Page 102 of All of You

I snort. “Actually,” I drawl, “it’s accurate. I was watching you dive and got lazy. I definitely didn’t sprint when I was supposed to. You’re a bad influence.”

The truck slows as Langdon comprehends what I’ve just said. Gradually picking up speed again as it sinks in. “You were watching me?”

I turn to face him. “Yeah. And it’s distracting, You’re all naked and glistening up on the board. Maybe dial it down so I can swim tomorrow,” I joke.

Langdon laughs. “For you—I’ll cut the shit so you can practice.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” I playfully slap him on the shoulder.

“Are we still on for dinner before the meet Friday?”

“Yes, but are you sure you wanna do this?”

“Absolutely,” he says.

***

Mom pushes some hair away from my face. “Why are you so antsy?”

“It’s a team dinner and Langdon wants to go together.”

“Yeah, you’re both on the team. What’s weird about that?” she asks.

“His friends on the team don’t really like me.”

Mom’s eyes widen in mock surprise. “What? What’s not to like?” she asks.

I roll my eyes at her and shoot Gramps a pleading look.Please help me.He shrugs with a lopsided grin from the couch.

“They’ve been his best friends since like, elementary school, and they’re all popular and run the school. Hailie included. And for some reason, him dating me, hell even him just being a friend, pisses them off.”

“It sounds like they’re jealous of you. You threaten them,” she says.

“Yeah right. I’m not cool enough for their group. Letting me in for Langdon’s sake basically throws the scales of coolness off balance. That’s what they’re bothered by. But they’re his friends and I feel bad that he keeps choosing me over them. He shouldn’t have to choose.”

Mom squeezes my shoulder. “If they were really his friends, they wouldn’t make him choose. Langdon’s a big boy, he canmake his own decisions. If he chooses you, you need to accept that it’s what he wants.”

I grab my duffle bag, double-check that my towel, bathing cap and team suit are in it and notice Langdon’s headlights bouncing through the trees toward the house. “Yeah. Maybe,” I say. “You’re coming to the meet, right? And Gramps?”

Gramps grunts his yes from the living room. Mom smiles and tells me she wouldn’t miss it.

Outside Langdon honks. It’s raining. Typical cruddy post-Thanksgiving weather. All dreary and gray, gearing up for cloud-covered skies and snow and bitter temperatures. I wave on my way out and scramble to Langdon’s truck with the hood of my sweatshirt pulled tight around my face. I slam the door behind me and toss my duffle in the back.

“Hey.”

Langdon leans across the armrest and kisses me. “Hey.” He tugs on my hoodie strings making it cinch tighter around my face before laughing. “It’s a good look for you.”

“What?” I balk, “just my eyes?” I chuckle. “It’s raining. I didn’t want to get soaked and cold.”

“I like your eyes. A lot,” he says as I loosen my hood and push it off.

I glance at him coyly, I hope. “I’d like to be somewhere tropical right about now.”

Langdon laughs. “Just wait till January. This is still relatively warm and dry. January, February you’ll be depressed and tired and wishing the days away until summer is back.”

“Wow. That’s dramatic. You okay?” I ask playfully.

He smirks at me as we turn onto the main road. “Just wait.You’ll see.”