“Shut up,” I tell him as I throw my stuff in my locker.
“Seriously, what’s up? You were in a zone out there,” Ryan says, his face filled with concern.
“I just felt like a good run today,” I excuse with a slam of my locker door. “I’m good.”
I don’t want to get into this here, and I don’t want to bring up Casey. This is between Ash and me.
Ryan studies me for a minute. I know he doesn’t buy it, just like Coach. “Okay. If you say so.”
***
As I pull into the town pool parking lot, I feel my anger building. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, because I know I need to pull it together before I go in there to meet up with Ash, but I’m not sure I can.
ASHLEY
The entire team is sitting around the edge of the pool as George runs through the game plan for our first meet.
When I feel Casey’s foot slip around mine under the water, I glance at him with a look that asks what he’s doing. He flashes his bright white smile at me, but he doesn’t pull his foot away.
“Casey?” I whisper under my breath.
“What?” he asks innocently.
“Your foot?” I say, pulling mine away.
“Oh, that.” He slides his foot back over toward mine and runs it along my foot.
This is all happening under the water, so on the surface, everything seems fine, normal even. In the water, however, there is some serious flirting going on, and we are just friends. Friends. He knows I’m with Todd. I don’t know what to think. Just when I thought I understood Casey, he does something like this. I need to make it clear that there is no us. No chance of us.
“Come on, Ash. We need to make the swim team interesting,” he whispers out of the side of his mouth while every other part of him looks like he’s listening intently to George.
“Casey, I’m with Todd. You know that.”
He gives me a quick, sly smile. “Yeah, but it’s not like you’re married.”
“It is exactly like that,” I say, returning his smile.
His smile doesn’t waver even for a second. “We’ll see.”
I pull my foot away with so much force it causes a splash in the water that breaks the silent stillness of the pool’s surface, pulling everyone’s attention away from George.
“Do you have something you want to say, Ashley?” George asks.
With all eyes now on me, I feel my cheeks burning, and I know they are bright red.
“Nope, I’m good,” I blurt out quickly. Fortunately, all eyes shift back to George.
“Okay, well, that’s it for today. That was a solid first practice. I’m glad we could keep the summer team together. We’re going to move practices to the indoor pool in the next few weeks when they close this one up for winter, but for now, we’ll keep meeting here. See you guys tomorrow.”
Everyone claps for no real reason, and then we start to move toward the bleachers to get our bags. I take my swim cap off, feeling my dry hair fall down my damp back.
“I’m really glad you can swim with us again, Ashley. Our team really needs you, especially on relay,” Janice, a small, spunky, blonde girl says with a smile.
“Thanks, Janice. Me, too. It’s good to have something to do after school other than watch my boyfriend play football.” I smile back.
“Oh, yeah? Who is your boyfriend? You go to Easthaven, right?”
I feel a hand swipe my hair around to one side and start to rub my shoulders. My immediate reaction is to fall into the touch—it feels so good—but as soon as realization sets in, I tense up.
I swing around to see Casey standing behind me.
“It doesn’t matter. He won’t be her boyfriend for very long,” Casey says with confidence.
“What is your problem?” I ask him, forgetting all about Janice.
He grins. “Maybe it’s your boyfriend.”
Janice looks back and forth between us, trying to figure out the meaning behind the words.
“Hey, Ash.” I hear Todd’s voice, and my stomach drops.
I know what this looks like: Casey’s hands on me, us standing so close to one another. I immediately pull away from Casey as Todd gives a gesture with his head as if to ask what is going on.
“Your boyfriend is Todd Hamilton?” Janice whispers to me with undertones of shock, which I don’t exactly appreciate. “Wow, I can’t wait to tell the girls at my school that God Todd is taken.” She says it so fast and matter-of-factly it’s as if it’s his real name. I can’t help giving a small laugh. Casey, on the other hand, doesn’t find it quite as amusing.
As Todd joins us, I can tell he is angry—his shoulders are squared, and I know he’s tense without even touching him.
Casey instinctively steps back when Todd slips his arms around me.
“How was practice?” He kisses me, and I feel wisps of his freshly showered hair brush against my cheek. His eyes don’t leave Casey, though, and I know there is so much more he wants to say.
“It was good.” I try to give him a tone that screams this is no big deal, but I can tell it’s not working. Casey isn’t backing down, either. I see him visibly stiffen.
Janice’s eyes continue to study both boys. She can tell something is off.
“Todd, this is Janice. Janice, this is Todd, my boyfriend,” I say with extra emphasis as I glare at Casey.
Todd gives a small head gesture since his arms are still wrapped around my waist. “It’s nice to meet you, Janice.”
I see her cheeks instantly flush bright red at the attention. I wonder if he realizes the affect he has on people. Casey definitely notices.
TODD
I’m pissed, and I’m pretty sure I’m not hiding it very well, but I don’t care. All of my fears already came true, and it’s only the first day. I can’t believe I walked in to see him touching her. I feel my grip territorially tighten around Ash’s waist, but I can’t help it with him. There’s something about his cocky smirk. I can’t believe I was ever friends with him.
