothing could stand in her way. Literally, people jumped out of the way as she talked, her eyes focused on me. I grabbed her shoulders to stop her from running into a light pole. Knowing her, she’d probably knock it over and keep walking. Maybe it was the way she had no filter and blurted out things that could make Berk blush. Maybe it was how sad she’d looked telling me about being homeschooled and never having any friends. Or maybe it was the way she’d absolutely demolished that burger like she could go head to head with Nix in a speed-eating contest. I wasn’t exactly sure why, but I’d said yes.
It had been two days since our meeting at The Vault. I’d checked over her list and tried to figure out which items I could help with and which I should probably stay far away from. Skinny-dipping was a big-ass no. Naked Seph? Hell no. Clothed Seph was cute enough; naked Seph might make me forget my part of the deal. A bathing suit was bad enough. When I’d told her to bring one, I’d hoped it would be a one-piece like the grandmoms at our community pool used to wear.
The freezing, not-quite-winter air sliced straight through my coat. Damn, I’d have thought after spending my whole life in the area, winters would be no sweat. Standing on the sidelines with snow coating the ground in a short-sleeved jersey and tight-ass pants, my focus was on the game, not on the ice crystals forming on my eyelashes. Now though, walking down the street, it was like someone was jamming icicles down my back.
Seph fell in step beside me.
“Are you sure you want to start today? When you’re starting a new habit, studies have shown—”
I stopped and she banged into my arm. I turned to her. “Why does everything start a line of interrogation with you?”
Her lips parted and she lifted her index finger in the air like that kid back in elementary school. You know the one—the kid who just had to let the teacher know they’d forgotten to assign the class any homework right before the bell.
“Zip it.” I pinched my fingers together in front of her face. “If you want my help, we’re doing things my way.” Turning the corner, I started walking toward our destination.
“You can’t just tell me to bring my bathing suit and then not tell me where we’re going.” Her steps clicked behind me and she rushed to catch up.
“We’re going to a bonfire. Where do you think we’re going?”
“Good point, but still. I’d like to know a bit more about what to expect so I can prepare myself.”
“How well can you swim?”
“I’ve studied up on it.” She bit her bottom lip and stared down at her feet.
“So, not very well, then.”
“Correct.” She ran to catch up with me. “But swimming wasn’t on my list.”
“Skinny-dipping was, and you can’t swim.”
“Who needs to learn how to swim when I’m just trying to get naked?” She let out an exasperated yell and a few people on the sidewalk turned to stare at us.
She ducked her head into her shoulder, and I barely held back my laughter.
“You do know how to make an impression.”
“Shut up.” She shoved against my shoulder.
Stopping in front of the door, I pulled it open. She stepped back and craned her neck, looking at the letters up above. “The gym?”
“Did you think we were going to a tropical island? They have a pool inside.”
“They do?” She squinted her eyes like she wasn’t one hundred percent sure I wasn’t screwing with her.
“How much of the campus have you actually explored?”
She stared back at me, blinking repeatedly like her eyes were answering me in Morse code.
“Exactly. Let’s go.” I held open the door and she ducked under my arm with her hands wrapped around her bag, clenching it so tightly her knuckles were white.
I slid my campus ID through the scanner and walked through the turnstile. She patted her pockets, pulled her ID out, mimicking me, and ran straight into the metal bar across the entrance. Her whole body nearly folded in half at the waist. I did my best not to laugh.
“You have it to do it more slowly. Sometimes the turnstile glitches—wait for the red light to turn green.”
Her head shot up and her cheeks burned a bright red. She looked at the card again, slide it through, and waited for the light. Pushing against the bar with her hand, she shoved it forward and followed me.
“Those things are tricky,” she grumbled, sliding her ID back into her pocket.
“They sure can be.” The corner of my mouth lifted when she glanced over at me.
Her eyes narrowed and she let out a small snort.
I pointed to the door on the other side of the hallway. “The changing room is that way.”
I changed in the guys’ locker room and walked out to the water. There weren’t a ton of people there.
Most students probably weren’t looking for a swim on a wintery Tuesday afternoon.
The door to the pool swung open, and I’d have thought there was a poltergeist in the building if the light blue of her towel hadn’t poked out into the doorway.
