Swim Coach: A Novel

by Sam E. Kraemer

  He opened them and walked back to the pool, slipping into it and handing me one. "Look, I'm sorry about how things went tonight. I didn't think they'd…no, I didn't think. I like this a lot better anyway," he told me as he sidled up next to me and kissed me.

  God, he kissed me. He told me he loved me, and he kissed me, just like any other boy would kiss any other boy. It made me very happy. In that perfect moment, I was just a boy in love with a boy. I wasn't a damaged person. I wasn't a freak. He didn't treat me that way, and I could almost believe it.

  I took a step back and looked into his eyes. I needed to make something perfectly clear to him because I loved him. "Babe, if you have opportunities that come up regarding career choices or a future job, you need to think about you. You need to decide what's best for you."

  He took a swig of his beer and placed it on the pool deck. "You're very sexy when you're being self-sacrificing, but Colton, my love, you need to understand something. I believe I've found the one I'm supposed to be with so I won't be making any big decisions without consulting you. I don't give a flying fuck if you take ten years to get out of college. I'll work as a short order cook if I run out of job options and you're still in school. Hell, Chip can get me a job at Roxy's.

  "You can worry and stew and freak out all you want, and that's fine, but I'm not going anywhere without you. You might as well get used to the idea," he told me, confidently.

  I, however, was barely able to breathe. I didn't expect it at all, and I needed to mull it through. Maybe talk to my shrink? Fuck, I wasn’t sure if I could do that because she was very good friends with his mother. Yeah, I need a new shrink.

  "Send me three choices," Jean-Luc told Andre as we were on the porch to leave. We'd eaten breakfast and lazed around, and it was time for us to go to the airport. I was sad to leave.

  "Hey, you let your libido get the better of you, old man," Andre teased.

  "Trust me, it was worth it. I love you, son." He hugged Andre and whispered something to him which Andre nodded.

  Jean-Luc turned to me and offered his hand, but I slapped it away. They'd been so fucking great to me, and a handshake wasn't enough. I hugged him and thanked him for everything. It wasn't lost on me that he'd kept his hands on my ribs, and I was grateful.

  I pulled away, seeing Andre hugging his mother. I leaned into Jean-Luc. "I love your son but I'm not going to let him go through with whatever crazy ass plan he has in his head. I promise you, I'll look out for him." I felt a little foolish making the pledge but I knew his parents were still concerned with regard to why he was arrested. I hoped to put them at ease.

  "Thank you, Colton. Call us if he gets into any trouble, please." I nodded and moved over to hug Les.

  I was completely in love with his parents. They were so fucking great. "You know, Miss Les, if I was straight, I'd try to steal you away," I teased.

  She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. "You are such a dashing young man. From what I remember, your father was a fantastic flirt though completely devoted to your mother, and apparently, you got that from him. Watch out for my son. Sometimes, he loses his head and I'm depending on you to rein him in," she whispered.

  I pulled away and smiled at her, kissing her cheek. "I'll do my best, ma'am." She returned my smile and we heard the honk at the front of the house. We said goodbyes, and I could say it was the best holiday I'd ever had. I had been embraced by my boyfriend's family. It was a pretty great place to be.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Being Technology’s Bitch

  "Seriously? You're going to come up?" I asked as we climbed out of the cab in front of Hansee. Our flight was delayed two hours so we didn't land in Seattle until after four. After we got luggage and waited in the fucking taxi queue, it was nearly six before we got back to campus. I needed to finish up a project, and I still had to unpack. He also had his own shit to do so he needed to leave. Why he was insisting on walking me to my door wasn't lost on me. He was trying to make me feel safe since Nick wasn't home.

  "Sweetheart, I'd stay if you'd allow it, but the least I can do, as a gentleman, is see that my boyfriend gets to his room safe and sound," he offered lamely.

  I laughed. "You know Nick's taking the red-eye and he's not here. You just want to check my room."

