Page 102 of Salto

“Nikolai just needed some help with the food,” Rove explained.

“Translation,” Dean said, “Nik found free labor.”

Rove chuckled. “Yeah, you know how he is.”

Dean’s expression said he did.

Dean had competed alongside Rove a few years ago, and the others couldn't have been much younger. Watching them interact, it felt less like coach and athletes and more like a group of teammates who’d spent a lot of time together in the gym.

“Why is it so hot?” Lexi groaned.

“Because it's summer,” AJ quipped.

Lexi rolled her eyes.

Dean wiped a hand across his forehead.

“Forget another round. I'm getting in the pool,” Dean said.

“Thank you,” Lexi said immediately.

“Seconded,” Miles said.

“Thirded,” Matthew added.

“Need to go make the rounds with the parents first?” AJ asked, turning to Rove with a teasing grin.

“Yeah,” Dean chimed in. “Does coach Rove gotta fulfill his coach obligations before he's allowed to hang out with the rest of us?”

The guys snickered.

“Shut up.” Rove rolled his eyes and gave Dean's shoulder a shove as we started walking toward the pool. “Just because I'm a coach now doesn't mean I can't still punch you.”

The second the coast was clear, Dean cannonballed into the pool, with Matthew, Miles, and AJ close behind.

Rove had been right; as soon as the sun began to set, the younger athletes and their parents started filtering out of the party. There were still a few people gathered around the fire pit, but the pool area had mostly emptied.

Lexi slipped off her swimsuit cover-up and smiled down at the boys splashing each other in the water.

“We playing water volleyball?” Lexi asked.

I stayed a few feet back from the edge of the pool as Rove came up beside me.

“You don't have to play with us if you don't want to,” he said quietly.

I looked over at him.

“What? Think I can't keep up?”

He smirked. “I know you can't.”

A thrill shot through me. I'd said the exact same thing when he'd asked if I thought he couldn’t handle me.

Before I could think of a comeback, he walked over to one of the lawn chairs and pulled his shirt over his head.

I immediately found myself very interested in taking off my shorts and tank top. The black one-piece I'd worn the day we met at the beach was underneath. By the time I looked back up, Rove was jumping into the pool. I made my way down the steps instead and met Lexi on one side of the volleyball net.

Rove joined the boys, and they spent several minutes splashing each other and arguing about teams before finally settling down.