Tiffany laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time.”
That made Major laugh. I gave both of them a dirty look. “Fuck both of you,” I said, but I was fighting a smile.
A few minutes later, it was time for the competition to start. No one cheered louder than we did when the Bay State teams were announced. I saw the girl’s wave at us, and Tiffany had a huge grin on her face. I always found it funny when she got so excited about doing new things.
When they got started, I was surprised at how interested I was in watching them. Before I knew it, two hours had passed. We were ahead in points and the entire pool was filled with excitement. Every time Karma climbed the platform to dive, I felt a sense of pride. She was really good, and I could tell she loved it.
Just as they were announcing the final points of the meet, I saw Anthony slink in and take a seat.
“Look who just showed up,” I said to Major, and nodded to where Anthony was.
“Nice,” he said, and shook his head.
They announced that Bay State won the meet and the whole place erupted in a loud cheer. I was surprised how happy I was for Karma.
“Are you two going to stick around for a bit?” Major asked me.
“Yeah. I’m sure the girls want to say hi to Tiffany.”
Within a few minutes, most of the swim complex was empty. Major said it would be at least fifteen minutes until the girls would be out of the locker room, so we stayed where we were until we saw them coming out.
Tiffany ran over to them. “You guys were so great. I can’t believe you can do that. I would have killed myself twelve times.”
Both of them laughed. “We’ve been practicing a long time,” Kayleigh said.
“Let’s all go out to celebrate,” Tiffany said.
“Sounds good to me,” I said. Major and Kayleigh were in too. “Karma, how about you?”
“I’m in,” she said. “We haven’t done anything as a group for a while.”
“Karma,” someone said from behind us. Turned out to be Anthony.
“Hey,” she said, all smiles. “I didn’t know you were here. Did you get to see the whole competition?”
“Yes, you were wonderful, baby,” he said.
Major and I looked at each other. He was a fucking liar.
“Thank you,” she said. “So, we’re all going out to celebrate. Are you going to come with us?”
“Can we talk for a minute?” he said to her, and they walked away from us.
There was definitely something wrong with this guy and I was going to find out what it was.
Chapter 23
Karma
“What’s up?” I asked Anthony, when we were away from the group.
“I had plans for us tonight,” he said.
“And?” I said, getting a little annoyed.
“And, I want to spend the evening with you.”
“Why can’t we do both? You haven’t spent any time with my friends, and lately I haven’t either. I’m going to dinner with them. It’s your choice to come or not.”
I started to walk away when he grabbed my arm. I noticed Bodie looking at me and I shook my head ever so slightly. I spun around and shot a deadly look at Anthony.
“Let go,” I said slowly. He did. “Let’s get something straight. No one, not even you, is going to manhandle me. And I thought a relationship went two ways. We always do what you want, you’ve barely met my friends, if we’re going to do this, we need to do it equally. Now, like I said, I’m going to hang out with my friends tonight, are you coming with me?”
If I wasn’t pissed off the look on his face would have been funny. I started walking back to the group again, I heard Anthony move to follow me.
“So,” I said, when we rejoined everyone, “what’s the plan for tonight.”
Bodie was shaking his head and Kayleigh was grinning.
“I say we eat and then go bowling,” Major said.
“I’m game,” I said.
We all agreed to meet for dinner in an hour.
“Hey,” I said to Kayleigh, “I’ll catch up with you.”
She nodded and left the swim complex with Major. Bodie and Tiffany followed them.
“So,” I said turning to Anthony, “are we cool?”
“Yes, and I see your point. I just like having you all to myself.”
“I get that, but I have friends that I like spending time with. It’s important to me.”
“Okay, but after bowling you’re all mine.”
I grinned at the look on his face. “Deal. I have to go get changed and ready to go out. I’ll meet you outside the dorm in forty-five minutes.” I gave him a quick kiss and ran to catch up with Kayleigh.
“Everything okay?” Kayleigh asked, when I caught up with her.
“Yep, we came to an understanding,” I told her.
“So, in other words, you got your way.”
“Of course, I did,” I said with a grin.
She shook her head at me but smiled back. Major, Bodie and Tiffany went to the boy’s dorm while Kayleigh and I went to ours to get ready.
Just over thirty-minutes later I was almost ready.
“Don’t forget socks,” Kayleigh yelled.
“Thanks,” I yelled back. The last thing I wanted to do was put my bare feet in bowling shoes.
By the time we got downstairs, Anthony was waiting, and so was the rest of the gang. Anthony and I got in his car and everyone else got in Major’s truck. Ten minutes later, we were at the restaurant. It was the same one that Bodie and I went to last weekend, but neither of us said anything.
Dinner was loud and fun and just what I needed. Anthony was quiet, but I think it was because he just didn’t know everyone. I hoped in time he’d fit right in. Bowling was just as much fun. We all sucked, but we had a good time making fun of each other. By the time we were done I was exhausted.
Anthony and I went back to his place and I plopped down on the couch as soon as I walked in the door.
“You look worn out,” he said to me.
“I am. I’m typically tired after a competition but the bowling did me in. You were pretty quiet tonight; did you have a good time?”
“I did. Your friends are certainly interesting.”
“We’re an eclectic group, rich boys and their poor girls,” I said with a laugh. “That reminds me, do you know Bodie or Major’s families?”
“Should I?” he asked.
“It just seems like rich people know other rich people, especially since you live in the same city.”
“I didn’t grow up with them, so I don’t think I know them.”
“How about West Security or Davenport Media?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Bodie’s last name is West and Major’s is Davenport.”
I saw when he put it together. “I see,” he chuckled. “Did you ask them if they know me?”
“No, but I don’t talk about my boyfriend with them either.”
“Fair enough. I know my dad has had dealings with West Security, but I never paid much attention to what he did until I was in college.”
I shrugged, “I just assumed you all knew each other in some way.”