Page 70 of The Love Interest

A horn blares, and a bunch of muscular girls in one-piece bathing suits step up to the starting blocks. A few of them swing their arms, others fiddle with their goggles or swimming caps.

“He’s already got a good time,” says Natalie, more to herself than to anyone else. “He doesn’t need to win. He just needs a good time.”

Juliet places her hand on Natalie’s thigh. “He will win, though, right?”

“I hope so.”

A horn blares and the girls dive into the pool. They slide into the water making only tiny ripples. I scratch my chest, remembering how red it was after I dived in during the school’s swim meet.

“My boyfriend is out there,” says Natalie. “He could be a star by the end of the night. He’ll be on TV and everything. It feels like he’s doing what he was made to do, you know? Living his destiny.”

“Lucky him,” I say.

“You’ll get there one day, Caden. I can tell. You have a destiny.”

I look out at all the faces in the crowd. How many of them have accepted that they can’t have everything they want? Not many, I’d guess. “The problem is that everyone feels that way.”

Natalie purses her lips.

Juliet is staring out at the pool. “It’s so weird,” she says. “This whole world exists and I wouldn’t even know about it if I didn’t know Trevor. It’s like the world is full of all these little worlds that only matter to some people. It’s kinda nice, but kinda exclusive in a bad way. I’m not sure how much I like it.”

“You’re getting a bit existential, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, watching one of my oldest friends live his biggest, craziest dream is having that effect on me. People always forget but, of our group, Trev and I have known each other the longest. You and Natalie came later. Trev’s been the most stable person in my whole life. And I’m so damn proud of him.” She leans closer to me, her voice almost a shout so that I can hear it over the sound of the crowd. “Hey, I want to tell you about something.”

“What is it?”

“So, Dyl is having a party at his place to celebrate the end of the semester. And he doesn’t want you to come.”

“I can’t say I’m shocked.”

“Well, screw him. I’m inviting you. I want you to come to the party with me.”

The speed of my heartbeat doubles and my stomach clenches.

“Really?”

The lights of the stadium make her dark hair shine. Her eyes don’t leave mine. “Really. I want you there with me.”

Is three dates enough for the LIC? Are they preparing the Stalker right now?

“Then I’ll be there.”

After about two hours, Natalie leaps to her feet and screams. “Oh my God!” she says, looking at Juliet. “He’s there! He’s there!”

She points down at the pool. A line of eerily similar-looking guys walk out to the pool. Trevor is third from the right, and he’s wearing a silver warm-up suit. He unzips the jacket, then takes it off and puts it in his bag.

I count the competitors. There are eight of them. Trevor is jumping up and down, his arms slack against his body.

“This is it,” whispers Natalie. “Everything has led to this.”

A horn blares, and the boys step onto the blocks. Trev crouches.

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