Fight Like a Tomboy - Stephanie Street Page 0,1

and snapped my goggles back into place as a feeling of Déjà vu washed over me.

“Fifty meters free.” He hoisted himself out of the pool.

I did the same, ignoring the hand he offered to pull me out. He rolled his eyes and sighed, but I didn’t need his help.

We climbed onto the blocks.

“Down and back and I’ll give you a fifteen-meter head start.” He leaned into a starting position.

I stood up straight on the block and glared at him. “What? No. No head start. We do this fair and square or we don’t do it at all.”

For several long seconds, Jared stared directly at me, his face expressionless. I had no idea what he was thinking, but he unnerved me, and I hated that. I hated feeling intimidated by him in the pool. I’d worked so hard for years to be the best, and he beat me without even breaking a sweat.

It pissed me off.

“Fair. And. Square, Oliver,” I reiterated.

Jared’s shoulders rose and fell with his sigh. “Fine. But you say when.”

“You won’t wait?” I could see him still trying to give me a head start. Because he didn’t believe in me, and that just fueled my anger.

His jaw twitched. I had to consciously tell myself it wasn’t sexy.

“No. I won’t wait.” He repositioned his goggles over his eyes and leaned forward, completely focused.

I did the same, but I had a feeling I didn’t present the same kind of command he did, his every muscle poised to do exactly as he told them.

I took a deep breath and counted to ten, clearing my brain of everything but the water. “Ready. Set. Go!”

We dove simultaneously. Jared kept his word and didn’t give me an advantage. My frustration and anger spurred me on. There were no timers running, but I knew I swam fast. I did swim fast. I’d placed second at State in two events. Those times had earned me a partial scholarship to the University of Michigan in the fall.

It was almost time to turn, but Jared had already started back. I flipped, pushing off the wall with my feet and swimming underwater for ten meters before falling into my stroke. He was going to beat me.

And then I gained on him. What? It was true! He’d been at least a length ahead of me, but now that lead had been cut in half. Kick. Pull. Pull. Breathe!

I touched the wall and put my head up a split second before Jared did.

“You let me win!” I ripped off my goggles and vaulted out of the pool.

Jared exited slowly, his muscles tense and bulging. I wanted to rip my own eyes out for noticing. Instead, I marched right up and pushed against his chest with both hands.

“You let me win!” I yelled again in case he hadn’t heard me the first time.

He grabbed my wrists to keep me from pushing him again. “Just calm down—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I yanked on my arms, but he held them firm. “Let me go, Jared.”

He did. Without question. And I hated myself again for reacting to his touch. It was just hormones. He was a good-looking guy, a hot guy. Of course, I reacted! I was a girl, for goodness’ sake.

“You’re the one pushing me,” he said with deliberate calm.

Feeling angry and justified, I pushed with both hands as hard as I could against his chest. He didn’t even budge, and that just made me more frustrated with him. I braced my feet on the wet cement and pushed again. I’d seriously lost my mind.

Jared took a step back to keep his balance. “Kelly, stop it.” I kept pushing. “Kelly!” The next thing I knew, his arms banded around my waist as we fell through the air, landing in the pool with a loud splash.

“Let me go!” I struggled against his hold as we surfaced together. His arms were like iron bands around my waist, pressing our bodies together. I cupped water in my hand and threw it in his face. He closed his eyes and grimaced.

“Would you knock it off?” He treaded water, keeping us afloat.

“Not until you get your hands. Off. Me!” I pelted him with water again, squirming in his hold and pushing off on his chest.

Growling, he gripped my hips in his hands and shoved me away. It didn’t hurt in the water, but I hated that even in that he was stronger than me.

With both hands, I pushed a wave of water into his face.

Jared hunched his