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I swear, every time I talk to Bryce, I realize the world of professional swimming is far more complicated than I’d ever guessed it to be.

Mia and I are lingering off to the side of the line while Josie grabs enough heat sheets for all of us. Mia’s looking down at her phone and asking me questions about some of the feedback I already have from social media posts. I have a meeting set up with Lucy and her husband after we get back from the meet next week to go over the details and sign the contracts to start on their garage apartment. The pieces are falling together, which means I can sit back and enjoy this part.

I don’t have to be anything more than the supportive girlfriend here to cheer on her boyfriend.

“Should we go grab some seats?” Josie’s beaming as she comes bounding back to us, heat sheets in hands. “Bryce said he’ll come find us.”

Just like in Greensboro, Bryce disappeared almost as soon as we walked through the door. I’m not exactly sure where he goes, but I’m sure he’s got more people to say hello to than we do.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Mia nods, already leading the group toward the stands.

Once we’re settled in our seats, a couple of people I’ve never met, or even heard of, come up to say hi to Josie and Mia. They do their best to pull me into the conversation, but it’s always clear that I’m the odd one out. The only thing linking us all together is my relationship with Carter. It’s not a bad thing, and I don’t feel left out, but it is a little weird to be on the outskirts.

This is the first time I’ve been at an outdoor pool, so I look around, taking note of things to bring up to the guys later and things I’m grateful we didn’t do. My eyes scan over where the coaches and officials are standing, barely taking in the faces of the people, but focusing on the venue.

And then my eyes land on a familiar figure with short, dark red hair, and my blood runs cold. My elbow is digging into Mia’s side before I can even stop it.

“Ow,” she hisses, pushing it away from her. “What the hell, Kat?”

“Will’s here.” And he’s staring across the pool at me.

There’s a small commotion as they both gasp and try to locate him in the crowd. I look away, hating the way he’s glaring at me, scrutinizing everything about me. A million questions run through my head. If it weren’t for the people beside me, I would want to cower and hide, but my main concern right now is Carter. I’ve already had the chance to say everything I need to say to him. There’s nothing left. Carter, though, hasn’t faced him since 2016 and I know there’s more he’d like to say to him.

Knowing Will, he’ll find a time and place to interrogate him.

“I’m texting Carter,” I declare, reaching into my bag to grab my phone.

“He probably won’t even look at it,” Mia argues. “Text Bryce; I’m sure he’s around Carter.”

Nodding, I pull up my thread with Bryce and type out the message. “What is he even doing here? I thought he had nothing to do with the sport anymore?”

“He’s an alum,” Josie says. “More than likely they invited him back to present a medal or be the face of the sport for the college.”

“But why did he say yes this time?” If what Josie says is true, I’m sure this isn’t the first time he’s been asked, but he’s never accepted before. For a man who claims he hates everything about this sport, he’s making a public appearance that suggests otherwise. Unless . . .

“Wait.” I gape, looking between Mia and Josie. “You don’t think he’s doing this because he knows Carter’s going to be here?”

“I think that’s exactly what’s going on.” Mia frowns at me. “If there’s one thing we all know about Will, it’s that he likes to have the last word. In his mind, Carter got the last word because he got you. Which is a disgusting way to look at things, and one Carter doesn’t agree with, but it’s right on brand for Will Jacobson.”

I feel like I’ve been sucker punched in my gut. “He’s going to target Carter instead of me.”

Josie’s fingers are flying across the phone as she relays all this information to Bryce. Her phone is chiming quietly almost just as quickly, which means he’s replying. It only helps me relax a teeny, tiny bit.

“He’s probably embarrassed by how things ended.” Mia’s glaring at him across the pool. When I glance back toward him, I’m not at all surprised to see him glaring back like an immature child. That’s Mia, though. Meet her with a challenge means she’ll rise to it and make you regret it. “He’s a fragile, sexist pig who doesn’t like being told off by a woman. My instinct tells me he’ll aim for another target, especially if it’s one he thinks he can already hit.”

“Whatever happens, we need to keep Carter away from him,” I decide.

Mia hums in confirmation, but doesn’t break eye contact with Will. “Come on, asshole. Give up.”

“You know you could just look away?” Josie suggests from her other side. “Be the bigger person.”

“No way,” Mia snaps. “If he gets to be a petty asshole, then I do, too. What’s Bryce saying?”

Josie looks back down at her phone. “He’s with Carter now and has already told him. They’re asking some of the coaches to figure out what he’s doing here. No one seems to know, which is a little concerning. Carter’s not letting it get to him, though. He’s determined to focus on the race and leave the past where it belongs.”

Across the pool, Will is forced to break the staring contest with Mia when someone approaches him. Mia lets out a triumphant cheer that earns a few strange looks from the people surrounding us. She flips her dark hair over her shoulder and pays them no mind.

After all, we have bigger things to worry about.