Page 45 of Second Chance Saloon

“Do you miss it?” he asked.

Jackie shrugged, like it was unimportant. “Sometimes. But I still get to ride. Even here, there’s a great horse-riding excursion farm not far from the hotel. You might want to check it out.” She pushed her fingernails into the palm of her hand. “When did you stop swimming competitively?”

A shiver ran down his spine, opening the gates wide open for the intrusive thoughts. A sudden itch pulsated through his left thigh. Absentmindedly, he scratched the spot under the table, hoping she didn’t see. “After college.”

That was it, he wouldn’t burden her with more details. What was there to say anyway? He’d been young and stupid. It was not her fault, but knowing Jackie as he did—or at least the younger version of her—he knew she’d blame herself. He wouldn’t do that to her.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

November, fourteen years ago

Jackie

Jackie pulled up the zipper of her sweatshirt, shifting in the uncomfortable plastic chair. The temperature in the swimming center was normally all right, but she’d been feeling a bit shivery. Hopefully, she wasn’t coming down with a cold. Not that there was ever a good time to be sick, but she was racing on Saturday in a small rodeo.

She sniffed, the stench of chloride tickling her nose, and flicked a page in the thick chemistry textbook open in her lap. “I hate chemistry.”

Lyla sighed by her side. “That makes two of us.”

“I can’t believe final exams are next month.”

“At least we get a week off for Thanksgiving.”

Jackie groaned. “So we can study some more. Ugh.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m not planning to open my notes at all when I’m home. My plan’s to re-watch Gilmore Girls and drink as many pumpkin spice lattes as I can.”

“I guess we should enjoy the holidays while we can. Once we’re in med school, it’ll be insane,” Jackie mused.

“Imagine if we get into the same med school. That’d be so fun.” Lyla shuffled on her chair and gestured to herself. “Lyla Sokolnik, OB-GYN.” She flicked one of her hands in the air. “Jacqueline van Moetlier, pediatric surgeon.” Her other hand moved up too. “The dream team.”

Laughter stormed Jackie’s throat. “You deliver the babies, and I fix them later if they need surgery?”

“Sure. Unless I can convince you to choose neonatology, that’d be even cooler.”

A high-pitched whistle tore through the air filled with the noise of rippling water.

Jackie looked up, her eyes finding Mitch right away in the third lane. He’d kicked off the wall, sliding through the water. He had a competition this weekend, and it seemed like they both had been crazy busy lately, between classes, studying and their respective training schedules. Wednesday evenings had fast become their “thing”; she’d come to watch his swimming practice in the late afternoon while studying, and they’d meet up after. Her earlier concerns about coming across as a bit too eager or obsessed if she came to watch his practice had disappeared faster than they’d materialized.

Her skin also didn’t prickle every time she saw the pool now. Maybe she could really conquer her fear of open water. Some day.

“Thanks for coming with me. It can get a bit lonely when I’m here on my own,” Jackie said.

Lyla shrugged, scribbling something in her notebook. “It’s all right. Things we do for friends and all that.” A smirk curved her lips. “How are things with Aquaman going anyway?”

Jackie snorted a laugh. Lyla loved comic books and the moment she’d met Mitch, she attached the nickname to him without further explanation. “I told you not to call him that.”

Lyla tutted. “He said he doesn’t mind.”

“He was trying to be nice because you’re my friend.”

Lyla closed the notebook and set it aside on an empty chair next to her. She put her elbows on her knees, leaning forward. “Do you know that guy’s name?”

Jackie squinted in the direction Lyla was indicating. It was hard to tell the swimmers apart when they were in the pool, or maybe it was something only she struggled with. The guys were all broad-shouldered and muscular. With their hair hidden underneath trademark Texas Longhorns’ swim caps and eyes shielded by black goggles, they all looked the same to her. Except Mitch. She could always find him.

“I’m not sure which one you mean,” she replied.

“The tall one with a fully shaved head.” Lyla took her lower lip between her teeth. “I’ve seen him around and think I might like an introduction.”