I cupped my hands over my mouth. “Swimming involves actually getting into the water.” The door closed for a beat then swung open again.
Her towel was wrapped around her body as her flip-flops smacked and clapped against the tile in a steady rhythm and her gaze darted to the pool. She nibbled on her thumb, her eyes trained on the water. Standing from the bench, I grabbed the edge of her towel.
“You can’t wear this in the water.”
Her gaze snapped back to mine and she nodded. Like it was her only lifeline, she slowly let the towel drop away from her body.
My previous appreciation of her body had been sorely inadequate. Her librarian look was hiding curves that could derail a train. The one-piece black garment was not the usual, look-at-me style, and maybe that was why it was harder to look away. Grandmom bathing suit be damned, it was still skin-tight and clung to her smooth skin.
Help her, not bone her. Clearing my throat, I took the towel from her and guided her toward the pool. We sat on the edge, our feet in the water.
“When you said you couldn’t swim very well, what did you mean?”
“I’ve studied it a lot.” She stared down at the water, nibbling on her bottom lip. Her feet kicked out in front of her, slicing through the water.
“So, this is more of a getting comfortable thing? Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Pushing off the edge, I dropped into the water. Coming up beside her legs, I treaded water and wiped my eyes. “We can start slow and you’ll be doing laps in no time.”
Her death grip on the edge of the pool should have been enough to crack the tile. She turned and lowered herself into the water like it was acid. Her shoulders bobbed above the water. The braids came in handy as her hair was twisted and knotted on top of her head. A droplet of water ran down the long slope of her neck before disappearing into the water.
I swam next to her, shaking my head. “Take my hand and we’ll take a tour.”
She glanced over her shoulder and slowly turned, keeping her hands on the edge. Her eyes darted to every corner of the pool and she slipped her hand into mine. With a force I couldn’t have imagined, she gripped me, and I swore my bones groaned.
“Ease up just a little, Seph. I need that hand to play and, you know, type and eat.”
Her head snapped up and her eyes landed on mine. She didn’t crack a smile, not even a lip lift, but she did loosen her grip. I pushed us off the wall. She wrapped her other hand around my arm.
“Hey, Reece, go wide,” someone called out from the far end of the pool.
I spun around, letting go of her hand and kicking my feet, shooting out of the water and catching the football. The guy held out his arms and I threw it back. It landed solidly, hitting his chest with a thud. As I’d told Nix, I could’ve been QB.
The guy cocked his arm back to throw it again, then his throwing arm slowly lowered. “Is she okay?”
I flipped around. A Seph-shaped figure disappeared under the water. Her fingertips skimmed across the surface. Swimming as fast as I could to her flapping and flailing arms, I shoved my hands under them and pulled her head out of the water, holding her body against my chest as I towed her to the edge.
She coughed and sputtered. Fuck. I kicked myself for being so careless. Hey, let me help you out Seph—help you with drowning, apparently. Bracing her hands on the edge of the pool, she threw herself onto the blue and white tiles around the edge of the water. I boosted her up by her butt, and she slid onto the walkway. A few people came over, crouching down around her.
I jumped out of the pool and knelt beside her.
She was rolled over on her side, fingers splayed against the tiles. A tremble shot through her and she closed her eyes. This was totally my fault and I felt like a grade-A asshole. I’d never have let her go if I’d known she couldn’t even tread water.
“Seph, are you okay?”
Nodding, she rolled onto her back and her eyes opened. Her gaze ping-ponged around at all the people crowded around her and she sat up straight.
“I’m fine. Thank you, everyone, for your concern, but I’m fine.”
She coughed a few times and jumped up from the floor, scurrying into the locker room.
“Shit.”
“Do you know her?” someone asked.
“Yeah, I was supposed to be helping her get comfortable in the water.” I smacked my hand against the floor and a sharp spray of water hit me.
“Maybe just stick to the field, Reece.” Someone laughed, and everyone backed away.
Rushing into the locker room, I grabbed my clothes. I changed like Clark Kent and parked myself outside the exit of the women’s locker room. A few people came out, eyeing me as I tried to get a look in through the cracked door. I checked the time for what had to be the hundredth time. Is there another exit? Did she go back to the water? After what seemed like an hour, she finally came out.
