Out in the Deep: Out in College, #1 by Lane Hayes

Author:Lane Hayes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lane Hayes

4

Within a couple of weeks, fall semester and the regular water polo season were in full swing. The schedule was grueling. I began my day at the crack of dawn, jumped into the pool, went to school for a few hours, then got back into the pool or onto a bus bound for a game or a tournament at another university somewhere in So Cal. By the time I finally arrived home, I was freaking exhausted and I usually still had some studying or reading to do before I crashed for the night. I’d been doing a variation of this routine since I was in junior high school. The long days and physical fatigue hardly fazed me. In fact, I kind of got off on the adrenaline rush. But Gabe was a game changer.

His presence added an element of danger I found simultaneously exciting and scary as hell. As he’d pointed out, the biggest challenge was being on the same team and pretending our friendship was a gradual thing. I was a terrible actor. Feigning indifference when Gabe walked into a room wasn’t easy.

I’d always thought he was attractive, but his looks were only part of his appeal. Gabe exuded confidence. And let’s face it, there was nothing quite as sexy as self-assurance with the right amount of swagger. Some days I was sure I’d give myself away. He didn’t have to do much to make my heart beat like a drum. The sight of him walking onto a pool deck in a low-slung Speedo that left little to the imagination was enough to turn me on.

Gabe seemed better at compartmentalizing this new thing between us. When he was in the pool, he was focused and centered. He might be funny and engaging in the locker room but once we hit the water, he gave his all and expected the same from everyone on the team. Including me. That wasn’t exactly an issue. I tended to be as serious in the pool as I was in everyday life, which was probably part of why I was chosen to be team captain. I was a hard worker, but Gabe was the natural-born leader.

His love of the game showed in everything he did. He was an asset at the net with a fierce cross-cage shot that always seemed to take the other team by surprise, and he never backed down on defense. He had a habit of pumping his fist in the air and then smacking the water when he made a goal. I’d hated it when we were opponents and I was the guy he’d scored on. Now, it made me laugh. He was equally supportive of everyone else’s achievements. He whooped and cheered his fellow teammates for a job well done with an innate joy that was truly inspirational.

Sometimes I couldn’t believe he was mine. Well…secretly mine. I’d find myself staring at him from across the locker room, lost in a state of admiration and longing. Occasionally he’d catch my eye, and I swore it took everything I had to stay focused and pretend he was just one of the guys.

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