Running in Circles

When I bet on love, I can’t lose.

Things didn’t go according to plan my first trimester of school, but second trimester is back on track. I’m dating Paul, and Dylan is out of my life. But I have to train a new instructor while teaching swim lessons, and it turns out to be Dylan.

As if working with Dylan isn’t bad enough, I must contend with Bridgette, Paul’s best friend. I enter a 5K race with Paul, and Bridgette bets I’ll lose…the race and Paul.

Determined to get into my dream college and stay on track with Paul, I make a bet with Dylan. If I lose, Dylan gets a date with me, and if I win, Dylan will leave me alone. Soon I’m running circles with Dylan…at the gym and in life. He might be the reformed bad boy who can help me hurdle over my troubles. But can I hang on to Paul?

The second book in the Love is a Triathlon series follows Ash during the second trimester of her senior year as she sprints to the end. Grab this swoon-worthy sweet sports romance and continue the race to find out who is making a play for Ash’s heart. Sometimes losing is the best reward.

I’m all about making plans and executing them in precise order, but never could I plan for something this wonderful. It’s better than a dream come true.

“Wow.” Paul’s breath is warm on my cheek after we kiss for the first time.

Kissing Paul is how kisses are meant to be. The kind where your heart sparks to life and it feels like fireworks are erupting in a brilliant display of light and color.
Paul’s forehead lightly presses against mine, and he holds me in his long arms. I soak up the feeling, close my eyes, and breathe him in. It’s hard to believe this is true, especially after the last few months.

“This was worth the wait,” Paul says in his soft voice. His hands caress my back.

My heart pulses like a spinning ballerina making me feel alive. It’s not pounding me to pieces like it does when I’m nervous before a swim race. I tilt my chin up to Paul. Even in the dark school parking lot, I see his bright blue eyes in the glow of the streetlight. I don’t want this moment to end.

“Can you come to the celebration?” I ask.

My high school swim team won the state championship tonight, and we’re headed to celebrate. The seven state swimmers and our coach rode a bus back to the school parking lot, while our families, close friends, and other teammates head to a restaurant.

“I can’t,” Paul says. My shoulders slump. I’m not ready for this to end. “But I want to see you again.” Paul’s hands tighten on my waist.

“Tomorrow?” I don’t want him to let go of me, and I keep my hands clasped around his neck. The cold air nips at us, reminding me it’s nearly winter in Minnesota.

“Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.” Paul sounds amused.

“Oh.” How am I supposed to remember a holiday after the way he kissed me?

“I’m going to my grandparents’ house, but I’ll call you,” Paul says.

“Friday?” In my eagerness to see Paul again, I’m sure I’m neglecting something. Am I doing something with my best friend? I forget if Nora and I have plans.
Paul nods. “Friday.”

A small tear works its way out of the corner of my eye, even though I’ve been trying to hold it back. Crying in front of a boy the first time we kiss doesn’t seem like the best idea. My emotions get the best of me and this tear is a physical release. Paul takes a hand off my waist and gently brushes away the drop with a fingertip.

“Sorry.” My lips quiver into a small smile. “Everything’s been crazy. Nothing’s gone how I intended. But you…you being here is better than anything I planned for.”

“I’m sorry, Ash.” Paul places a small kiss on my forehead. “I shouldn’t have let Coach threaten me to stay away from you. Things might have been different.”

My body shivers, and I’m not sure if it’s from the cold seeping in or the thought of my failed plans. I wanted to defend my state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke and remain valedictorian of my senior class, but it didn’t work out. I ended up second in my race, though my school won the team championship. Someone also falsely accused me of cheating on a calculus test and my class standing is in jeopardy.

“It doesn’t matter.” I sound like a remnant of myself. At one time, it would have mattered to me. “It can only get better from here.”

“I’m sure it will.” Paul pushes back a strand of damp brown hair escaping from the hat covering my head. It’s the hat he gave me earlier this year when I had a crush on him.

A car pulls up next to us and a window slides down. Taylor, another senior and my co-captain of the girls’ swim team, sticks her head out. Her straight black hair is in wet strands, and a wide smile covers her face. “Hey, you two.”

Paul nods at Taylor while I say hi back with a matching grin on my face. The three of us have been swimming together for years.

“Don’t be too long, Ash,” Taylor says. From her passenger seat, a girl with long brown hair leans forward. Andrea’s face is drawn and taut. A freshman teammate, she was a close competitor of mine in the breaststroke. Andrea blackmailed her older brother, Dylan, into dating me to distract me from swimming. I suffered from performance anxiety and threw up at nearly every meet, which gave Andrea the perfect opportunity to start a rumor I was pregnant.

Paul and I watch Taylor drive off and he turns back to me. He swallows hard. “Um…is there anything…is he…” Paul can’t finish. I have a sneaking suspicion he’s asking if Dylan is still in my life. He knows I went out with Dylan a few times, but he’s not aware of how Dylan used me.