He snorted. “I know you think they’re not in love with you. But every time you break a heart, I’m the one they come crying to. It takes them forever to get over you.”
“That’s a load of crap.” I squirmed in my chair. I tried to let them down gently. I always told them it was me, not them. Which was true. I just couldn’t seem to stay focused on one girl for more than a couple of weeks.
“Let’s come up with a questionnaire for your future conquests.” Alex stretched out his tanned legs. “Number one: Do you expect prom-posals and fancy dinners? If they say no, they move up to the next round.”
“Very funny.” I threw a towel at him. I had valid reasons for not doing that stuff. The one and only time I did, Kristen had dumped me two days later. Why waste my money?
Alex snickered. “Number two: Do you expect late night, flirty Facetime chats? If they say yes, automatic elimination.”
“You suck.” I threw a French fry at him. “Besides, that’s not totally off the table.”
He shot me a look. “Yeah? When’s the last time you engaged in said activities? For longer than a week?”
I scowled at him. “These things have expiration dates, you know.” I shifted in my chair. “Besides, those chats get boring after a while.”
He snorted. “Only when you pick boring girls.”
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of agreeing. “Sometimes it’s not about the conversation. Most times, actually.”
“News flash: it’s possible to have both. Brainy and sexy, all in one package. Take me, for instance.”
This time I threw my water bottle, which he caught. “You’re not my type,” I growled.
“No kidding. But I’m interested in the potential on-the-job action for you. I bet anybody as tightly wound as Bird Brain lets loose. Like, totally Girls Gone Wild.”
“Shut up.” I launched myself off my chair, slugged him hard on the shoulder, and dove into the pool, tearing through the water like I was being chased by a shark.
After I’d exhausted myself, I leaned on the edge of the pool, pushing wet hair out of my face. Alex raised his sunglasses and smirked at me. “Question number three,” he yelled from his chair. “How do you feel about chick flicks? Extra points for anything with lots of kissing!”
I sank underwater, but not before I heard all the tittering laughter from the surrounding pool chairs. Ever since he’d busted me watching my mom’s old DVD of Bridget Jones’ Diary, I’d never heard the end of it. He’d accused me of being a repressed romantic, which I totally denied.
Just because I watched that movie… Okay, a lot of those movies.
It didn’t mean anything.
“Why are you asking about Trina, Slade?” Desi gave me the stink eye from underneath her dorky white hat.
“We have to work together. You know that. And it’s…just better if I have some, uh, insight into her. For us to work as a team. You know. For the kids.”
Her face split into a gorgeous smile. “You’re so full of it, Edmunds.”
Trey always said he couldn’t get anything past her.
A mom and two little girls walked into the store, clamoring for pretzels, so I stepped aside and pondered my options.
What if Desi reported back to Trina? Of course she would. She was probably sending her some sort of psychic vibe right now. I had to play it cool, but still find out something, anything, that would help me crack the Trina code.
Desi turned to me once we were alone again. “Is this about the swim lesson?” She stacked drinking cups while side-eyeing me.
I shifted uncomfortably. “She told you about that?”
Desi rolled her eyes.
Of course she did. Girls told each other everything.
“Kind of. I don’t know. It’s just…she’s so…”
Desi shoved the bag of cups under the counter. “Slade Edmunds. I never would have guessed you’d fall for her.”
My neck felt hot, and it pissed me off. “What? Come on, no way. That’s not what this is about. This is about my job.”
“Uh huh.” Desi grabbed a rag and started wiping crumbs off the counter. “Here’s the thing about Trina.” She shot me a cryptic look. “I know she’s kind of…intense. But she’s a really cool person once you get to know her.”
I didn’t say anything, but I held her gaze.
“If she lets you,” Desi continued. “Get to know her, I mean.”
I expelled a sigh of frustration. “That’s what I don’t get. I’ve never met anyone who…she’s just…” I sighed again. “I can’t figure her out.”
Desi waggled her eyebrows at me. “Can it be? Slade Edmunds met a girl he can’t wrap around his finger?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re not going to help me out, are you?” I grabbed my ponytail, retying it with my shoelace. I needed to get some of those elastic things girls used. “Kids’ lives are at stake, you know,” I told her. “Little kids.”
Desi snorted. “Yeah, right.” She pulled another pretzel from the case and handed it to me. “You’re still hungry, right? Trey always is.”
I took the pretzel. “Thanks. But shouldn’t I pay you?”
She shook her head. “My manager says I can have four per day for free.” She giggled. “He must think I’m a pig.”
I took a deep breath. “So, did she have some childhood trauma? Is that why she’s such a control freak?”
Desi’s eyes widened like I’d hit a nerve. She glanced away before speaking. “Her dad split when she was younger. Her mom’s cool, though.” She shrugged. “You could have an actual conversation with her, you know. If you really want to get to know her.”
“We have lots of conversations, but most of them end in arguments.”
She quirked her lips. “Sounds like my girl.” Then her face brightened. “But maybe there’s hope for you. She only argues when she cares about something. Or someone.”
My stomach did a weird somersault, which I chose to ignore. “I told you, this isn’t about…us…or anything like that. It’s about our job. So we don’t end up killing each other before the summer’s over.”
She just nodded, looking all smug. Crap. The second I left here, she’d text Trina. Hell, she’d probably send up a flare.
“Look, never mind. I just thought…”
A swarm of little kids ran into the store, trailed by a couple of dads talking on their cells.
I started to back away, but Desi’s voice stopped me. “Slade, hang on.” She looked desperate. “Please?”
Surprised, I nodded. I sat on a stool, scanning my phone while the dads and kids placed their orders. Tons of parties tonight, and I was invited to all of them.
Once the store was empty, I slid off the stool and met Desi at the counter.
“What?” I asked.
She bit her lip nervously then looked around.
I grinned at her. “Nobody here but us, Dez.”
She frowned. “I know. It’s just…” She took a deep breath. “I promised Trina a long time ago that I’d keep her secret.”
My heart rate sped up. “What secret?”
Desi shook her head. “I can’t tell you. But maybe she will. There’s something you should know about her. It explains a lot. Why she’s so uptight.” She glanced around again, looking for invisible eavesdroppers. She leaned across the counter and whispered. “Why she can’t swim.”
I had a desperate urge to run away. I didn’t need a girl with baggage. Drama. Emo. No way.
But I didn’t run. Instead I waited, wanting to hear more. “That’s it?” I prompted. “That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
She huffed out a sigh. “I wish I could tell you everything, Slade. But it’s Trina’s story to tell. And I made her a promise a long time ago.”
Girls. So freaking dramatic. Still, I sensed this wasn’t the usual girl drama. This was something real.
“Thanks,” I said. “At least you gave me a clue. Sort of.”
She laughed. “Just talk to her, Edmunds.” Her grin made her eyes sparkle. “She thinks you’re a total slacker who’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter, but I keep telling her you’re more than just a pretty face and a smokin’ body. Don’t let me down.”