Drowning With You

CH. 26 💋

LOUIE'S POV

Spring break didn't last long enough. With everyone gone, Winter and I fucked everywhere, barely spent more than a few hours apart yet somehow, I never even felt like I was going crazy out of my mind.

I didn't hate having her around me constantly. I didn't wish she would stop talking or that she would leave. I wanted her in my arms the entire week. I did have her in my arms all week.

But of course, reality came crashing back down when the busses, shuttles, and the cars of everyone's parents started rolling back onto campus. Our little fling has had some flexibility because of the loss of student population, but now we are back to hiding whatever is going on. Or ending it.

It's for the best—I can't like her like that. That's not how this is supposed to work. This is the wakeup call. People are back, we are done.

Winter is changing. Or maybe the way she presents herself to me is. She cares more than she lets on. Last week, she caught sight of my old scars—I hated myself in that moment—knowing she thinks I'm weak. I'm not.

I am strong. I stopped. I won't do it again. I don't want her to think I am weak. Does she think that?

"So, you're saying Winter is gay?" Matt asks, flabbergasted. Of course, he's the only person I would ever tell, knowing he won't tell anybody else. I won't out her to the world, that's beyond terrible, I've been there. I wouldn't do that no anyone.

"I don't know. Maybe she's not even gay. She's probably just experimenting. I don't care, whatever," I explain, wishing I was wrong but knowing it's most likely right.

"But you...? You seem different. Something is different. I think you care," he suggests, a grin on his face, mentally poking at me. He thinks this is funny. Great.

"Hmm. I think you are wrong," I say, then decide to change the subject. "But your girl..."

He rolls his eyes but smiles, happy that I brought it up so he can talk about her once again. He's obsessed and happy with her, I can just tell.

"God, she's just amazing. She loves the same music as me, she loves art and photography, she is such a yapper and I love listening to her." Basically in awe of the woman, he's beaming.

"I need to meet her. Please. Let me meet her," I beg, holding my hands together as if I'm praying. He sighs with another grin.

"Soon. I promise."

"She knows about me, right?" I ask, wearily. His last girlfriend didn't have a problem with me, but many girls don't want their boyfriends to have friends who are also girls. I get it, but also, I am the one who would be losing a best friend. I know with my whole heart we are only platonic.

"Yes, she does know, and she said she wants to meet you too. I told her there is nothing to worry about. I think she's still not exactly convinced, maybe a bit nervous, but maybe meeting you will help?" he guesses. It worries me a bit, hoping she will be able to feel okay about our friendship. I will step aside if it's what I need to do, but I don't want to.

"Okay. It'll be good, I'll win her over with my very nice attitude." I give him a fun smile and then grab my bag off the hanger on the bathroom door. "Alrighty, time to head to my own swimming lessons."

"You mean your play date with the ice queen?" Matt jokes and I return him with a glare as we both leave my dorm, heading our own ways.

After the quick walk to the pool, I'm perfectly on time to change into my swimsuit and still be out on deck when she wants me to be.

Once I get to the locker room, only one person is there, and it happens to be the one who's company is quite pleasant now days. She's already changed and ready, yet still here, waiting. For me.