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It is too late for that. “Yeah, I know. She told me.”

He looks at me with such sympathy; I have to look away. “I know you guys talk, but I didn’t know if you knew. From what she’s told me and what she’s told Josie, he’s a bit of an asshole.”

I know nothing about her relationship, but I’m instantly inclined to believe she deserves better. If Josie thinks this guy is a jerk, then he most certainly is.

“Apparently, she is considering dumping him.” I feel like I’ve dropped into an alternate universe or something. I never thought I’d be standing on a pool deck gossiping with Bryce about someone else’s love life. “If they do, you should talk to her about whatever this is.”

That snaps me back to the present. “I’m not talking to her about this weird crush I have on her. I don’t even know her. Besides, I thought you didn’t like her.”

“No,” he corrects with the shake of his head. “I never said I didn’t like her. I said I found her annoying.”

“That’s not much better, dude.”

“I have a theory,” he argues. This ought to be good. “If your best friend finds them annoying, maybe they’ll end up being the one. Look at me and Josie!”

My brows arch as I fight back a laugh. “Have you run this theory by either Josie or Mia? Because I think they would tell you that you’re an idiot. Besides, it doesn’t matter, she has a boyfriend and I have an Olympic team to make. I’m not going to be a rebound.”

Bryce sobers up and part of me feels guilty about saying something like that. Although the situations are completely different, I know it hits a nerve with him.

“Don’t apologize,” he insists before I can even say anything. “I get it. God, you know how much I get it, but don’t make the same mistakes I made. I know there’s a lot you still want to accomplish, but you’ve got a lot of life to live on the other side of the Olympics. And that includes things you don’t get second chances at.”

I swallow against the lump forming in my throat. I don’t know how to tell him it’s the things on the other side that have me scared shitless.

“Abrams! Get in the water!”

Both Bryce and I turn at the sound of my coach calling my name. He’s standing at the edge of the pool, hands on his hips, looking less than impressed.

“You better go, man,” Bryce warns. “I remember being on the other side of that look when he was still at Arizona.”

Laughing, I nod.

“Just think about what I said!” he calls as I turn to head into the water.

I wave him off over my shoulder, already pulling my cap and goggles from where they were tucked into the edge of my brief at my hip. Coach raises a brow as I approach, ready to ask me if I’m good, but I just shake my head, pulling the cap on.

I can’t think about this right now. I have a meet to focus on.

Inthepast,I’vebeen distracted at meets by talking to my friends or signing autographs. There have been plenty of times I’ve used the excuse of not being able to avoid it or get away from people. It turns out, when I have the right motivation, it’s easy to avoid people. I manage to avoid them until the end of finals, when Bryce basically ambushes me from behind, grabbing my backpack, and hauling me backward.

“What the hell, dude?” I question, turning to find him glaring at me. “I’m trying to get back to the hotel. I’m beat.”

He scowls at me. “No, you’re not. You’re not tired. I’ve known you for twenty-five years; I know when you’re tired. You’re coming to dinner with us.”

I scowl back like the petty asshole I am. “Why?”

“Because you need to eat.” He levels me with a glare, knowing full well he’s got a point. “And because my girlfriend is pouting—yes, pouting, because you haven’t said hello to her yet. She’s convinced she’s done something wrong because why else would Carter ever wound her this way?”

My eyes widen in realization of how my behavior probably came off to Josie and Mia. Kat wouldn’t know any difference, figuring this is normal for me during a meet like this, but the two of them would and it'd hurt them. Despite only being a couple of hours from Columbia, Josie and I haven’t seen much of each other. Building a strong relationship with Josie was the one thing I promised myself I’d fix when she and Bryce got back together, and I would not shut her out again.

“The girls already went ahead to put our name in at the restaurant across the street; it’s about a twenty-minute wait,” Bryce continues, glancing around here. “Are you done here?”

Swallowing, I nod. He releases my backpack and starts leading me out of the natatorium. “You know I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, right? I was going to say hi. I just—”

“I know,” he replies, barely looking at me. “It’s just not like you to act like this over someone.”

“What do you mean? I wasn’t avoiding anyone! I was busy.”

He glares at me again, and I deflate. It’s hard lying to someone who knows you like the back of his hand. If I never believed Bryce when he told me he was over Josie, why should he believe me when I give him a pathetic excuse like this?