“Until I can shave off more time, I’m going to stop asking.”

My dad opened his arms when I joined him.

“You don’t want a hug. I’m wet.”

He pulled me into one anyway. “I always want a hug. You swam great today.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Mom said to tell you, ‘Good job.’”

I wondered if she had seen me swim at all. Every time I had looked up, she was on her phone. My eyes went to the gate and to the parking lot beyond it, wondering if she was still on the phone now. I rubbed at my aching shoulders. “Where is she?”

“She had to run off to her first five K meeting today with the new staff for the next race.”

“Sounds official.”

“Sounds boring. So to celebrate me getting to stay, should we get Froyo?”

“Dad, don’t call it that.”

“Isn’t that what all the kids are calling it?”

“No.”

“Do you need to change before we go?”

“Let me just grab my sweats, and if you’re not embarrassed to be seen with a swim rat, then I can go like this.”

“I am not embarrassed to be seen with my talented daughter.”

Between my coach and my mom, it felt like my dad was the only one who thought that. “I’ll be right back.” I went to my locker, pulled on my sweats, then shoved my wet towel in my duffel and slung the strap over my shoulder. When I got back outside, Jackson was standing next to my dad, talking to him like they were old friends. I slowed my hurried pace. As far as I knew, they’d never met before. Did Jackson even know it was my dad he was speaking to? Had Jackson been here the whole time?

“Moore,” Jackson said when I reached them. “That was some excellent swimming. Not as good as my swim but a close second.”

“You’re a swimmer as well?” my dad asked.

“No, he’s not,” I answered before Jackson could.

He answered anyway, with a mocking tone. “I’m a bit of a novice. I came today to watch the experts and pick up a few pointers.”

My dad, not realizing that everything that came out of Jackson’s mouth was a joke, said, “That’s nice. I’m sure Hadley will give you some pointers. We’re going to get some Froyo right now. You should join us.”

“Dad—” I started to scold when Jackson interrupted me with, “I’d love to.”

I shot him a look that clearly said, Stop being terrible and go away, but it didn’t faze him.

“Moore enjoys my company. She just told me the other day that she thought I was the funniest person she knew.”

“Is that so?” my dad asked.

“He’s actually the funniest person he knows.”

“That too,” Jackson said with a smile. “I’ll meet you over there. The one on Coral Road?”