“No,” I say quickly. “It was just casual, sorry-you-got-stood-up oral sex.”
“You’re not the type of person to do anything casually,” she says. “You’ve always been in this tug of war match somewhere between Zale and Colton, whether you realize it or not.”
Maybe she’s right. I’ve always gravitated toward both of them, figuring it was just because they were my two closest guy friends, but maybe a part of me has always had feelings for Zale and, to some extent, Colton too.
And maybe my feelings for Zale have always eclipsed my feelings for Colton.
“It still doesn’t matter,” I finally say. “Colton made it clear that we’re just friends. He’s the one who said it shouldn’t happen again.”
Eliana turns to me. “Did he say why?”
“Because we’re friends,” I say flatly.
She raises a brow. “Then why did he do it in the first place?”
I groan, pressing my hands to my eyes. “Because I asked for it, but it doesn’t matter.” I look out at the ocean again. “We’re just friends.”
Eliana hums beside me. “He’s a very protectivefriend.”
That’s just how Colton is,” I say quickly. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
She tilts her head, watching me. “I think it meanseverything.”
TWELVE
COLTON
“Zale, you're off balance,”Gabriel calls from the shore, fists planted on his hips.
The sun is sinking low, showering everything in gold, which means we’ve got maybe five minutes left in the water before Gabriel calls it a day.
He’s done a phenomenal job today of pretending I’m not even in the water with the rest of the team. No notes or corrections. Not even a glance my way—as if I’m not here.
It’s been like this for months, but today it stings more. The new members that just finished training are finally joining us, and I’ve caught every single one of them sneaking looks my way and trying to figure out why I’m the only one Gabriel ignores.
The sound of his whistle cuts sharply through the air, and we all begin to paddle back in. The others are laughing and excitedly talking over each other as they head for the sand, but I don’t. I head straight for Gabriel.
“Why do you always act like I don’t exist?” I ask, the words tumbling out harsher that I intend.
“Hello to you too.” He glances up from his clipboard, eyes narrowing slightly. “And I don’t do that.”
I let out a short laugh. “Really? Then what feedback did you give me today?”
My tone is harsher than I want it to be, but I’m past caring about whether or not I piss him off.
He lowers the clipboard slowly. “I don’t need to give you feedback.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because you’re a sub.”
I clench my fists as I hold his gaze. “That’s the problem,” I snap. “I’ve been a sub for a year. You’ve got new people coming in as permanent members, yet I’m still stuck on the sidelines? That’s bullshit and you know it.”
He steps close, not backing down. “I’m not putting you on this team permanently until you understand what it means tobeon a team.”
I scoff. “What does that even mean?”
He gestures past me, toward the others. “Those people are your teammates. They’re supposed to be like a family to you because they’re the ones who’ll fight for you in the water, who’ll drag you out when things go bad, who’ll have your back when you wipe out—on the board and off it.”