“I need to talk to you.” I gesture to Casey with my chin, the words coming out before I can stop them.
“Sure,” he says as he steps closer to me.
“Not here. Break house.”
This is our pool from the summer. I know it like the back of my hand, and I’m pretty sure the locker room will be empty right now.
I see Ash give the other girl a look of panic out of the corner of my eye as we walk away. Only Ash knows exactly how I feel about Casey.
Sure enough, when we walk into the break house, we are the only two in here since the pool is closed and most of the swim team is already gone. It’s just us.
“Listen, we need to get a few things straight if this is going to work.” I’m uncertain where I’m going with this, but I’m going to drive myself crazy if I don’t say something. I hate this feeling. I hate being jealous, especially of him.
“If what is going to work?” Casey flashes me a smile that makes me want to punch his face in.
I step closer to him. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Oh, yeah? Enlighten me.” He takes a step toward me, bringing us way too close for a normal conversation, our faces inches from each other’s.
“Don’t touch her. Don’t stand next to her. Don’t even breathe next to her. Do you understand?” I feel my hands press into his chest.
“Or what?” He presses farther into my hands, making it clear he’s not backing down.
“I think you know what. We’ve done this before, Casey; do you want to go again?”
“Stop it!” I hear Ash scream. I didn’t even hear the door open.
Both of our heads snap toward where she and Janice are standing, and then we both instantly put space between us.
“Hey, Ash.” I try to sound casual, like I wasn’t just about to kill Casey.
“Your boyfriend here has a jealous streak,” Casey says with a grin.
He’s enjoying this. He is such an asshole. I feel my fists tighten
at my side as I step closer to him without even thinking.
Suddenly, Ash’s hands are on my chest, pushing me back.
“Shut up, Casey.” She glares at him, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips.
Ashley’s friend is stunned silent. She definitely didn’t see any of this coming, but that doesn’t stop Ashley.
“He’s got a good reason to be, don’t ya think? You and I are friends. Just friends. Teammates. That’s it. Swimming teammates. You should go for Janice; she’s cute.” Ash gestures toward her friend.
I have never seen someone turn as red as this girl is turning. “Um, I have a boyfriend, but thanks.”
“Okay, so maybe not Janice,” Ashley quickly jumps back in, “but someone else. Not me. I’m taken.” She interlocks her fingers with mine, making my love for her grow more and more every second.
“Whatever, Ash. You’ll come around.” Casey gives her his classic smirk.
I can’t take it anymore. Before I know what is happening, I feel my fist connect with his face.
“Todd!” Ash screams, and I hear an “Oh my God,” which I’m pretty sure came from Janice.
I don’t think Casey thought I would actually do it. I didn’t think I would, either, but I needed to shut him up.
My hand is killing me, so I try to open and close it to ease the pain shooting through it.
“What the fuck?” Casey asks as he holds his jaw, his face full of shock and anger.
“You know exactly what. Someone needed to wipe that smirk off your face.”
“You seriously have issues, man. Ashley and I are just friends. I was just messing with you,” Casey spits out.
I feel my body stiffen, and I start to lunge again, but Ash pulls back on my arm.
“Stop, Todd. It’s not worth it. This is what he wants you to do. Just stop it.” Her eyes are locked on mine as she wedges her way between us.
I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. She’s right. What am I doing?
“What the hell is going on in here?” George shouts as he pushes through the door. I didn’t see Janice leave, but she must have gone to get him, because she is now cowering behind him.
“Todd? Casey?” George looks back and forth between the two of us. “What is going on?”
Casey drops his hand from his chin, and his eyes connect with mine, a quick, nonverbal understanding passes between us.
“Nothing,” he says to George, sounding surprisingly convincing. “We were just talking, catching up.”
George’s tense shoulders drop when he sees everything is under control, but then he glares at both of us. “Well, let’s not ‘catch up’ in the break house anymore. Understood?”
“Yup, we got it,” I say, feeling my stress fall away.
“Okay, let’s go. I’ve got to lock up,” George says to the entire group. He gives a quick smile to Janice, who gives him a shrug.
Once George clears out, Ash shouts, “Seriously?” to all of us then turns to Janice. “You had to get George?”
“Well, someone had to. They were going to kill each other,” she responds with a nervous laugh.
“Who, us?” I say with sweet sarcasm. “No, Casey and I go way back. Right, Casey?” I give him a smile.
“Yeah. Way back.” He runs his hand back over his chin, his smirk planted back on his face.
I lock my fingers with Ash’s. “Remember what I said.” I give him one last glare mixed with warning before we turn to leave.
“Bye, guys,” Ash says to both of them.
I turn back. “It was nice meeting you, Janice.” I give her a bright smile and try not to laugh at the stunned look on her face.
Once we are in the parking lot, truly alone, I whisper to Ash, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get that carried away.” Then I make sure to have my lips brush her earlobe as I pull away because I know it drives her crazy.
“I can’t believe you hit him.” She gives me a smile that sums up everything I love about her.
“Yeah, I guess we’ve got a lot in common.” I grab her other hand as I lean her against my car.
