Rory Holt is the best swimmer on the team at State U. and he knows it. Swimming is his life, and if Rory hopes to attain his dreams of Olympic gold one day, he can’t let anything distract him. Every morning finds him practicing at the campus fitness center, and every afternoon he blows his teammates away with his speed and finesse in the water. The new semester brings with it new tryouts, including the bright, up-and-coming Chase Cohen. Chase is sexy and sure of himself, both in and out of the pool, and seems determined to catch Rory’s eye. Rory doesn’t want to share the podium with anyone else, and he doesn’t like hearing his coach say Chase might even be better than he is when he already knows he’s the best. Chase’s attentions are annoying at first, but the more he persists, the harder Rory finds it to ignore him. Soon Rory can’t deny the growing attraction he feels towards his new teammate. But when that attraction costs him his top spot on the leaderboard, Rory is pissed. Is Chase after Rory’s position on the team, or Rory himself?

Playing the Field: Getting Wet

Less than ten minutes later, though, his alarm doessound. So much for sleeping in.


At team practice that afternoon, it’s humiliating to have to take the second starting block and see Chase preening beside him, on the block where by all rights heshould be. He knows statistically there is no difference in any of the lanes—conditions are the same at either end of the pool, and a good swimmer placed anywhere along its length can still come in first. But mentally, not being in the lead position puts him off again. Rory is too busy glaring at Chase, who studiously ignores him, to anticipate the starting signal. For the second day in a row, he finishes mere seconds behind Chase in the heat.


Seconds that continue to add to the time behind his name on the scoreboard, widening the distance between the two teammates.


Chapter 17