But showing up at Addie’s doorstep feels a little over the top.
I sit in my truck in the faculty lot, staring at my phone. I’ve got her phone number. She gave it to me in the park when I asked her out. I grimace and rub the back of my neck at the memory. As stupid as I know it sounds, using this number, even for something as innocent as checking on her health, feels like I’m doing something dirty. I wouldn’t have it if I hadn’t tried to pick her up in the park.
Christ. Thank fucking God for Deanna. If she hadn’t called me away, God knows how much worse that would have been. Maybe I would have made an actual move. Or invited her back to my place.
I cringe as a shudder scrapes like fingernails up my spine.
I’d purposefully avoided having any kind of interaction with Addie the last few weeks of practice. It just felt safer. But when I saw her swimming Monday, it was like every scrap of common sense I have abandoned me.
I cringe again when I remember standing behind her in the water, how hot she felt. And how soft. God, she was soft.
Touching her was stupid.
But…I glance at my phone. All I’m doing is sending a text. Just to find out when she’ll be back. Nothing sordid.
I start typing, but then delete it.
I shake my head at myself. She’s obviously forgotten about the park. She’s barely said anything to me in almost a month, except when she flipped out because I was making her captain.
Man up and send the fucking text.
I start typing again.
At the knock on my window, my phone flies out of my hand, hitting the roof of my truck with enough force to leave a small tear in the cloth liner. My gaze snaps to the window and Deanna is standing outside, giving me a curious look.
I fish my phone off the floorboards behind my seat, then shoulder open my door and climb out.
“Well, if it isn’t the prodigal son.”
Deanna plays her accent up when it suits her. Which apparently is now, because her drawl as she said that was impressive.
I shove my phone in my pocket and wipe my sweaty palm on my pants. “Hey, Deanna.”
“You’ll be at the gym again tonight?” she asks with her hand on the door, blocking my progress.
“Working, yeah. Had to pick up an extra shift after practice because, you know…” I flip her a smirk as I scan the parking lot and find it student-free. “Some bitch from Texas stole my job.”
She laughs out loud, her eyes narrowing to slits before they open wide and zero in on mine again. “So what can I do to make it up to you?”
“Move back to Texas?”
She laughs again. “How about we settle for drinks tonight?”
“Maybe,” I drawl out, not sure of the reason for my hesitation. “If it’s busy at the gym I won’t be off until late.”
She moves toward her pretty white BMW and I follow. “The gym’s never busy on Friday night.”
I nod as she clicks open her car, knowing she’s right. “Yeah, okay. See ya later.”
I head to the pool as she pulls out and wait until I’m in the empty locker room to root my phone out of my pocket. I know my interest in Addie is driven by guilt. I feel responsible for what happened and the fact that she and her dad are now strapped with medical bills they can’t pay. It’s my responsibility to at least be sure she’s okay.
I set my duffel on the bench and type in the text. Just a simple “How’s the head?”
My thumb hesitates over the send button, but I swear at myself and push it.
A second later my phone vibrates with a text and it takes me a second to gather the courage to look. But when I do, I find it’s an error message telling me I dialed an invalid number. I check the number and realize the prefix is the same as Mom and Dad’s landline.
A fucking landline. Which means I have to call.
And then it occurs to me if they’re that strapped for cash, she might not have a cell.
I take a deep breath and start dialing, but I’m only halfway through when I notice my hand is shaking.
It’s just the money thing. That’s why I’m jittery. I’m not quite sure how to approach the subject, considering the conversation I overheard was meant to be private. I don’t want to embarrass her.
I click off my phone. I need to think this through a little better.
But then it hits me. I don’t need to bring it up at all. I can help her and she never even needs to know.
I lift my phone and dial.
Chapter 4
Addie
My own scream wakes me.