"Oh my God," she says, breathing hard. "I don't think I've ever swam that fast."
"Me either," I say, laughing while trying to catch my breath. "I thought for sure you were going to beat me. I can't believe I won."
"I demand a rematch." She rings the water from her hair. "But not today." She takes a deep breath. "I still can't catch my breath."
"When's the last time you swam?"
"Last week. My parents have a pool. I swim all the time."
Just now, I realized she doesn't have an accent. TJ said she's from Italy, but that can't be right.
"Where are you from?" I ask.
"Dallas. One of my friends moved here a few years ago and I never get to see her, so I decided to move here for the summer before starting grad school. I didn't want to live with my parents all summer. They're great. I just don't want to live with them."
"I get it. I still live with my mom, but not by choice. I just don't make enough to move out. So you've never lived in Italy? TJ made it sound like you're from there."
"My parents are, not me. We still have family there so we go back all the time, but I've never lived there."
"Girls, stop talking and start swimming," TJ barks at us.
"We were catching our breath," I tell him.
"You don't start swimming, I'll be adding more time. Now get moving!" He walks off.
"Maybe we can talk later," Giada says. "Maybe grab coffee sometime?"
"Yeah, definitely."
We do our laps, not racing this time, but I do want to race her again. That was fun. She's really nice, and really pretty. And it's clear she wants Brad. But does he want her?
Why do I even care? Brad is Nate's cousin. I shouldn't even be considering a relationship with him. So maybe it'd be better if he dated someone else.
Chapter Eight
Nate
"Hey, about tonight," Brad says, meeting up with me in the kitchen. "I can go pick up Riley if you need more time. I'll just bring her here and we'll leave whenever you're done."
It's Friday morning and I'm getting ready for a phone interview with a company in Denver. I'm not sure about living in Denver, but the job pays well and has good benefits. They're calling me at six tonight, which was the only time they could schedule me. The pool closes at five and I had planned to take Riley out for a nice dinner, but then Brad invited himself to go with us. He's been here a week now and hasn't given Riley and me any time alone. I don't mind that he goes out with us, but all the time is too much.
"About that," I say. "I'd really like it to be just Riley and me tonight."
He was just about to bite into an apple, but stops and sets it on the counter. "Why? What's going on?"
"I um..." I pause to figure out how to say this in a nice way. "It's just that it's been the three of us going out since you got here, and I'd kind of like it to just be Riley and me tonight."
"Oh." He pauses. "You know you could've just told me I was hanging out with you too much. I thought we were all having a good time, but I guess I was wrong."
"It's not that I don't like having you around. You're always the life of the party and that's great, but I'd also like some time with just Riley. She and I always had the summers together, just her and me, and I miss that. Plus, before you got here I told her we wouldn't be spending all our time with you, but so far, that's all we've done."
He leans against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. "Has she complained about that?"
"No, but she's not someone who would. She rarely complains, and if she thinks something makes me happy, she tends to go along with it, for my sake."
"And you think that's what she's doing now. Putting up with me to make you happy."
"I don't know. I haven't asked. Either way, I'd really like some time alone with her. After my interview, I want to take her to a nice dinner and then maybe out for a drink somewhere."
"Sounds like a date," he says.
I don't respond, not sure I want to tell him about my feelings for Riley. I'd rather wait until after I've talked to her.
"It's not a date. I just want to take her out for a nice dinner."
"Without your annoying cousin hanging around." He grins.
"Brad, that's not what I meant. The three of us will still go out. Just not tonight. Why don't you go out with someone else?" I smile. "Like maybe Giada?"
"She asked me out for drinks, but I turned her down."
"Are you serious? What the hell? Every guy in town wants to go out with her, and you turned her down?"
"I don't want to start something with her knowing I'm only here a few months."
"She's not sticking around either, so it's perfect. You date her for the summer and it's over."
"I'm just not feeling it with Giada. She's a nice girl, but not for me."
I look at him like he's crazy.
"What?" he asks. "I'm just not into her, okay?"
"Is there someone else?"
"There's no one else. I just don't feel like dating." He turns and opens the fridge, then closes it. "We're out of eggs again. I'm gonna go to the store. You need anything?"
"No, but before you go, are we good?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't we be?"
"I just don't want you being pissed at me for leaving you out tonight. I think I overheard Kent and Johnny talking about going to a club tonight. Why you don't go with them?"
"Kent and Johnny?" He gives me deadpan stare. "You really think I'd go out with those two?"
I laugh. "I know they're a little strange, but sometimes strange can be fun, especially if you don't have anything else to do."
"Thanks, but I think I'll figure something else out." He walks off, going down to his room.
My mom appears, heading straight to the coffeemaker to fill up her travel mug.
"What are you up to tonight?" she asks.
"I have that interview," I remind her.
"Oh, that's right. Are you ready for it?"
"I think so. I've been doing some research on the company." I wake up my laptop and return to the company's homepage.
She spoons some sugar into her mug. "I hope it goes well, although I'd hate to see you move so far away."
"I need a job, Mom. I can't be picky."