“Yeah, we’ve had a lot of ‘misunderstandings’ lately.” She steps up on her tiptoes to kiss me with a smile.
I could stand here forever with her, but I know they are right behind us.
“Let’s go before they come out.” I walk around to open her car door. “Oh, and hey, I would be careful with that girl Janice. Getting George? Not cool.”
She gives me a smile. “She was just nervous. She’s not used to you two like I am.” I feel her fingers tighten around mine. “Thanks for picking me up.”
She has a way of making me forget everything.
“Anytime.” I smile deeply.
Chapter 5: The Rescue
ASHLEY
The boys won their first two football games. I say won, but tonight, they killed the other team. Johnny got to play in the fourth quarter because we were up by so much. The team looks even better than last year, if that is possible.
Next week is homecoming, and I can’t believe how much has changed since last year’s homecoming dance. Of course, I must have done something horrible to the Karma gods since, this year we play Casey’s school for our homecoming game.
Thankfully, there have been no Todd/Casey fights in the afternoons since the first day, and hopefully it stays that way. They have both been keeping their distance, while I have been making sure I’m ready to go as soon as practice is over, waiting for Todd in the parking lot so there is no reason for him to come in.
I hear my phone buzzing on my dresser and walk over to check it as I slip on my pajama bottoms, seeing there’s a text from Todd.
Come to the window.
A smile instantly forms on my lips as I pull my curtains back. There’s Todd, two stories down, standing under my window, still wearing his jersey from the game tonight.
I open my window and yell down, “What are you doing?”
He starts to laugh. “Shh.” He holds up his phone and gestures to type on it.
You are not very good at this.
Ha. Ha. Funny, I type back. What are you doing?
I’m rescuing you.
I give him a smile out of the window as I type back, From what?
He smiles up at me once he hits send. From a boring life.
I automatically start to shout back down, but he holds up his phone then points to it with a crooked smile that melts my heart. I would go anywhere with him, do anything.
How? I type back.
Climb down … ledge to tree.
I stare down at him like he has lost his mind. There is no way.
I’m scared of heights, remember????
I see him start to laugh as he reads my text. Then he types something back and looks up with a smile.
You can do it. One step at a time.
I close my eyes and look at the big tree branch that is inches away from my window. As a kid, it always scared me. I knew it was going to break through my window, wrap itself around me, and take me in the middle of the night. Thinking back now, I realize that sounds ridiculous. However, when you are eight, and it’s pitch black in your room, it seems totally possible.
My phone buzzes in my hand, but instead of reading his text I look down at where Todd is standing. He has such a hopeful smile. I just wish he wasn’t so far down. I glance back at my phone to read his latest text.
I love you.
Everything melts away: my fear of heights, my worries about my parents being down the hall, the fact that I’m breaking every one of their rules. I have a boyfriend who loves me, and I love him more than anything.
Screw it. Who cares if I fall to my death? At least he will be there to catch me, hopefully.
Ok, I type back and then throw on my sneakers because I’m all for spontaneity, but there is no way I am climbing out of my window wearing flip-flops.
I quickly shut my lights off and prop my pillow under my comforter. I seriously doubt this will fool my parents, but I have se
en it in movies, so it’s worth a shot. I already said goodnight to them; therefore, they shouldn’t come in. Regardless, taking extra precautions never hurt anyone.
Seeing the smile on Todd’s face when I reappear at the window is priceless and worth falling two stories for, as long as it results in a broken bone and not anything more serious. Todd is totally worth a broken leg, but permanent brain damage, maybe not.
STOP! Just concentrate on the branch. I have seriously gone insane.
Todd’s words bounce through my head, One step at a time. I make it to the branch, which is much easier than I imagined.
“You’ve got it, Ash,” he shout-whispers up to me.
“Now what?” I whisper back to him.
He gestures to the giant base of the tree. “Climb down the trunk.”
Luckily, there are branches all the way down that lead me to the ground. It’s as if some divine force created steps just for me, like it was specifically designed to sneak out of my room. Thank you, scary tree.
“You did it.” Todd wraps his arms around me and lifts me off the ground.
“I know,” I say with a smile I can’t hide as I look up at the tree and relish in what I just accomplished. “Wait, how am I going to get back in?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” I always feel so safe with him. I know he won’t let anything happen to me.
“Thank you for rescuing me.” I press my lips against his with enough force to let him know just how thankful I am. “So where are we going?”
“You’ll see. Cute PJs, by the way.”
I look down to see I’m wearing my Peas on Earth PJ bottoms with peas dancing on top of globes. In the excitement, I totally forgot to change. Damn. I feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
He runs his thumbs over my reddening cheeks. “Hey, I love them, and I love when you blush.” He leans down and kisses me with his incredibly soft lips. Then his fingers intertwine with mine as we stealthily run to his car.
I don’t know why I keep looking from side to side as if my parents have been waiting for me outside, but somehow, it makes me feel better. Luckily, we make it to Todd’s car unnoticed.
“Tonight, we are celebrating,” He says with the brightest smile I’ve seen in a long time as we pull into the town pool parking lot.
Unbreakable (Accidental Crush #3) Page 4