Page 80 of The Beta Test

My girl.

“Is that your boyfriend?” the girl whose hand I just shook asks.

We both lift ourselves out of the pool and grab our towels, shifting aside for the next wave of heats. She’s still looking at me, expecting an answer.

“Oh, no. Just a friend.”

She glances at Jake, then back at me. “He’s cute. Maybe you should ask him out.”

A flush radiates from my neck down to my chest, and I pull my towel tighter around myself to try to hide it. The sound of the next starting whistle jolts me.

Me ask out Jake?! My perception of him has… evolved… over the past school year, whether I want to admit it or not. Asking him out seems like a leap, and it could blow up everything with Jake and Jenna. Or would it?

“Yeah, maybe,” I reply, turning away to find my parka and a water bottle.

Analiese walks by me to get ready for her next event.

“What’s up with Jake’s shirt?” she asks.

I shrug, but it’s an effort to repress the smile forming. For the rest of the meet, my eyes feel drawn to the stands like a magnet. And every time I look, Jake’s eyes are locked on me.

After the post-meet team huddle and showering, I walk out to meet my dad and Hunter upstairs in the main hall of the school. The humidity of the lower level disappears as I climb the stairs. The chlorine smell lingers, but it’s not unpleasant. There’s a small crowd still here, and the gentle hum of conversation meets me as I get closer.

Out of habit, I pull my phone out of my bag as I walk and check my texts. There’s one from Braden. Though we haven’t hung out in person since our talk before New Year, we have texted occasionally. Very occasionally. He avoids sticky topics and has sent me memes or music recommendations. Horrifically, one song he sent was one Tricia recommended, and he wanted to pass it along. I didn’t respond to that text.

Braden: Hey, hope your meet goes well today! I am still following the school swim schedule. LMK how it goes.

I tap out a quick response—It went well, thanks—and put my phone away. We will never be what we once were, but I don’t want to cut him out of my life completely. Maybe one day we can be true friends again. Maybe. For now, I’ll keep him at a distance and put the same energy into our relationship he put into it all fall. So basically: not much.

My stomach does a small swoop when I see Jake standing with my dad next to the sports award case in the front entryway, head thrown back in a laugh. His hair is shorter like he recently got a haircut, but it looks good. If anything, it makes him look older. Among the crowd, Jake is one of the tallest—about the same height as my dad.

“I’ll pay you to make me one of these,” my dad says while he briefly reaches out to tug on Jake’s bedazzled shirt. “It’s seriously the best shirt I’ve ever seen. Though I have to say, I’m more than a little curious about when you took up bedazzling as a hobby. I remember the Star Wars obsession, but this is new.”

Jake grins. “Maybe you should try it. You might enjoy it.”

Dad swings his arms around me when I reach them and kisses the top of my head. “Good job tonight, Avey girl.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I lean against his shoulder. “But don’t let Jake trick you into thinking he’s suddenly into arts and crafts. He lost a bet, and he’s being a champ about it.”

What I don’t mention is that I totally forgot I was supposed to make the shirt! It slipped my mind while my entire life plan imploded.

Jake's eyes sparkle. “Or maybe I would have made the shirt anyway. I guess we’ll never know now.”

“You can make one for my dad, but I refuse to wear one of those,” Hunter adds, his nose crinkled in disgust.

We make our way through the exit, and my dad invites Jake to stop for ice cream with us. He declines, stating that he needs to get home and that he will talk to me later.

I throw my bag in the back of my dad’s truck and hop in the front seat. I flick on the seat heater as soon as my dad starts it, eager to feel a little warmth. Going from the warm basement to the cool nighttime air is always a shock.

“So,” Dad says as he starts the engine, then navigates the school parking lot. “You and Jake, huh?”

I choke on my spit. Dad pats me on the back.

“It’s ok, Avey-girl. Jake’s a good egg. I know the Braden thing went down not too long ago, but… I’ve always had a soft spot for Jake. And he always had his eyes on you.”

Hunter leans forward from the back seat. “Wait, Avery and Jake are dating? I thought they were just friends who did math or something.”

“We are!” I clear my throat one more time, still struggling to breathe. “Dad, we’re just friends.”