Together Again

by Aria Ford

  “I don’t have another client until late this afternoon. If you have the time, I’m willing to stay an extra thirty to forty-five minutes to make up for my tardiness.”

  That seemed to appease the man. He nodded. “That’d be great. I’ll call my secretary and push back my meeting,” he said, climbing out of the pool.

  The guy had hired me to teach him how to be a competitive swimmer but not because he was actually interested in competing. It was one of those bucket list things, and I was not about to turn down a client who could afford to spend money on my services.

  Once his phone call was done, I jumped right into trainer mode and busted his ass like he paid me to do. It took a great deal of effort on my part, because all I wanted to do was drive back to Lindsey’s apartment and crawl in bed with that naked body of hers.

  After getting through Carson’s session, I headed home to shower and change. I still had a couple of hours before it was time to head to the school pool for Lindsey’s training. I debated calling or texting her, but since she hadn’t, I figured I better not. I had no idea where this was going or if she wanted it to go anywhere.

  I arrived early to the pool, hoping to have a few minutes with Lindsey before we had to jump right into the training. She wasn’t there. What if she wasn’t going to show up at all? Maybe I had crossed a line last night.

  I sat down on one of the chairs that sat next to the pool and pulled out my phone. Did I, or didn’t I?

  Lindsey came rushing through the door a few minutes later. “Sorry!” she said, quickly walking to where I was sitting. “Practice ran late.”

  I stood, not sure how this was all going to play out. She dropped her gym bag and stepped closer to me. My hands went to her waist, and I kissed her. It was a standard hello kiss, nothing sexual.

  “Hi,” I said, smiling. “It’s okay. You’re not technically late. Not like I was this morning.”

  “Oh no, how late were you?” she said, putting her arms around me and leaning her face against my chest.

  “Half hour, but the guy was cool with it since I stayed almost an extra hour.”

  “Good. Sorry, about that. I guess I should have set an alarm clock.”

  I shrugged. “I had no intention of falling asleep.”

  She stepped out of my arms, and I cringed. That had sounded bad. It wasn’t how I intended it at all.

  I watched as she jerked off the sweats and pulled her hoodie over her head.

  “Lindsey, I didn’t mean it like that. I only meant I hadn’t planned on falling asleep with you draped on me. I didn’t say I minded.” I walked to her, grabbed her elbow, and pulled her back up.

  I kissed her nose and then her lips. “I liked it. You wore me out.” I winked.

  She blushed. “Thank you for leaving the note. I’ll admit I was a little pissed when I woke up, and you were gone without even a goodbye.”

  “I wouldn’t do that, Lindsey. Not to you.”

  That seemed to placate her. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I was a little worried.”

  “Don’t. You don’t have to worry, Lindsey. I wouldn’t treat you like that.” I said the words, meaning every one of them. I know I fucked up that first time, but I needed her to know she wasn’t simply a piece of ass. She was more than that. What, I didn’t know, but I would figure it out.

  My ringing phone interrupted the moment. I looked down at the chair where my phone was sitting face up. Brian’s face filled the screen.

  Lindsey looked over and laughed. “Perfect timing. That’s not awkward at all. I swear the guy has a camera on me all the time or something. It’s like he knows, like he senses us together,” she joked.

  I laughed but didn’t feel it. This whole thing was getting out of hand. I had to do something. It was either stay away from Lindsey or tell Brian I wanted to date his sister. Neither option was all that appealing, and both would likely end badly. Brian would lose his shit if he knew we had sex.

  “We’ll worry about that later,” I told her, hoping to put it off a little longer.

  She turned to grab her cap and goggles, bending over to dig in her bag. Her pert ass was too tempting to ignore. I playfully slapped it before squeezing her left cheek. “Fuck, your fine ass is making me hard,” I said, leaning over her back to whisper in her ear.

  She stood upright, turned around, reached her hand between my legs and squeezed. “You’re right,” she said. “Too bad I have training to do.”

  I watched her spin around and walk away, sashaying her hips as she went to the ladder and slowly climbed down the stairs. The woman was playing with fire. I managed to keep my head in the right place and put her through a rigorous training regimen. She was going to be ready for those Olympic trials. I would make her a champion.

  Chapter 12

  Lindsey

  I usually loved away meets but not today. I wanted to be home with Tanner doing things that only he could do to my body. We had said goodbye last night at the pool. I had hoped he would ask to come over, but he seemed to be pulling back again. I didn’t want to push it. I knew he was stressed out about what Brian would say if he knew.

  There had been a quick kiss before I left, but it wasn’t enough. I debated whether I should text him. Would that be too needy? Probably. I felt like I was navigating dangerous new waters. One wrong move, and I would rock the boat and tumble into the abyss. For now I would let him lead the way. I was more than willing to follow.

  Tomorrow’s meet was one we had been looking forward to for a long time. I loved heading to USC. It was a fun school to visit and party with. In fact, the Trojans were hosting a little get together for us. I knew I would see my ex, Adam, and was not looking forward to it, but not showing up was bad sportsmanship, even if our coaches would be pissed to know we had these little parties every time we competed against each other.