"I know, honey." She comes over and hugs my side. "I need to get to work. Oh, I'm going to dinner with Gayle tonight, but there's leftover lasagna in the fridge."
"I won't be home. I'm going out with Riley."
She walks back to her travel mug and screws on the lid. "What about Brad?"
"He's doing his own thing."
"He didn't want to go with you and Riley?" She turns back to me. "You two aren't fighting, are you?"
"No, not at all."
"Good." She grabs her purse. "Well, I'm off. Good luck with your interview!"
"Thanks, Mom."
I call up Riley at the salon. "Hey, Nate, what's up?"
"Just calling to see if we're still on for tonight."
"Yeah. Meet up at seven?"
"I'm not sure. It depends when my interview ends. Instead of meeting, I'll just come pick you up."
"Okay. Just text me before you guys leave."
"It's just gonna be me. Brad's not coming."
"He's not? Why?"
"I told him I'd like for it to just be you and me tonight."
"You told him he couldn't come?"
"I didn't phrase it that way, but yeah."
"Why would you do that? Are you guys fighting?"
"No. We've been getting along great, but I wanted it to just be us tonight. I thought you'd want that too. Before Brad moved here, you were worried he'd spend all his time with us, and he has. He's been with us every night this week. Tonight I want it to be just us."
"So what's he going to do?"
"I don't know. I suggested he go out with Giada, but—"
"Why do you keep pushing him to go out with Giada?"
"I'm not pushing him. I just thought they might want to do something. Maybe go
to a movie. He said she asked him out for drinks, but he told her no."
"He did? Did he say why?"
"He said he doesn't want to start something with her, knowing he'll be leaving in a few months. Guess that means he wouldn't want to go out with Tara either. I really thought those two would hit it off."
Tara got into town last Sunday, just in time for the pool's opening day on Monday. She asked me if Brad was single and I told her he was, but that he might be asking Giada out. Apparently that's not happening, which means a date with Tara probably won't be happening either.
"You should stop playing matchmaker," Riley says.
"Yeah, I'm clearly not any good at it."
"So what are we doing tonight?"
"I'm taking you for dinner and then maybe drinks or a movie. Dinner is going to be at a nice place so you might want to dress up. And I'm paying so don't worry about how much it costs."
"Is this a special occasion?"
"No."
"Then why are we going to a fancy place for dinner? And why are you paying?"
"Can't I treat my friend to a nice dinner?"
"Um, I guess. Hey, I have to get back to work."
"Yeah. See ya at the pool."
Why is everyone acting like there's something wrong with me wanting to spend time alone with Riley? Before Brad arrived, it was always just Riley and me, so what's the big deal?
If it were any other night I'd let Brad tag along, but tonight isn't just any night. Tonight is the night I'm telling Riley how I feel. I'm going to put it all out there and hope the feelings are mutual. I still don't feel ready to have this discussion, but I can't keep putting it off. I have a lot of big decisions to make in the months ahead, and I want Riley to be part of those decisions.
In the afternoon at the pool, I watch as Riley helps a little girl get her flip flops on. She's so good with kids. She'll make a great mom someday.
"Eyes on the pool," Tara says, looking up at me in the lifeguard chair.
"What do you mean? My eyes ARE on the pool."
"They're on Riley. And if you keep looking at her, TJ's going to pull you off duty."
"Did he tell you that?" I ask, keeping my eyes on my assigned area. I didn't realize they'd wandered to Riley until Tara pointed it out. I can't be doing that. Glancing away for just a few seconds could put a kid in danger.
"He said anyone who isn't watching their area will get an automatic warning. If you get more than one during a shift, you're out."
"I didn't realize I was doing it."
"It happens to all of us, especially if you're tired. Now hurry up and get down. You're supposed to be on break."
I climb down from the chair. "How was your date last night?"
"It sucked."
My eyes remain on my area as she takes my place on the chair. "So no second date?"
"Hell no. I hope I never see him again. You sure your cousin wouldn't be open to going out? Even for just a drink?"
"I don't know. Ask him and see what he says."
"Why is it so hard to get a date in this town?" She blows her whistle. "Hey! No shoving!" she yells at the boys just below her chair.
When I get to the tiny break room that's just behind the check-in desk, I see Brad downing a bottle of iced tea.
"Thirsty?" I ask with a laugh.
He tosses out the bottle. "Just trying to get some fluids in me before going back out."
"Hey, about this morning. It's not that I don't like hanging out with you. It's just tonight—"
"Yeah. Got it." He pats me on the shoulder. "You don't have to explain. We're good. And actually, I took Giada up on her offer. We're going to a new restaurant downtown tonight."
"Oh, yeah? That's great!"
"What's great?" Riley asks, walking into the break room. God, she's gorgeous. The red, one-piece suit they make the girls wear is basic and plain but it looks amazing on Riley with her long legs, curvy hips, and those ample breasts more than filling up the cups. It's no wonder I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes on the pool.
"Looking for something?" Brad asks her.
"A bandage. One of the little girls cut her finger." She looks through the first aid box. "These are all too big."
