Page 4 of Don’t Be A Stranger

“Sure.” I pat his thigh. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. I’m going to go change.”

River offers me a mock salute. “I’ll be out in the car then.”

“That air conditioner better be on.”

“I know.” He waves me off. “You need it the temperature of Antarctica wherever you go.”

I stand up and head in the direction of the locker rooms. I begin walking away but shout over my shoulder. “I run hot, River.”

I’m further away from River now so I can’t quite make out what he said but once I make it down the hallway and out of sight, I stop and lean against the wall. Did I hear him correctly?

“I run hot, River.”

“Don’t I know it, Summer.”

Two

Summer

Papi: Just checking on you, Mija

Me: Sorry, I just finished training. I’m fine, Papi.

Promise.

After staring at Papi’s text for a long minute, I finally sent him a quick response before stepping under the showerhead. I let the water rinse off not only the chlorine in my hair but any guilt, deciding to try to move on. Now dressed, I push through the glass doors of the natatorium but stop almost immediately in my tracks when I spot a familiar head of bubblegum pink hair.

My ex, Savannah, is walking in my direction with a group of four people that I once used to call my friends, but when Savannah and I broke up, they sided with her.

I can’t even pretend that I don’t know why.

Their heads are thrown back in a type of laughter I was once allowed to partake in. Coffee cups reside in their hands and a certain lightness hangs in the air. A familiar merriment that I’m now standing on the outside of.

I hate that I stop walking.

But not because Savannah is still beautiful and her laugh remains infectious—which still seem to be true. I stop because I feel like I have to.

As if I owe her that.

Like she’d even want it.

She may have been the one to call things off, but it was my own actions that led her to resort to this outcome.

Savannah’s honey gold eyes land on me and whatever joy she was feeling is quickly replaced with a version of uncomfortableness that I never would’ve thought she could feel toward me. But because she’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, she stops right in front of me instead of spitting in my direction and telling me what a piece of trash I am.

“Hey, Summer.” Savannah smiles now because that’s just the kind of person she is.

“Hey, Sav.” I wave. “Guys.”

The four of them look at Savannah and then me.

Savannah might be too nice to treat me the way I deserve but these four aren’t. Leander crosses his arms, venom in his stance and a fight already on his tongue. Being able to sense this, I assume, Savannah takes a small step in front of him but pretends as if she was shifting on her feet.

Savannah gestures toward the gym bag slung across my shoulder. “Did you just get done with training?” she asks.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. The normalcy of the question catches me off guard. “Sort of. What are you guys up to?”

I’ve never been one to find myself in awkward conversations or situations.