We are so close to reaching the edge of the pool. Mary Jo and I are neck and neck. At the last possible minute, I throw myself off my tube, my hand touching the edge before I go face-first into the water.
I swim up, breaking the surface, looking for the official ruling.
Mary Jo is clinging to the edge, still on her tube, and saying, “That doesn’t count! She left her float!”
I’m treading water, since this is the deep end. My giraffe has floated away and left me to die. “My legs were still on it when I touched the edge!”
Megan’s mom and Lindsey’s mom are huddled up discussing it. I’m sure they didn’t expect such a cutthroat ending to their race.
They talk and talk and nod at each other then finally turn to us. “That ending was too close to call, so it’s a tie!”
“What?” Mary Jo yells while I shout, “A tie? Seriously?!”
The moms ignore us. “Let’s move on to the next game!”
I glance at Mary Jo and she’s looking at me.
“That wasn’t a tie,” she says. “I won fair and square.”
I roll my eyes. “I beat you and you know it.”
We both drag ourselves out of the pool and follow everyone else. My legs are Jell-O. I notice she’s limping a little, too, and that brings me some satisfaction.
We catch up with the crowd but realize it’s not all fun and games anymore. There are several tournament officials in their monogrammed golf shirts talking to the moms.
I hear the words “noise level” and “distraction” and I know where this is going. And then I catch sight of Coach Cantu.
And he catches sight of me.
I’m supposed to be working off my time, but instead he’s caught me dripping wet in a two-piece and causing a distraction to the golfers.
This is not good.
He nods for me to come to where he is and I slowly make my way to him. I glance behind me and notice Mia and Bailey are clued in that I’m in some sort of trouble, but they obviously have no idea why.
“I’m sure you’ll give me some explanation as to why you’re swimming instead of working, but I don’t want to hear it. You have five minutes to be dressed and back out on the course, or we can forget this whole thing and you can head home.”
He turns away and walks with the tournament guys out of the pool area.
I’m a little pissed at first because technically I’m on my lunch break, but then I look at my watch. My lunch break ended ten minutes ago.
I rush back to my lounge chair and scoop up my belongings, thankful for the bag and towel. There’s no time to even say bye to Megan and Lindsey. Bailey and Mia watch me from the other side of the pool, but I’m gone before they can make their way over. I sprint to the women’s locker room and throw on my other clothes while I’m still damp. My shirt and shorts are sticking to me and my hair is sopping wet. I pull it up into a bun and slide my tennis shoes back on.
I’m out the door with seconds to spare.
Coach is waiting for me.
“I’m really shocked I even have to say this to you, but this is your last chance. If you can’t do what I’ve asked, there’s no reason to continue.”
He huffs out a breath as he heads toward the range.
I feel terrible and I want to bang my head against the wall.
And then I remember Wes in the parking lot.
“Hey,” he says after the first ring.
“Hey,” I say. “I got busted by Coach at the party and he’s pissed. I can’t go out to the parking lot right now. Will you meet me at the clubhouse to switch phones?”