"Use these." Brad tosses her a box of bandages with cartoons printed on them.
"Where'd you get these?" she asks.
"I bought them when I was at the store this morning. They fit the little kids better than the ones in the first aid box, and they're more fun than the plain bandages."
"TJ will reimburse you for those," I say.
"It was nothing. A few bucks." He stands up. "I need to head back out there."
"What were you guys talking about when I came in?" Riley asks, pulling a bandage from the box.
"Brad's going out with Giada tonight," I say.
Riley looks at Brad and he looks at her. Neither of them says anything.
"What's going on?" I ask. "Am I missing something?"
"No," Riley says. "I'm just surprised. I thought he turned her down."
"I did," he says. "But we're both free tonight, so what the hell?"
"I need to go." She hurries past him out of the break room.
"Was it just me or was she acting strange?" I ask Brad.
"She seemed fine to me. I have to get out there before TJ yells at me."
"Yeah. See ya."
When my shift ends at five, I race home to look over my notes for the interview. My phone rings right at six and I find it's not just one person doing the interview but a whole team. They fire questions at me for a half hour, then tell me more about the job and the company. By the time it's over, my nerves are frazzled and I need a shower from sweating so much.
"Hey," I say to Riley when she picks up. "That interview was freaking intense. I was sweating just trying to keep up. I need to shower and then I'll head over."
"How'd it go? You think you'll get the job?"
"I have no idea. They said they'd follow up with me in a couple weeks. They have a lot of people to interview."
"What type of questions did they ask?"
"I'll tell you later. I need to go clean up. I'll be there in a half hour. Sound good?"
"Yeah. Bye."
I take a shower but know I'll be sweating again in an hour or two when I tell Riley how I feel about her. I'm so nervous. I don't know when to do it. Do I wait until after dinner? Tell her before? Or should I wait until later tonight?
When I get to Riley's, Charlene greets me at the door wearing a short silky robe that's open enough that I can see her lacy red bra.
"Hey there, sugar." She gives me a hug, her nearly naked breasts pressing against my chest. I'm used to it. When I first met Charlene, I couldn't believe how she dressed when I came over, but now I think nothing of it. She'll even walk around topless when I'm here.
"Hey, Charlene." I walk past her into the trailer. "How've you been?"
"Real good." She smiles with her glossy red lips. "Got me a nice man. Been making good tips at the salon." She points to her boobs. "And these still aren't sagging." She laughs.
"Speaking of the salon, someone said it might close. Is that just a rumor?"
"Renee keeps saying she's going to sell, but it's never gonna happen. Who's gonna buy it? Nobody around here has that kind of money."
Riley appears. "Renee's selling the salon?"
"Riley, you know that girl is all talk," Charlene says. "Remember that time she kept telling us she was gonna run off to New York and be in those plays?"
"Yeah, but this is different. This could actually happen, and if it did, where would we work?"
Charlene goes over to her. "Honey, don't you worry about things that ain't ever gonna happen. You just go out with your little boyfriend and have a good night. Where you two going, anyway?" She glances back at me. "You sure seem dressed up for a night out. You two aren't running off and getting married, are you?"
"Mom, of course not." Riley rolls her eyes. "And Nate's not my boyfriend."
But I could be by the end of tonight. Or maybe not, given the way Riley said that just now, like the very idea of it is absurd. Now I'm getting worried. What if she rejects me? What if she says I'm crazy for even suggesting we become more than friends?
I'm telling her anyway. I can't keep this a secret any longer. I have to tell her how I feel and I have to tell her tonight.
"We're going to the Italian place downtown," I say to Charlene.
"That place is expensive." She looks at Riley. "You got money for that?"
"I'm paying for it," I say. "Riley, we should get going. I have a reservation."
She walks over to me, looking beautiful in a short, light blue dress and black heels, her hair down and straight.
"Have fun, you two!" Charlene says as we leave.
We get to the car and I hold the door open for Riley.
"Thanks," she says, seeming surprised since it's not something I normally do.
I get in on the other side and start up the car.
"I told her to put clothes on but she wouldn't do it," Riley says, referring to her mom.
"She was wearing more than she usually does."
"Dave's going to be there in a few minutes, so good timing for picking me up." She adjusts her seatbelt. "You really think the salon will close?"
"I have no idea. I've just heard people saying it might be sold. If it's sold, I'm sure the new owner will let you keep your job."
"It's not me I'm worried about. It's my mom. Hairstyling is the only job she's good at. It's all she's ever done. And she makes decent money. If she loses that job, I'm going to be stuck supporting her."
"You kind of already do."
"I help her with expenses. I don't pay for everything."
"I doubt she'd lose her job. She has people who've been going to her for years. The salon would lose customers if they let her go."
"Yeah, I guess."
Turning out of the trailer park, I imagine Riley no longer living there and instead, living with me. I'd let her pick the place. Whatever she wanted. If I get this job in Denver, I could afford a really nice place, something twice the size of that trailer.
"You ever think of trying the stylist thing again?" I ask.
Better If He Goes (Always You Book 1) Page 8
