Page 10

“I don’t know what I did, dude, but she really hates me.”

Bryce is staring at me with wide eyes from the other side of the pool, both of us hanging on the lane lines in a way we’d yell at the kids for.

Both of us are catching our breath, though it’s coming a bit easier for Bryce than me.

He’s been determined to get me back in the pool, though, even for workouts.

“Yeah, I would say so,” he agrees. “Mia can be scary and mean, but she’s not hurtful. Those were shots aimed to kill. There’s nothing you can tell me?” I hesitate for a second too long. “Ha! I knew it. Out with it.”

“No way. I’m not telling you something she doesn’t want known.

Yes, there was an incident between us, but I really didn’t think it’d result in this.

In fact, it didn’t. We were fine for that first day in Indianapolis and the whole year before that we were talking.

Then, during the meet, everything just flipped on me. ”

“Yeah, I remember you guys were texting all during the Olympics. I’m not sure Josie knows that.”

“Probably for the best, considering you didn’t text her once,” I counter .

He glares at me. “Hey, I fixed things with my half of Adair Swimming Blog . This is about helping you fix things with your half.”

“I don’t think there’s anything to fix there, dude.” I reach up, tugging on the edge of my cap. “Did they ask you to name the club after them?”

“Absolutely not. In fact, they both cried. Mia will deny it, but there were tears. Carter and I owe them a lot. You do, too. They were always rooting for us. The blog didn’t work out for them, so what?

It’s still the reason we all met, and that’s what we wanted to carry into the future. Now you’re part of that.”

Only for as long as they need me. Then I’ll be moving on to whatever comes next. “Right, that’s cool.”

“You know you have a place here for as long as you want, right?” Bryce asks. “This isn’t a timed commitment. You’re not counting down to your last days.”

Except I don’t stay.

“Yeah, of course.” My gaze drifts to the clock, desperate for a distraction. “Let’s finish this workout before the kids get here.”

I don’t give Bryce the chance to respond before I duck below the water and push off the wall. There’s a slight twinge in my leg, but I ignore it. Instead, I focus on a much slower freestyle than I’m used to and let the water calm my racing nerves.

Lezak prances happily at my feet as I lead him into the main lobby of the pool.

Bryce had initially been skeptical about what it’d mean to have a puppy around, but I’d managed to assure him it would be fine.

Puppies, I’ve learned, help relax the swimmers (and the coaches).

Lezak also takes to training easily, so I trust him to behave.

“Oh, screw you, Ronan O’Brien.” I blink at Josie as she comes around the desk, probably to meet her new friend. “It’s really not fair to us mortals, you know.”

“No.” I laugh. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She motions to Lezak for permission to pet him, then she squats when I nod in approval. “It’s really rude of you to be that pretty and have an adorable bundle of gold fluff as a pet.”

Unable to hide my amusement at Josie’s comments, I watch her sink the rest of the way to the floor. Within seconds, she has Lezak trying to catch her hand, giggling whenever he manages to change tactics and pounce on her.

“We’re not getting a dog right now!” A new voice joins us, but I don’t have to turn to know it’s Bryce. Josie pouts up at him when he appears next to me. “Josie, no. We both have way too much going on right now.”

Which doesn’t make a lot of sense, if you ask me.

They could bring a dog to work with them, just like I’m doing.

It’s not like Josie’s on a massive book tour, yet, or like Bryce is still training.

This could be a great time to get a dog.

They could socialize him or her while Lezak and I are still here.

Then they’d have a new Adair Swim Club mascot once I eventually move on.

“I hate you for bringing him here.”

I gape at Bryce, shocked at his bluntness. “You were the one who told me to bring him here!”

“But I failed to think about how utterly enamored my girlfriend gets with any puppy she meets,” he grumbles.

“Don’t listen to him, Ronan!” Josie cuddles the dog closer, pressing kisses to his nose. “He’s worried another man will take his place in my heart.”

“She means the dog,” Bryce declares before I can turn a teasing smirk his way. “Not you. ”

“It sounds more like you’re trying to convince yourself, not me,” I joke.

The door opens behind us, causing Lezak to perk up and swing his head toward the sound.

There’s a small gasp and then Lezak is off like a shot, bounding straight out of Josie’s arms and toward whoever had just entered.

I turn in time to see Mia Sheridan drop her bags and practically melt onto the floor to meet him.

For the blink of an eye, I see the woman who captured my attention all those years ago. Still a total badass who could take anything the world threw at her, but willing to let those hard edges soften for the right thing.

Everything about her shines brighter than before, though. Her laughs bounce off the surrounding walls before piercing me straight through my heart. A sharp reminder of how much I still miss what never was.

“Hi, baby,” she coos at my dog, flopping his silky ears between her fingers. “And who is your human?” Her gaze lifts to her best friend. “I can’t believe you let Bryce get you a puppy without me!”

“No!” Josie protests. “He still says I can’t have one.”

“Then who’s…” She trails off when her eyes meet mine.

Shakily, I squat down, ignoring the slight twinge in my hip. I reach out to pet Lezak’s head, and his tail thumps happily against her stomach. “This is Lezak. He’s four months old.”

I watch the brightness in her eyes dampen, a cloudiness settling in. In a move that’s probably instinctive, she holds the puppy a little closer. “You named a dog after Jason Lezak?”

“When he gets the zoomies, you’ll understand why.” I’m trying to lighten the mood, but it doesn’t seem to work. The iciness is settling around us once again, but god, do I miss the warmth. “Come on, Mia, you can’t deny that you love it. ”

She turns her focus back to the dog. “Don’t worry, Lezak. I won’t hold your asshole human against you.” My gaze snaps back up to Bryce, who’s frowning down at us. “You can’t help who adopted you and I’m sure he loves you.”

“Of course I do,” I snap. I may not be perfect at relationships, but I’ve always loved dogs and I’m a damn good dog dad. I refuse to let her think any differently. “Think what you want about me, Mia, but don’t be that level of petty.”

It’s obvious I caught her off guard by calling her out. She loosens her hold on the puppy enough for him to wriggle from her grasp and immediately begin zooming between her and Josie.

Mia takes that moment to get back to her feet, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she gathers her bags, gives my happy puppy another pet, and heads toward the office she shares with Josie.

Lezak sits at Josie’s feet, looking between us, and the way his new friend just went, clearly conflicted on whether he should stay or go.

The rest of us look at one another, the awkward tension in the air palpable.

How lucky the little golden fluff is to not worry about petty things like someone not liking you when you’re pretty sure they could end up meaning everything to you.

Josie breaks the silence first. “Okay, someone has got to tell me what happened.”

I scowl at her. “If I knew, I would tell you. Or at least try to fix it myself.”

She stands, dusting her leggings off. “Ronan, Mia only holds grudges like that when she’s angry or been hurt. You have to know something .”

“I haven’t done a single thing that would warrant a grudge that has lasted almost eight years.”

“That’s exactly what someone would say if they messed up bad enough to warrant an eight-year grudge,” Bryce protests .

Josie nods in agreement, eyes wide like her boyfriend made some profound point or solved a mystery. I kind of hate how in love the two of them are.

“That is the stupidest thing you’ve ever said to me, Clark,” I snap. “And I knew you when you were a teenager.”

And, god, did he say some stupid shit back then.

I bend down, quickly scooping Lezak into my arms before heading out to the pool, decidedly avoiding the office area. Mia Sheridan is the last person I want to be around right now. Besides, I have a dog who needs to get used to walking the pool deck with me if he’s going to help motivate these kids.