Part 30 (2/2)

”Ree, did you hear that?” Bailey asks with mocked shock.

”Yeah, did Laila just ask us on a date?” Ree adds.

”Forget I asked,” I laugh.

”Nope, it's a date.” Ree smiles.

”I hate to do this, but I really need to go,” I announce to the sounds of annoyed groans. ”Hey, you don't have to go, Haden's here to pick me up. But Sunday. See you then?”

I wave goodbye and head out, determined to get some rest-because I'm going to be exhausted if I don't.

Focus, Laila. You got this.

Swim fast and ignore everything else.

It's just the water and me.

It's what I tell myself before each heat that I'm in, but it does little to calm my nerves. It's my last time to swim as a high school athlete as well as my final event of the day.

The signal is given to step onto the diving block and I check my goggles one last time before moving onto the podium. Every noise echoes in the natatorium as people cheer their swimmer on, but I drown out the noises and focus.

”C'mon, Laila,” they scream, and I point to my ear to let them know I heard.

”Swimmers. Take your mark,” the judge calls over the speaker.

I stare at the water and take a deep breath before breaking the surface to begin my race. Noises are m.u.f.fled in the water, but I focus on the sound of my breathing and pus.h.i.+ng my body to the limit as I make my way to the wall for the flip turn. My arms are tired, but I swim harder and faster in order to finish strong, as my legs offer the extra boost to aid in my speed. My body glides through the water seamlessly as I attempt to increase my speed so I can reach the wall.

I raise my head out of the water and try to catch my breath while looking to the scoreboard. Moments after my completion, I notice the final three reach the wall, but I'm not sure where I placed in the overall lineup.

As I climb out of the pool, there is a burst of excited screams coming from the stands, but it's not my family. Mom, Dad, and Luka are loud, but not that loud. Walking toward the wall, I look up at the board and there it is, next to my name-first place. I smile and grab my towel before making my way toward my family, who's waiting for me, but as I get closer I see that Luka isn't with my parents because her body is wrapped around the neck of Haden, who smiles proudly as I reach him.

”What are you doing here?” I ask when he sets her down.

She mopes, but only for a second before he takes her hand in his.

”We wouldn't miss your last meet.” He smiles and kisses me. ”You were great.”

”We?”

He points in the direction of my parents, who are making their way down with the rest of the guys.

”Y'all are awesome,” I tell them as they get closer, and I walk over to hug each of them. ”When did you get here?”

”About thirty minutes ago. It was hard to find a parking spot,” Braxton says.

Mom and Dad break through the guys and crush me into a proud hug, despite my suit getting them wet.

”You were great,” Mom says with pride, and Dad nods in agreement.

”Definitely ended on a high note,” he adds.

Everyone congratulates me as Mom and Dad lead our group toward the exit. They talk over each other and I look down at Luka who is trying to make heads or tails out of any conversation. She smiles at me and I make a face, causing her to laugh as Mom and Dad small talk with the guys.

Mom hands me my bag of clothes so I can change and I hoist it over my shoulder and listen to the conversations before I interrupt.

”I'm starving, but I need to change and get cleaned up. What time do we need to head out?” I ask Mom and Dad.

”We're leaving right now,” Mom says, pointing to Luka in explanation. ”But the boys wanted to take you out to celebrate.”

”Oh. Okay,” I say, stunned that they're already leaving.

She and Dad pull me into another hug while congratulating me on a great win. Luka doesn't want to leave and begs Mom to let her stay, but Mom refuses so she walks over to me and gives me a pouty hug before disappearing with my parents. Funny how she was the most annoying person in my world, but now that I'm going to be leaving for college, I'm starting to like having her around.

I head off to change in the shower room, and when I return the guys are hanging outside talking about something, but get quiet when I am closer. There's nothing suspicious about the action because none of them look guilty. I can read everything about them from one look, and there's nothing to tell here.

”What's the plan?” I ask of all of them when no one speaks.

”Depends on what you want to do,” Haden says as we walk toward Cole's SUV.

”Anyone want to see Baylor?” I ask hopefully. But from the eye rolls and heavy sighs, it's not in the cards.

”Let's start with food and see how much time we have. Sound good?” Joey suggests.

”That's not a no. I'll take it!” I shout as we near the vehicle.

Haden holds the door open, and I climb into the middle and sit between him and Braxton. The guys are telling me about the drive out here and how traffic was backed up pretty badly, though I'm not sure why. Joey is sitting in the pa.s.senger seat and mutters something to Cole, who c.o.c.ks his head to the side in some sort of response. With that gesture, Braxton nods and Haden hides a grin-now I know they're going to do something.

”We talked it over and Bailey told Joey how much you wanted to see Baylor,” Cole says as he continues to drive.

”Really?” I ask excitedly. ”Even though I've already been there before?”

”You've never been with us,” Braxton says easily.

”Y'all are awesome, but do you think we have time?”

”Trust me,” Joey says, ”we have enough time.”

Haden drapes his arm across the back of the seat and I lean into him and smile. I have to be the luckiest girl around to have these guys in my life. I didn't even have to throw a fit to get my way. My eyelids grow heavy from the toll the day has taken on me, so I close my eyes and try to relax.

”Don't fall asleep,” Haden says. ”We're almost there.”

”There's no way,” I a.s.sert, sitting upright and looking around.

<script>