She tugged the door open with her bag tucked under her arm and her hair in a couple of braids hanging down over her shoulders. The damp ends made small wet patches on the front of her coat.
Relief washed over me. “Seph!”
She jumped and nearly dropped her bag. Her gaze snapped to mine and she grasped a small strand of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. She looked at that hair like a wayward student who’d stepped out of line.
“You waited.” It didn’t have a hopeful or excited tone. Her voice was flat and distant, nothing like the nervousness and eagerness from earlier.
“Of course. Listen, I’m really sorry about what happened back there. For some reason when you said you’d studied swimming, I didn’t realize that meant your level of swimming was not swimming at all.”
“It’s a pretty comprehensive level of not swimming.” She tucked that fallen piece of hair behind her ear.
“Now I know. We can stick to strictly shallow end swimming until you’re more comfortable.”
“That’s probably not a good idea.” Her gaze darted to the front door like she was ready to bolt at any second.
The locker room door opened behind her. A girl came out and stopped beside Seph. “Hey, I saw what happened out there. Are you okay?”
A scarlet flush crept up Seph’s neck. She was becoming more of a human beet with each passing second.
I squeezed the back of my neck.
“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.” Her smile was so plastic I could practically smell it.
The girl left, and Seph stared down at the floor between us.
“We can give it another try.”
“I’ll let you know.” She didn’t look at me. Her eyes were firmly trained on my shoes. Good thing I kept them nice so she wasn’t looking at an unholy abomination like the ones Berk wore. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later. Bye.”
It was all practically one word, and then she was gone.
* * *
As I got into my car, a sharp ping came from my phone.
Nix: Heard you almost killed someone at the pool today.
News traveled fast. Like I didn’t feel shitty enough already.
Me: She’s fine. No harm, no foul.
Nix: That’s not what I heard.
Berk: We heard you tried to feel her up while giving her CPR!
Me: There isn’t an emoji to tell you how stupid that is
LJ: You guys cool with Marisa coming over tonight?
LJ and his completely platonic but always around him best friend had been practically joined at the hip since they’d arrived at Fulton U.
Nix: No problem. I’ve got to have dinner with my dad tonight, so if anyone would like to run me over with my car, please feel free.
Me: You mean the brand new Mercedes S-Class your parents got you over the summer? That one? If I do, do I get to keep the
car?
Nix’s dad had played pro for a hell of a lot longer than my dad had and his family had reaped the rewards, not just in the money he made playing but in the endorsements and post-season contracts.
Nix: Everything comes with a price.
Me: I don’t mind if Marisa comes over, but for the love of God don’t let her cook anything in the kitchen. Not even popcorn.
We’d barely gotten the smell out from the last time she decided to pop a bag in the microwave.
LJ: She’s not that bad.
Berk: I’m surprised we don’t have ulcers from her Spaghetti Surprise.
Me: The surprise was rolling on the floor praying for death an hour after eating it.
LJ: She’s trying!
Nix: To kill us.
Berk: And have sex with our corpses!
Me: What did we ever do to her?
LJ: ENOUGH! Leave her alone. Forget I asked, I’ll go to her place. Her roommate makes better drinks anyway.
Nix: Touchy, touchy.
I got home, and it felt like I was trying to outrun my guilt.
Nix’s music blared in his room behind his closed door. I had no idea how he studied with that pounding, but even with that, he still kicked my ass in the grades department.
Throwing my wet trunks and towel into the pile of clothes in the corner of my room, I pulled my phone back out.
Me: Seph, I’m really sorry about today. It’s completely my fault and I take full responsibility.
Her little speech bubble popped up and disappeared for a solid three minutes.
Seph: It’s okay. I appreciate your attempt, but I’ll find a way to handle this myself.
Her doing it herself was a bad idea, not that I’d shown myself to be any better at keeping her out of trouble. Why does this bother me so much? I wondered. I tried to play it off as some kind of big brotherly protection, but big brothers don’t think about their sisters like I’d thought about her when she walked out in that bathing suit and dropped that towel.