Until Alex - J. Nathan Page 0,10

of the sly, cocky grin that swept across his face. I desperately needed to save face. To regain the upper hand. To humble him. “You’re not one of those guys, are you? The ones at the gym who gawk at themselves in the mirror while they lift? The ones grunting and groaning?”

Hayden’s eyes darkened as he peered across the water at me. “The only time I’m grunting and groaning is in the bedroom.”

I could feel myself morphing into a cherry-cheeked little girl. So much for saving face.

Hayden took pity on me. “I’m up for a race if you are.”

Never one to back down from a challenge—and desperately needing to end our conversation—I nodded. “Sure.”

I swam over to the spot beside him, staying a good six feet away. Not being overly athletic, chances were high I’d crash into him while swimming. I grasped the wall with one hand. My feet pressed flush against it under the water.

Hayden held on to the edge with both hands behind him, preparing for something fancy like the butterfly stroke.

Show off.

Okay. So maybe he had every reason to be. Because if I thought his muscles were impressive from afar, seeing the deep ridges flex and roll as he gripped the wall beside me gave the term wet dream a whole new meaning.

“Ready?”

I nodded.

“Go,” he called.

We pushed off the wall at the same time, kicking and splashing like contenders for the gold medal. Clearly, I wasn’t the only competitive one.

My arms flew through the water, using every bit of strength I had to slice the water and reach the opposite side before him. With the wall a mere yard away, I threw my hand out, slamming into it with a splat.

The water lapped against the side of the pool as I grabbed on and looked to Hayden. He hadn’t gone easy on me. His chest heaved like mine. “Was it a tie?”

Water droplets hung from his impossibly long eyelashes as his gaze captured mine. “Yup.”

I shook my head and laughed, knowing it was a total lie. A lie intended to spare my feelings. There was definitely more to Hayden than met the eye. And even though what met the eye was seriously intoxicating, I wanted to know more. “Bullshit.”

He laughed a hearty laugh, throwing back his head so young and carefree. So unlike him.

Or was it?

“You callin’ me a liar?”

I bit my lip to stop from grinning. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He lifted his brows. “No?”

Aware of his scrutiny, I shook my head, keeping my face composed. “I need you to introduce me to that hottie in 2C.”

He laughed again, softer this time, as if trying to rein it back.

“How about a rematch?”

Instead of agreeing, like I hoped he would, his mouth became a tight line I couldn’t decipher. His conflicted eyes lifted to the clouds for what felt like forever. And despite his apparent reluctance, his eyes slid back to mine and he nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

Exhaling the breath I’d unconsciously been holding, I leveled him with my eyes. “This time no lying.”

His lips lifted into a crooked smile, and a tiny piece of my shattered heart shifted back into place.

After four or five more races, Hayden lifted himself out of the pool. “I’ve gotta take care of my laundry.”

I tried not to stare as he grabbed his towel off the lounge chair, but I wanted to get a closer look at his tattoo.

He must’ve realized what I was doing from my spot in the pool, or he wanted to give me a better angle of his six-pack, because he turned toward me and draped the towel around his neck.

“Same time tomorrow?”

He shook his head. “I’ve got plans.”

“Oh. Yeah. I totally understand.” Heat pulsed in my cheeks. Talk about being shot down. How mortifying.

Hayden stared down at me for a long moment. He wanted to say something. I could see it in his pensive eyes. But in the end he headed toward the gate. “See you ‘round.”

I watched as he made his way toward the building.

Once I could no longer see him, I dropped my head in humiliation.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

* * *

The sun had already set and taken the intense morning heat with it when I stepped onto the lawn with my old green comforter in my arms. I maneuvered around excited residents seated in lawn chairs facing the windowless side of the three-story building eager for the “drive-in” movie to begin.

I said a quick hello to my aunt who was busy setting up the projector, then searched for