Page 80 of PS: I Hate You
Carter:Heading your way
I’m about to text back, scolding Adam for using irresponsible language, when a metal door swings inward and deposits two grinning Perrys.
“Maddie!” Adam bounds across the space dividing us and scoops me into a hug. Carter follows at a more sedate pace, his gaze jumping from his brother’s back to meet my eyes. He rolls his, and we share a grin.
Adam sets me down and steps back, taking me in. “I can’t believe you’re here! Why didn’t you tell us you were coming? We didn’t think we’d have any family in the stands for this one.”
Well, that answers my unasked question about whether I’d see Dom while I’m here. I refuse to examine the odd mixture of relief and disappointment in my gut.
“I flew in for a work thing and wasn’t sure if I’d make it.” Deliberately running my eyes over Adam’s towering form, I let my mouth fall into an exaggerated pout. “Damn. I was expecting Speedos.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got you.” Adam tugs his sweatshirt over his head and shoves it at Carter, revealing a six-pack I’m not sure it’s legal for him to have. Then he fists the front of his pants and tears them off in one go like a veteran stripper, leaving him in averysmall bathing suit.
Carter snorts. “I’m not helping you button those up again.”
“Worth it.” Adam grins down at me, then does a slow circle with his arms spread. “What d’ya think? Ryan Lochte’s got nothing on me.”
“You certainly have a bigger ego than him.” I grin even as I tease him, happy I made it here, and not minding I’m about to sit for hours to only see these two swim a few times.
Like Adam said.Worth it.
A middle-aged white woman with hair that looks like it was bleached blond by chlorine sticks her head out of the locker-room door and points our way. “Adam. Carter. Get your asses back here. You can flirtafteryou break some records. Not before.”
“Coming, Coach!” Adam sings back, not chastised in the slightest. He grabs my face in his massive hands and plants a loud kiss on my forehead. “I want to hear you cheering me on, Sanderson.”
“Perrys!” The coach shouts again. Adam lets me go with a smirk and jogs away, his muscular body looking like the peak of athleticism as he goes.
“Thanks for showing up,” Carter says. Then he leans in for a quick kiss on my cheek before following his brother.
My face feels warm after their affection. Pleasantly so. My cheeks ache because of my wide smile that I can’t seem to diminish.
I find my way into the pool area and settle in my seat just as the UPenn swimmers take over the deck, the mass of them jumping into the water to start their warm-up laps. Adam’s eyes find me in the stands, and he waves vigorously. I hold up my phone and point to Carter. He gets the message, grabbing his twin around the shoulders. When the other Perry realizes what’s happening, he offers a small smile to Adam’s generous grin. I snap a quick shot, then give them a thumbs-up.
A little while later, after watching them win their first relay event and screaming myself hoarse, I sneak out of the pool to swing by the snack bar. While waiting in line, I send the picture of Adam and Carter to Dom.
Maddie:Are these two naturally naked mole rats, or did they wax off all that Perry fuzz? The things men do for sports…
The person in front of me steps away from the counter with their snacks, and I immediately order nachos. At home I always have high-quality artisanal cheeses I get from a local shop, but today I’m about to indulge in the same terribly delicious not-sure-if-it’s-real dairy I used to treat myself to at the twins’ summer swim meets.
My phone buzzes with a message.
Dom:How did you get that picture?
Maddie:Took it myself
Maddie:Josh didn’t get all the photography genes!
Maddie:But only because I stole some of his talent when he passed out after too many mojitos one night
I’m proud of myself for making a joke about my brother that wasn’t a morbid quip about his death. This seems like growth.
Dom:You’re on the East Coast?
Dom:At the twins’ meet?
Dom:Right now?
Maddie:Yes x 3