Swimming After Love

Ash, Dylan, Paul, and the rest of the Love is a Triathlon gang are back and in their first semester of college.

Ash has finally let go of her relentless planning to float downstream, but things and people keep churning up the water and getting in her way. There's an ex-boyfriend to contend with and a boyfriend she never gets to see. With everyone and everything vying for Ash's time, she has to decide what's important to her.

Who will Ash be spending Christmas with this year...any, maybe, forever?

If there’s an award for the most awkward moments, I will be crowned champion. It’s one thing to draw the freshman short stick to get the swim coach a cup of coffee while in your swimsuit, but it’s another to run into your boyfriend’s mom and your ex-boyfriend’s mom while dripping wet. Seeing them at the same time is another notch on my long list of awkward moments.

“Ash!” Maureen, my boyfriend’s mom, exclaims when I breeze down the hallway in my deck sandals and swimsuit.

“Oh, hi.” I stumble to a stop in front of the two women and Maureen leans in to give me a hug. I try not to get her wet since I’m in a damp swimsuit after swimming a warm-up in the university pool. “What are you doing here? Dylan didn’t mention you coming.”

Dylan and I have been dating since the end of our senior year of high school. He attends the State University in Minnesota, an hour drive from me, and is currently in California for a water polo tournament.

“Debbie was driving up to see Paul swim at the meet and I joined her.” Maureen smiles at Paul’s mom and then turns to me. “Andrea doesn’t have a meet and I know your mom can’t come on Friday afternoons. I thought I would come support you.”

Maureen always welcomes me into her home and family with open arms. My history with her two youngest children could be a sore spot for anyone, but it’s only helped to strengthen our relationship. Maureen is an older version of Dylan’s younger sister Andrea. They both resemble Amazonian princesses with wavy brown hair, dark eyes, and cheek bones which rival a runway model.

“Thanks for coming.” I cross my arms over my small chest and glance at Paul’s mom. Mrs. Turner watches me with narrowed eyes. She’s attended other swim meets, but I’ve only seen her from a distance. This is the closest encounter we’ve had since I dated her son during high school. “It’s great you both could make it.”

Water drips down my legs and pools in my deck sandals. Goosebumps poke out on my bare flesh. It’s early October in Minnesota and not exactly warm in the hallway, and I should have been to the café by now to get Coach Simmons his coffee.

“It’s nice to see you again, Ash,” Mrs. Turner says out of polite regard.

Her face does not match her words. She means it’s great to see me not dating her son. I’m quite sure she never liked me, and she likes me even less since I’m dating her son’s ex-best friend. Mrs. Turner also happens to be neighbors and friends with Dylan’s mom. Talk about awkward. I’m guessing they avoid all conversation about me. At least, I hope they do.

“It’s good to see you too,” I say in return, “but I really need to get the coach his coffee.”

“You look like you’re freezing,” Maureen says as I wrap my arms tighter over my chest.

“It’s this freshman swimmer tradition,” I say with a shiver. “We draw sticks and the short one has to get Coach a cup of coffee in their swimsuit before the meet starts.”

“Go, go!” Maureen waves her hands at me. “Go get it and then get your towel.”

I smile at her while Mrs. Turner scowls. “I’ll come and see you when I can,” I say before I hightail it away.