  Seeing Adam used to be my main goal for coming to these. Not anymore. We had parted ways after high school, but like a fool, I had hooked up with him on several occasions, usually at these parties. It was easy. I didn’t have to waste time feeling out a room. Instead, it was quick and easy sex without the weirdness or danger that came with one-night stands.

  He was on the USC swim team. It was a friendly competition, and I think the thrill of sleeping with the enemy always ended up driving me into his bed. Not this time. I didn’t know what Tanner and I were, but I wasn’t about to start sleeping around. I had no desire to hook up with Adam. In fact, after having sex with Tanner, I think I will be forever ruined. Every man will always be compared to Tanner, and I have a feeling, none of them would come close to being as good as he is.

  “And there he is,” Brittany said, her arm locked in mine as we roamed the small house the party was being thrown at.

  I looked up to see Adam waving us over.

  “Can we pretend we didn’t see him?” I asked.

  “Little late for that. Come on, we’ll make nice and then move on. I’ll be right beside you. I’d hate for you to accidentally fall in bed with him—again,” she said with disdain. She had never liked Adam. They’d clashed in school, and their dislike for each other had only grown over the years.

  “Hi,” I said, greeting Adam with a quick hug. “Quite the party you guys have here.”

  He grinned. “We know how to party. How’ve you been? I heard you smoked Nevada last week. Don’t think you’re going to get so lucky this time.”

  I laughed. “Whatever. Our men’s team could beat you guys with one arm tied behind their backs.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I doubt that. How are you Brittany?”

  She looked at him with the typical combination of disgust and irritation before giving him a fake smile. “I’m fabulous, Adam, just fabulous.”

  I nudged her in the side, telling her to be nice.

  “I’m going to go say hi to Dana. I haven’t seen her since our last meet.”

  “Brittany,” I said, the word was loaded in a way only a best friend would understand.

  “I�
��ll be right there. You two catch up, but, Adam, don’t you dare try and get her to fuck you. It isn’t going to happen,” she said, looking at him in a way that would make a normal person feel as big as an ant.

  “Brittany, go away. Lindsey and I have some catching up to do and don’t need your shitty attitude,” he shot back, used to her insults.

  She looked at me, giving me the opportunity to follow, but I declined. I didn’t like Dana. Never had. She was one of the girls from Brittany’s old private school. I hated most of the girls who had gone there. They all thought they were better than everyone else. When my dad had insisted I go to the school that was home to most of the overprivileged brats in Orange County, I’d fought against it. I wanted to be normal, not one of those stuck-up bitches.

  I had gotten my way and was glad for it. Brittany was a bit obnoxious. It was her upbringing. She never treated me like that, but I had seen her be very rude to others.

  “Thank God,” Adam muttered. “I cannot believe you two are still friends.”

  I glared at him. “Don’t start talking shit about her. I can just as easily walk away.”

  He nodded. “So, dating anyone or are you still wrapped up in training for the Olympics?”

  The way he said it was meant to be friendly, but I knew he was being a dick. We had broken up because he said I was always too busy to spend time with him.

  “I’m still training,” I said, ignoring his other question.

  “You going to make it?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “I hope so, but that’s impossible to say for sure. I have a new trainer, and I think he has what it takes to get me there.”

  I left out his name on purpose. Adam knew Tanner. They had met a few times and neither one liked each other. Adam had thought Tanner was a dick, and Tanner referred to Adam as a pissant whenever he’d been talking about my boyfriend at the time. Back then I had been offended, but now I knew Tanner had been right.

  The conversation came to a halt. I looked around the room, trying to find the best way to extricate myself from the situation. Adam and I had nothing in common, and I realized I truly didn’t like him. I didn’t want to be standing her chatting with him like we were old friends.

  “How are classes?” he asked. It was a fail-safe conversation starter.

  I nodded. “Good. You?”

  He rambled on about a professor kicking him out, and I smiled and nodded. I was dying of boredom. I couldn’t believe I used to have sex with this guy. He was an asshole. A shallow asshole who thought way too highly of himself. I continued to smile and nod and make sounds of agreement while my mind drifted to Tanner. Tanner was arrogant and could be an ass but not to me. He knew he was hot, but he didn’t treat people like shit. Adam did.

  “Wait, what?” I said, catching the last part of his sentence. “You posted a picture of her?” I clarified, not believing what I heard.

  He grinned. “Yep. She told everyone I was obsessed with her, wouldn’t quit messaging her and so on. So I posted a few screenshots of her messages to me and the titty picture she sent.”

  “Adam, you’re a dick. Really, that isn’t cool. You know there are laws against that, right?”

  He shrugged. “Like anyone was going to believe that piece of trash anyway.”

  I looked around the room. I had lost Brittany right when I was prepared to give her the signal to rescue me.

  “Can I get you a drink?” he asked.

