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One morning, as we’re going over plans for the indoor pool, Bryce shocks me by randomly agreeing to add a solid wall of windows. I feel like I won a battle by default. It’s not the main wall, but it is the one at the end of the pool. Liam’s designs already call for quite a few windows, but still, it’s a big ask, and I’m stunned when Bryce agrees.

He only let me show him one reference photo and I had ten ready.

I eye him warily. “That was way too easy. Did Josie or Mia tell you I was going to talk to you about this?”

I’d brought it up at dinner the other night, explaining how I still think we need more natural light. They both agreed and then proceeded to let me show them all ten of my reference photos before insisting on talking to Bryce again. If I can’t have one huge wall of windows, why not compromise for a smaller one?

He shook his head. “No, I think it’s a great solution. It’s not that I hated the idea of the windows on the west wall; I just worried about the sun. You have a great eye for design, Kat.”

I want to take the compliment and the win, but I know better than that. While I don’t think he’s lying to me, there’s something more to it than that. “You want something, Bryce Clark. What is it?”

“Nothing!” he stresses, holding his hands up in defense.

Unconvinced, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not buying it. What do you want?”

He holds my gaze for two seconds before he folds. “All right, fine. Don’t look so smug.”

I try and fail to wipe the smirk off my face. “Okay, out with it.”

“Do you have anything going on this weekend?” he asks. “From Thursday through Sunday afternoon.”

Bryce has never once asked me something like that. “Um, no.” I frown. “Not that I know of. Why?”

“Great!” He claps his hands together like he’s forming some sort of evil plan and, I must admit, I’m a little afraid. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed him so hard. “That means you can come with us to the meet!”

“Meet?” My eyes are wide in surprise. “What meet? And where?”

“Josie, Mia, and I are all going up to Greensboro this weekend. There’s a pro meet and Carter’s competing, so we thought we’d go support him.”

I’m still not sure how I fit into this whole plan, but my heartrate quickens at the idea of being in the same city as Carter. Am I ready for that? Either this man will live up to the crazy fantasy I’ve created, and we’ll have an even bigger problem than we already have. Or he won’t and things will go on like normal. Either way, I’ll have to face him, eventually.

And where does this fantasy I’ve built up leave me with my current relationship? I’m not cheating, not even emotionally, but it feels like I’m doing something wrong. If Carter does live up to that fantasy, and tis becomes something more real and harder to ignore, where do I go then?

“We’ll head out on Thursday afternoon,” Bryce continues, “and come back on Sunday afternoon. We figured you and Mia could bunk together. Does that work for you?”

“Sure.” I nod along with the plans. “I’m not sure why you want me there, though.”

“I think it’d be a great opportunity to see what a functioning natatorium looks like.” He makes a good point, and I had been the one telling him that I was interested in learning more about the sport. “You can see what works and what doesn’t work—ask us questions if you have them. Plus, you’ve been working here for a month and a half. Don’t you think it’s about time you meet Carter?”

If only he knew that was the part I was less unsure about than anything else.

“Does he know I’m coming?” I ask, not wanting to run the risk of Bryce somehow clueing in on what I’m thinking. “I don’t want to catch him off guard. A swim meet is technically his place of work.”

“I’ll let him know,” Bryce assures me, like it’s no big deal. Which, to him, it’s not. To me, I feel like I’m about to meet some mystical prince in a storybook. Isn’t there some saying about not meeting your heroes because they never live up to your expectations? Is it true with men? “He’ll be excited to meet you. So, what do you say? Are you in?”

“Sure.” I grin because there’s really no reason to say no. “Sounds like fun.”

“Welcometoyourfirstswim meet!” Josie’s grinning at me, her arms spread wide before her like she’s showing me the whole world.

But all that’s in front of us is a pool. Granted, it’s a packed pool, but still just a pool. I try to take in all the chaos happening in the water, the different voices fighting to be heard over the noise, and wonder how this isn’t making anyone else anxious. Coaches are pacing the deck, swimmers are packed into the lanes like sardines, and there’s so much whistling.

Then again, this is their world, so I’m sure they’re used to it. I’m more out of my element than ever before.

“I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to be looking at,” I finally admit.

Josie, Bryce, and Mia all have an ease about them that’s different from anything I’ve ever seen before. They’re in control here; they know what to do, who to speak to, and what’s expected of them. Their confidence should be reassuring, but it’s making my uncertainty worse.

“This isn’t supposed to be a fun weekend away.” Bryce is all business, as he turns his attention to me. “This is an opportunity for you to see a building like ours in use. The way we want it utilized. Figure out what’s working and what’s not. Maybe talk to some swimmers.”