  "Okay, busted, but put yourself in my shoes. You refuse to come home with me, so I have to make sure you're safe before I go home alone and cry into my pillow. You know I'll be worried about you, so just let me come up and satisfy my concern for your safety. You've got to leave me with some peace of mind," he bargained as he grabbed my duffel and took my hand, leading me up the stairs of the building.

  I couldn't argue because truth be told, I had an uneasy feeling about going to my room alone, even if it was only six in the evening. I couldn't wedge the chair under the door when I went to bed because I didn't know exactly when Nick was coming in from New York, so I had to rely on the lock. That didn't exactly give me a warm fuzzy.

  "Fine. Come on," I caved. He followed me inside and up the stairs. When we got to my room, I opened it and let him go in first.

  He dropped my bag on the bed and looked around, even checking the bathroom. I leaned against the door jamb, trying not to laugh. When he came out of the bathroom, he stopped in front of me. "Okay, okay. No ghosts. I still wish you'd come home with me."

  I chuckled and shook my head at his behavior. "I pay to live here. I work at that shitty job so I can pay to live here and I'm going to take advantage of it. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I work from three till seven," I reminded.

  "I'll pick you up after and we can get pizza. I love you, Colton, and I know this seems over the top, but I won't sleep a wink if I don't know you're safe. It's the thing we do for people we love, sweetheart." He leaned forward and kissed me passionately. Why am I letting him leave? I'm an idiot.

  After swirling tongues with the sexiest guy on the planet, I pulled away. "I'll call you tomorrow after my first class. I love you, too."

  After a few more kisses, he left, and I was left alone. I unpacked my stuff and tossed it into my hamper. I pulled out my laptop and finished a paper that was due on Monday morning. I turned on music because the quiet was driving me insane, and looking at Nick's bed where I'd been…well, I couldn't put it out of my head.

  I plugged my laptop into the printer and sent the paper to print, only to see that I was out of ink, which pissed me off. I unplugged the cord and went to Nick's printer, but when it asked for a password, I was really angry. Technology was making me its bitch. I was the unluckiest bastard on the planet.

  I looked up the holiday hours for the IT department and the library on the website. Not surprisingly at all, they were closed until Monday morning. I really wanted to cry because the only thing I could do was set my alarm for six in the morning to go to the computer resource lab to print the damn thing before my first class.

  I lie on my bed and listened to the music for a little while, trying to doze for a while and wake up with a better attitude. It just wasn't happening, not surprisingly. When my phone buzzed on the shitty table between my bed and Nick's, I grabbed it. I laughed when I saw it was Andre. I'd seen him just three hours earlier.

  I get that u need time alone to take care of things, but how about I make a booty call? I'm not 2 proud to beg. Condoms & lube, no waiting. xoxo

  I called him. "So?" he asked.

  "You're too cute. Actually, I need to print a paper. I'm out of ink, and well, if you've got ink, maybe we can make a deal?"

  He chuckled. "I'll pick you up, love. I've got all kinds of ink. You drive me fucking crazy, do you know that?"

  "Because I'm so fucking inept?"

  "God, no. For so many…pack your shit. You're sleeping over." The phone went dead, and I was fucking giddy. I was pretty fucking lucky if I thought about it. Hot guy…eager to spend time with me…a printer with ink. Okay, I didn't really give a shit about the printer, but it was a plus in that situation.

  I hurriedl
y grabbed clean clothes for the next day and a shirt for work. I scribbled a note for Nick telling him I was staying at Andre's that night, and I'd call him. I packed up my laptop and my books for the next day, and I hurried downstairs to wait for Andre in front of the dorm. The night air was kind of chilly, and I was only wearing a hooded sweatshirt instead of a coat so I pulled the hood up to block the wind.

  I was sitting on the steps when two guys walked up to the porch of the dorm. One guy, I recognized from seeing him around my dorm. I thought his name was Brad, but I wasn't sure. The other guy I didn't know, but he looked oddly familiar in the faint light from the lobby. I put my head down to try to give them some privacy, but they stopped at the front door right behind me so I couldn't help but hear them.

  "Brad, thanks for having dinner with me tonight. I had a great time. Can, uh, can I take you to lunch tomorrow? I get out of class at 12:30. It's in PACCAR Hall, which isn't too far, so we could meet at Orin's unless your next class is closer to the HUB. I'd really like to see you again," one dude said.