  “Sure,” I said a little too quickly. Anything to get him away from me. It would buy me a few minutes to come up with a good excuse to leave. We had a meet tomorrow, and I was too dedicated to my team to get wasted the night before a competition. Judging by the levels of intoxication I saw, these guys were going to be an easy victory.

  “Here,” he said, returning with a brownie and a red Solo cup filled with beer. Odd combination.

  I took the cup, looked inside for any signs of a pill dissolving, “Is it drugged, Adam?”

  He rolled his eyes, “Yeah, right. I’ve already had you, Lindsey. If I wanted you again, I wouldn’t need to roofie you.”

  “Ha! Yes, you would, and you know it.”

  I took a drink of the warm beer, deciding it was safe, and took a bite of the brownie to help kill the taste of the awful beer. We stood there talking while I ate and drank the beer. He led me to a couch and told me to have a seat. I did. I wanted to. I sat down and leaned my head back.

  “I’ll get you another beer. Do you want another brownie?” he asked.

  I looked at him, not trusting him, but didn’t say no.

  That was the last thing I remembered. There was nothing but blackness from that moment forward.

  Chapter 13

  Tanner

  “Do you see her?” I asked Brian.

  He was scanning the swimmers milling about at the USC pool. “Nope. She’s probably in the locker room still.”

  I nodded, but something was off. She should be out by the pool, stretching and warming up with the rest of her teammates. It wasn’t like her to be late. When Brian called last night to say he would be coming into town, I’d suggested we go to Lindsey’s meet. He had hesitated at first but then quickly agreed, saying he should or she would be offended. He had yet to get to one since she’d made the college team.

  Lindsey didn’t know I was coming. It had been a little spur of the moment. Sitting home on Friday night, I realized I wanted to see her. I missed her. I did what I could to convince Brian my desire to attend the meet was strictly professional. At least it kind of was.

  “There she is,” Brian said, pointing to the coach who was currently surrounded by several members of the team. Lindsey was front and center. I watched her hands gesture wildly. Something had her worked up.

  Brittany came to stand beside her. She, too, was visibly upset.

  “What the hell is going on?” I mumbled.

  Brian shook his head. “Beats me. Maybe they got in a squabble with the other team? The coach is pointing to the USC team. And now Lindsey and Brittany are looking that way.”

  I watched and waited. The coach said something. I could see anger on his face, and the next moment Lindsey took off, fleeing toward the locker rooms.

  Brian and I both stood and made our way down the bleachers. Something was clearly not right.

  We waited outside the locker room, debating whether we could go in. “I’m not going in there. That will get me banned from every public pool, gym, and high school,” I said when he told me to open the door.

  Brian nodded. “Probably better wait.”

  It wasn’t long before Lindsey kicked open the door. She stopped when she saw us. “What are you two doing here?”

  Tears were running down her face. Her eyes were red, and there were heavy circles under them. Her skin had a sickly pallor.

  “Are you sick?” I asked, suddenly concerned for her health.

  “No,” she said, walking past us and heading for the glass double doors that led outside.

  Brian and I followed her. She flopped down on a bench and wiped her eyes. “I can’t compete.”

  “Why?” we both asked in unison.

  She looked at her lap and mumbled, “I failed a drug test.”

  “What?” I said a little too loud.

  “Dammit, Lindsey, how could you be so careless?” Brian said with irritation.

  I looked at him. He clearly didn’t know his sister as well as I did. I knew there was no way she would use drugs, especially before a meet when she knew there was a good chance she would be tested.

  “What kind of drugs?” I asked softly.

  “Weed,” she muttered.

  Now I knew something was off. There was no way she would smoke a bowl, joint, or suck on a weed lollipop. It wasn’t her style.

  “Pot’s legal,” Brian said, relief evident on his face. “It’s not like you can get a ticket or go to jail for it.”

  She looked up. “I don’t care about a ticket!” she wailed. “I can’t compete. I may get kicked off
the team. And if this goes on my record, I’m automatically disqualified from competing in the Olympics!”

  Brian stepped back as if he had been slapped. “No way.”

  I looked at him, nodding my head. “She’s right.”

  Brian squatted down, getting at eye level with Lindsey. “Why would you smoke pot, Lindsey? That isn’t like you.”

  I watched a myriad of emotions cross her face and took a step back. She looked like she was about to beat the shit out of Brian, and I didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

  “I didn’t! Are you fucking kidding me, Brian? Do you actually think I would smoke weed, especially the day before my meet? Fuck you. Why are you here anyway?” she shouted, her face flush with anger.

  I stepped closer, put a hand on her shoulder. “Relax. I don’t think he meant it like that. We’ve all smoked a little here and there.”

  Brian was nodding. “Sorry, sis. I wasn’t trying to say anything. I thought maybe it was one of those cries for help or you wanted off the team. You’ve been competing your whole life. I figured you were tired of it and looking for a way out.”

  “You’re an idiot,” she said, but not in a hateful way. “I don’t want to quit. I haven’t reached my goal yet. I think I was drugged.”