“That’s what it was about—the award you were winning. Coach had started writing notes about what he was going to include in his speech. Talking about how you never gave up on the butterfly was one of those notes. Sorry I couldn’t tell you.”

Oh. That made sense. No wonder it seemed like he had been trying to hide something. That made me feel a lot better. “It’s okay. You working today?”

“Work makes it sound like I get paid.”

“You don’t get paid?”

“You didn’t know that?”

“I didn’t. So why are you always here?”

“I help out the coaches. I want to study sports medicine. I figure it will look good on my graduate application if I have some experience.”

“I’m sure it will. So then you’re not-working tonight?”

“Yes, getting things ready for track finals tomorrow.” He ran a hand through his curls.

“You not-work too much.”

“I like to keep busy. The only one that misses me at home is my dog.”

“You have a dog?”

“I do.”

“Cute. I always wanted a dog, but my mom says they’re way too much work.”

He nodded. “They are.”

A random thought came into my mind. “Do you talk to yours?”

“My dog?”

“Yes.” I couldn’t read his expression.

“Doesn’t everybody?”

I was being stupid. DJ was definitely not Heath Hall. He wasn’t even in high school. “Do you know what time it is?”

“After six.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. It was late. I’d told my mom I’d be home for dinner.

“You lost track of time again?”

I smiled. “What makes you think that?”

He pointed to my phone sitting on the cement. “You should do a timed playlist. When it’s over, you’ll know it’s time to get out.”

“You, DJ, are the smartest man in the world.”

His dark skin darkened with a blush, and he messed with his glasses.

I pushed myself out of the pool. When he jumped back, I realized he didn’t want to get wet. Being a swimmer, I’d seen that evasion move a lot. I was tempted to hug him, like I was tempted to do with everyone who reacted that way. I stopped myself, though. He and Amelia were . . . something. Instead, I shook my head and sent a spray of water at him.

“Hey!” He laughed and pulled his sweater away from his chest with two fingers.

The dollar bill now sat on the cement between us and we both stared at it.

“I can’t take that,” he said.

“It’ll bring someone luck.” I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around me.

“I thought that was a penny.”

“Then a dollar should be one hundred times luckier, right?” I said.

“It’s hard for me to leave money on the ground. I feel like it’s me telling the universe that I don’t need any more.”