  I smiled, knowing how tough that shit was in the beginning. I was glad Andre and I had worked through that part of it…the uncertainty and nerves of beginning a new relationship. I wished them the best of luck.

  Brad responded. "Actually, Kelvin, the HUB works better. I have a two o'clock in Meany, so it would be close by. Is that too far for you, Mr. Polk?" He had a coy tone to his voice, but what really got me was the name.

  I stood up from my seat and slowly turned to see them off to the side, out from under the porch lights. It was dark, but I could make out the lanky frame and sandy blonde hair. The voice took a second to register, but when it did, my stomach dropped.

  It was the fucker who'd outed me back in high school. I had no idea what happened to him after he graduated from Union High, but I shouldn't have been surprised he was attending UW. It was a good school, and the campus was fucking massive. It was also only a few hours from home.

  I didn't want him to see me, so I kept the hood low on my face but I made sure I watched to see if he kissed the guy. When he did, I knew I was going to confront Kelvin Polk, just not right here, right now. I needed to think about when, where, and what I was going to say, but I was going to confront that asshole if it was the last thing I ever did in my fucking life.

  After a chaste make-out session, Kelvin hopped down the stairs, not looking my direction, so I grabbed my shit and followed Brad inside. I hated what I was about to do, but I was definitely going to put a wrench in Kelvin Polk's plans for the next day. "Hey, uh, Brad?" I called as he was about to get on the elevator.

  He stuck his head out and looked at me expectantly. I hurried over and climbed on with him, lowering my hood. "You're Colton, right? You share with Nick?"

  "Yeah. Look, I'm not trying to cock block you or anything, but how well do you know that guy you were just with?" He had a strange look on his face, but he didn't look pissed because I was getting in the middle of his business.

  "I got his number off the rideshare board. I live in Vancouver, and he was going that way so I got a ride with him for the break. Why?" Oh, this is perfect.

  I took a deep breath and silenced that voice in my head telling me not to be a prick. I owed Kelvin Polk and I was going to pay that mother fucker back in spades. "He went to my high school. I happen to know he has a steady boyfriend who he lives with over in Blakely Village. The guy, Zach, is from Michigan and he went home for the break. I don't know how you feel about cheating boyfriends, but I just thought I should warn you," I lied. For a moment, I contemplated how horrible it was for me to lie to the guy but I justified it by telling myself I was saving him from heartbreak.

  The look on his face was one of instant anger. "That fucker. I asked him three times if he was seeing anyone and he told me his last boyfriend graduated last year and moved to New York. I should have known better. God, I'm a fucking moron. I even had him come in to meet my parents when he picked me up. Come to think of it, he was a little shifty when they asked him where he lived. Was he out in high school?" Brad asked.

  I’m truly going to hell. "No. He was on the DL with a guy in my class, and one day out of the blue, he outed the guy to the whole fucking school. Poor kid was a pariah after that shit. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to get hung up on someone, only to find out what a real douche they are later.

  "I'm sorry for butting in, but a lot of these guys are out for virgin ass, and they don't care what they have to do to get it. I'd hate for you to get fucked over by him." Oh, I’m the selfless one, all right. I wouldn't even own up to the face it was me Kelvin had outed. I needed my fucking head examined. I wasn't looking forward to confessing this behavior to Eve Brownley.

  "No, man, I appreciate the head's up. How do you know he lives with someone?"

  "He, uh, he lives in the same complex as my boyfriend. Just down the hall as a matter of fact. Look, I need to go, but maybe you, me and Nick can get together and hang out after things calm down. You seem like a nice guy, and I think we can always use more friends, don't you?" Oh, yeah, being friends with your lying ass is definitely a big privilege for him. You're really a dick.

  "Yeah, sure. Thanks again, Colton. I'll see ya around." We bumped fists and he took off towards his room. I hurried to the stairwell and ran back down, happy to see Andre sitting on the hood of his car waiting for me.

