Her gaze drops to my chest and I follow, making sure I didn’t accidentally pop a tit, but everything is intact. I’m wearing an oversized, white long-sleeve linen button-down, a dark turquoise bikini set, and denim shorts.
“You look good.” She grins, eyes still on my chest before they scan down the rest of my body. “So…”
“No, don’t go there.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I just saidso.”
“You’re going to ask something about Daniel.”
She smacks her lips, staring at me, taken aback. “No, I wasn’t, but since you brought him up… Are you going to go see him?”
“No.” I twirl my middle ring finger. “He’s going to be busy all day and night.”
That’s not a lie. He told me on Wednesday that all the players will be doing meet and greets, participating in games, and doing other activities. He did ask me to come, but knowing he was going to be around Bryson put me off. Plus, like I told Vi, I don’t care for these things because a lot of people in town and the university know Mom and might want to talk to me.
The university literally changed their aquatics building name to Claudia Resendiz Natatorium in her memory. I also heard they’re working on a scholarship named after her, but I’ve not kept myself in the loop. The aquarium has a plaque with her name somewhere. One of her favorite restaurants, Agua Clara, has a drink named after her.
Her name is everywhere and even though I shouldn’t, I hate it because it’s a reminder to everyone that she was one of the best swimmers in the world. The girl who came from Mexico with nothing but a dream and made something of herself.
While it’s a reminder to me that I’ll never be like her. That I’m nothing but a failure and a disappointment. I’m sure from the grave she’s fuming that I gave up.
I hate myself.
“Someone there?” she asks, derailing my train of thought.
“I’m right here. I’m just not listening. Why don’t we talk about what’s going on with you and Kai.”
She laughs like the thought of them together is ludicrous. “He’s funny, smart, and really hot.”
“But?”
“He messed around with Mary Novak, and she’s still not over it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was with him right now.”
Mary Novak, Christian Novak’s daughter, is a bitch. We got into it a few times. She assumed I’d cower because her father was the coach, but she was mistaken. She’s also a junior so I can see why Vienna is not wanting to go there.
Fortunately, her father is gone, but unfortunately, she’s not.
“Oh…” I don’t mean to but my lips twist wryly.
“Yeah, I’m too hot to fight over a guy. If I ever do, please take me out.” She scowls. “Look at me, I’m gorgeous. I shouldn’t have to vie for any man’s attention. Fuck that.” She pretends to gag.
The severity in her voice makes me laugh and like her more. “I promise.”
“Vienna, are you ready?” a masculine voice asks from outside the tent.
Since MCU’s mascot are the sirens, they hired the aquarium to bring Vienna out since she’s their mermaid and knows how to swim in the tail. They also somehow managed to find a pool/tank thing to give her space to swim and filled it with stuff you’d find in the ocean.
“I’m ready, Carson!” she shouts. “So are you planning on being with me all day or are you going to?—”
“I will punch you if you say his name.”
She snickers. “I’m messing with you. But at any point if you want to leave, don’t feel obligated to be with me. I’ve got Carson.”
He waltzes in, bends down, and picks her up. He’s a student, swimmer, and also works at the aquarium. One of his jobs today is helping Vienna in and out of the water. He’s also helped her get undressed a few times after hours.
The next few hours I stick by Vienna. I’d hang out with Pen but because she’s a cheerleader, she’s busy. They may not cheer for the baseball team, but the school still wanted them to dress up and do what cheerleaders do.
Vi stays busy taking pictures, swimming, and blowing bubbles underwater. She also does other things I admit are insanely cool.
