Submerged in Your Love (✔️)

Chapter Twelve

(Josephine's POV)

"Did you see the interview where that swimmer basically trash talked your man?" Lisa asked as I gave her her coffee and bagel.

"The what?"

"An interview. I think it was on ESPN. They're starting to do Olympic kind of interviews and stuff."

"Someone trashed Kai?"

"Yeah. Some swimmer. I think his name was Carson."

"Oh no." I muttered.

"Oh no what?" Lisa asked.

"It's nothing. What did the guy say?"

"I'll pull it up for you to listen to."

After I listened to the interview I wanted to call or go see Kai. I wanted to check on him. I haven't seen him in four days.

I've been swamped at the cafe since two people called in sick and one is on vacation. As soon as I get home I go to bed.

The rest of my day seemed to go by so slowly. It was almost closing time when the door opened. I couldn't tell who it was until they spoke.

"You're off your game, Sis." Reid said.

"That's because this is the last place I expect you to be. I thought I caught a whiff of your gross cologne though."

"We don't live that far away, Jo-Jo. It's like a hour and fifteen minutes max."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm touring the local colleges."

"You are?"

"Well Mom thinks I am. I was hoping I could stay with you for a few days. I told her I'd be gone a week with some friends scoping out the schools."

I sighed. "You're lying time her? Why not just tell her the truth?"

"You know how she is. She's crazy about this stuff. Hell, she's still hounding you about going to college when you say you're perfectly content working here forever. So can I stay with you?"

"You can stay but you know the rules." I said pointing my finger at him.

"I know, I know."

"And if mom finds out then I'm totally throwing you under the bus."

"I got it."

"Good. Since you here, you can help me clean and lock up."

"Aye aye captain. Put me to work."

I put my brother to work and soon we were on our way to my place.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked as we walked home.

"Of course."

"You're a big fan of sports, right?"

He chuckled. "You wanna know about the guy that talked smack about Nakoa?"

"Maybe. Is that bad?"

"Not at all."

"Has everyone seen it? The interview?"

"It did go viral. A lot of people defending Nakoa and a lot of people backing Carson up."

"So what do you know?"

"Carson Hawkins. Age 27. He was in the Olympics with Kai when Kai was 16 which made Carson 20 at that time. He won a couple bronze and a few silvers. Kai took all the gold that year, for every event he participated in. Ever since the first race that Kai beat Carson in, he's had it out for Kai."