Swimming back to you

chapter 14.

"Do you think I'm a joke?" Austin's voice dripped with sarcasm, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me.

I had been expecting this reaction. After Brandon excused himself—to go to the locker room, of all places—I knew I had to face Austin. I had hoped Brandon would just leave, but no, he had decided to sign up for a few trial classes instead. The last thing I wanted was for Austin to refuse to play along after I'd already roped him into this mess.

Taking a deep breath, I walked up to him, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. "Austin, I—"

"Seriously, Hailey," he cut me off, "do you think I'm a joke? First, you tell me to leave you alone, and now you want me to help you out?" He practically spat out the last two words, his tone filled with mockery.

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of his words. This was not going to be easy. "Look, I know it sounds bad, but I really need your help right now. You always go around telling people how we're childhood friends, right? Can't you help me out for that sake?"

Austin let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Yeah, well, I stopped doing that ever since you told me to mind my business." He paused, tilting his head as if deep in thought. "When was it? Oh, right, yesterday."

I groaned, realizing just how deep I'd dug this hole. "I know I was out of line yesterday, okay? I'm sorry, really."

"Sorry?" Austin feigned shock, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Did the great Hailey just apologize? I'm not sure I heard that correctly. Could you repeat it?"

"Don't push it, Austin," I shot back, though I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "I'm trying to be serious here."

"Well, that makes one of us," he muttered under his breath, then sighed. "So what's the plan? I pretend to be your boyfriend, and he suddenly decides to take up knitting instead of bothering you?"

"It's not like that!" I protested, though I could see the disbelief on his face. "He just needs to think I'm with someone else so he'll back off."

"Right," Austin said, nodding exaggeratedly. "Because pretending to be in a relationship has always worked."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you done with the commentary?"

"Not even close," he grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "But for the sake of childhood friendship—or whatever excuse you're using this time—I'll help. But don't expect me to swoop in every time you make a mess of things."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Thank you. And I promise I'll try not to—"

"—drag me into your next disaster? Please, save it," he quipped, rolling his eyes. "I've known you long enough to know that's not happening."

I frowned, a little defensive. "What do you mean by that?"

Austin didn't miss a beat. "First, you ask me to keep your little rock-climbing secret with Ryan—because, apparently, that's top-secret information. Then, you go and leave your friend Lily to me like I'm some sort of babysitter. And now," he gestured dramatically, "you're using me as a human shield against Brandon? Seriously, Hailey, somehow I'm always involved in your love life."

I winced, feeling a mix of guilt and embarrassment. "Well, when you put it like that..."

"Yeah, it's starting to feel like my secondary job," he continued, a smirk playing on his lips. "Austin, the accidental love-life manager. I mean, it's impressive, really. Who knew I had such a knack for navigating romantic chaos?"

"Austin—" I started, but he wasn't done.

"And you know what's really funny?" he interrupted, his tone dripping with irony. "I'm not even the one dating you! Yet here I am, caught up in all these situations, as if it's like a running theme in your life—'Let's see how many ways we can drag Austin into Hailey's romantic drama."