Swim Again Read Online Free Page B

trials?”
    “If everything goes as planned, absolutely.  My leg has healed.  I’m ready to win again.”
    I smiled and was about to say something when my boyfriend interrupted with his ring tone.  “Gotta go,” I said, remembering that he’d be there in a few more hours to pick me up for dinner.
    “Boyfriend huh?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, see you around.  Somewhere, somehow, I guess.”  He surprised me with his best smile as I almost fell out the door. 
    “You OK?” Kaz asked, after he grabbed one of my arms, preventing injury to the brownies and me.
    “Yeah, I.  I got one leg safely on the ground now,” I said, hanging onto the brownies, seat, and the handle made to help people get into the truck. I slid my other leg out.  Kaz held on to me until I had both feet back on the ground.
    “And you wondered why I had to watch your behind when you got in the car.”
    “Ah, you haven’t visited your women yet?  Next stop?”
    “No.  That’s not me anymore Mauri.”
    “You’re kidding right?”
    “I changed.”

Chapter 3
     

Mauri
     
    “I changed” was on repeat in my head after I called it quits on my studies in the last fifteen minutes.  What did he mean by that because by the way he was going, I thought he’d never change?  The accident and the rehab he went through after sure didn’t slow that aspect of his life down. 
    I had to stop.  I didn’t know why I allowed myself to think about Kaz in that way—wanting him, needing him to touch me.  To kiss me.  Yes, his eyes were alluring.  His smile pulled me in.  And he was a little more caring. But I knew him.  If anything were to happen between us it would serve as his entertainment for a night or two.  Then he’d be gone again, physically at least.  It would be like the time when we locked lips at that party when we were teens.  I thought maybe our friendship had changed, but the next day it was as if it didn’t happen.  History repeated itself after graduation.
    Wasting my time wasn’t fair to Brayden either, who had just walked into the door.  The few people who were in the front of the store were happy to take pictures with him, receive autographs, and wish him well on the up and coming games.  When I saw him bending down to talk to one of the kids, give her a hug, and pose with her, I closed that chapter on Kaz again.  With Brayden I had a future.   
    “Hey,” I said to Brayden when the people had cleared.
    “Best part of your day, right?” he said.
    “Yeah, I’m tired of studying.  I don’t know how I’ll get through tomorrow.”
    “I meant seeing me.”  A corner of his mouth lifted.
    “I know you’re joking but serious at the same time.”
    “Don’t worry.  Just about everyone feels the same way as you do.  Look around next time.”  
    “Why did I ever agree to go out with you?”
    “Because you like seeing me as much as I do.”  He chuckled.
    Smiling and shaking my head, I was reminded of how there was nothing else I could say.  A couple of girls took a few cautious steps to us.  Brayden was more than happy to bask in the attention again.
    We were lucky to escape the store without anyone else coming up to him.  In the many years before, I had seen Brayden and Kaz signing autographs so many times that I thought the whole town had met them already.  But new fans showed up from the college campus side of town every year.  It was fun to see how excited people were to meet the guys or express how Brayden and Kaz inspired them.  Moments like those always got awkward for me when the people were big fans of swimming and knew who I was.  The question I frequently got was, do you plan to come back?  When I said I wasn’t sure, to cover up my outright “no,” they reminded me how close I was to medaling or making the Olympic team.
    Red and low to the ground, Brayden’s fancy ride stuck out among the trucks and less luxury cars.  I had practically begged him in the past to please bring one of