Nev is silent for a beat, then: “Angie, your voice issopretty.”
I heave a sigh, then roll my taut neck, finding relief in the whisper-soft series of cracks.
“No one’s ever been jealous of me,” she adds.
I straighten my neck. “I doubt that’s true.”
“I mean, back in New York, my friends were jealous we had a pool in our house, but no one’s ever been jealous of mefor me.”
“You had your own pool?”
“Yeah.” She hoists one shoulder as though having a pool inside a house in Manhattan is a completely normal thing. Maybe it is?
“So you really love swimming, huh?” I say.
“Not especially. Ten and Dad do. Especially Dad.”
“Was it his idea to put a swing over your pool?”
Her eyes flash. “All mine.”
“Can I come over and try it once it’s set up?”
“Yes!”
I smile. She smiles.
Even though we’re not singing, Nev and I are in sync again.
“I think you could fry an egg on my thigh right now.” I toss my sunglasses on the lounge chair and stand, gesturing toward the pool. “Come with me?”
Nev fiddles with the hem of her purple towel, but finally peels it off her legs. Together, we race to the edge of the pool and leap in, making a great big splash.
Once we come up for air, I ask, “Why do you and Ten have matching bracelets? And what’s with the inscription?”
“Oh.” She blushes. “Ten had them made two years ago.” She strokes the etched gold plaque. “He said that if I ever feel lonely or down, it’ll remind me that I’m not alone, and that Iamcool.”
I grip the rough edge of the pool.
Nev makes a face. “I should probably take it off.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s silly.”
“No, it’s not.”
The red on her cheeks deepens. “His ex thought it was weird.”
I push my wet hair out of my eyes. “Well, his ex is stupid, because it’s not weird. It’s supersweet.”
Nev seems to float a little higher in the glittery water. “Shewasstupid. I don’t even know why he went out with her for so long.”
My pulse jackhammers in my chest. I don’t want to talk about Ten’s ex, and yet I want to learn every sordid detail about her. But I don’t ask. Instead, I challenge Nev to a race, which she happily agrees to. I desperately try to get rid of thoughts of Ten as I swim, but in the steady, liquid swoosh, he’s all I can think about.
I race harder, giving it my all. Unfortunately, the only thing it saps is my energy. It doesn’t even put a dent in my infatuation with Nev’s brother. Why did I have to develop feelings for someone who hates everything I love?
29