  "What took so long?" he asked as he grabbed my laptop bag and put it in the backseat.

  I tossed my backpack in the backseat along with my overnight bag. I hopped in the car, not sure I should tell him what I’d just done for fear of him telling me I was a total asshole. I sure felt like it.

  I decided not to go into too much detail with him. "I was talking to one of Nick's friends, Brad. I'm trying to make more friends on my floor, you know, in case I get locked out or something and my knight-in-shining armor isn't around," I teased, glancing in his direction.

  He looked at me before he pulled away. "Is…should I be worried? I mean, are you trading me in for another model since you met my crazy parents?"

  I laughed and touched his hand to reassure him. "Babe, you're all the man I can handle. I'm not looking for anyone else. Now, let's get to your place. After I print my paper, I think I need to remind you how much I love you," I teased, reaching down into his lap to feel his cock getting hard.

  "Fuck, yes. Fasten that seat belt. We're going to see if I can beat my best time getting back to the apartment." I laughed…well, for a minute until he shot out of the fucking fire lane like it was the Indy 500. I white knuckled it all the way to his place, and the invisible brakes on my side of the car didn't help me at all.

  "Hey, look who it is. How was the OC?" Lance teased as we walked into the apartment. Juan was sitting at one end of the couch and Lance was sprawled out on the damn thing with his head in Juan's lap. It appeared the two of them were back together, and I wondered what had been sorted out regarding the future. They'd gone to North Carolina together, and they both seemed to be happy. I was glad to see it.

  "We had a great time. When did you guys get back? How was North Carolina?" I asked. Andre carried my shit back to his bedroom without stopping, and I couldn't tell if he was either hornier than me, which I doubted because my cock had been hard since the night before when we just kissed good-night outside the spare room door, or if he was pissed about something. Either way, my conversation with Juan and Lance was going to be short.

  "It was good. My ma likes my boyfriend better than me because he's a fucking suck-up," Lance complained.

  Juan laughed. "Baby, you love it when I suck."

  "Okay, I'm out. Night, guys." I turned and walked down the hallway as the two of them continued to bicker.

  I went into Andre's room and closed the door, seeing he'd replaced my laptop with his. It was hooked up to his printer, and he was sitting on the bed, patiently waiting.

  "When did they get back?" I asked as I sat down in the desk chair, turning to my laptop and selecting his pr
inter so I could be done with what I needed to do in order for us to move on to more pleasant things.

  "Just before I sent you that text. Those fucks are loud, I’ll tell you. I think when Heidi was here they held down the noise level because she'd bitch up a storm, but now that she's gone, they've decided there's no need to have any fucking decorum at all. Well, it's on, now. You want anything to drink?" he asked. I nodded without responding out loud, so he left the room.

  I quickly spell checked my paper again, and when I was satisfied, I sent it to the printer. He’d returned with two bottles of water so I turned in the chair and took one from his, seeing his impatient demeanor. He picked up a textbook and began flipping through it, not reading it at all. I chuckled at his appearance as a question popped into my head.

  "Do you have any classes in PACCAR Hall?" There was the off-chance Andre might have classes with Kelvin, and I didn't think it was a good idea to take on Kelvin if he was around. I didn't know Andre’s schedule very well, and I really wanted to remedy the situation with Brad and Kelvin.

  "Yeah. That's where Foster School of Business is located. Most of my classes are there or Dempsey Hall, why?" That’s interesting.

  "Because it's not that far from Hansee, and I never see you on campus," I reasoned.

  He chuckled as he closed the book and tossed it on the floor. "Maybe I should become a spy? Apparently, I'm good at covert surveillance. I follow you around campus all the time, sweetheart. How do you think we run into each other in the strangest places? I don't have a need to go to Odegaard Library, but I've run into you there several times, haven't I?"

  Well, that is quite an interesting turn of events. "I guess I never put it together because I go there for research help. I guess I thought maybe you were tutoring there or something. So, you follow me around? Why don't you make yourself known?" I was looking through my paper to make sure it wasn't fucked up. I went to my backpack and looked for a report cover, finding nothing.