I FOUND LOVE IN CALIFORNIA 5: Handsome

◈OUTSIDE◈

I was halfway to my car when I heard footsteps behind me.

“Hey, Alex,” Finley called out. I paused as I opened the door, his deep, booming voice reaching me. He slowed his steps, closing the distance between us, and I stepped back, facing him fully.

He held out the key. “Your mom asked me to give you this.”

My brows furrowed as I looked at it, then back at him. “Thank you,” I said, my voice even, “but I will not be needing it. I will be going with mine.”

“She…” Finley started, then stopped when I spoke again.

“I cannot take hers,” I said calmly.

His head tilted back slightly, his gaze darting from me to the cars around us before settling on the Bugatti. He looked back at me, disbelief flickering across his face.

“Hers?”

“Yes,” I replied softly.

I turned toward my Porsche 911 Carrera S, and his eyes followed. “That is mine,” I said, then turned back to him, our eyes meeting again.

“Why would she ask you to use hers,” he asked, nodding toward my car, “besides, yours...”

“I do not know,” I interrupted, shaking my head slightly.

Silence settled between us, heavy and still, our gazes holding longer than necessary.

"I have to go now,” I said finally.

He blinked, then nodded, extending his hand. “Finley.”

I looked at his hand, then up at him as I took it. “Alex.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

“My pleasure,” I replied, forcing a smile of my own. My eyes dropped briefly to our hands as I felt a soft rub of his thumb against my skin. I pulled my hand away slowly, keeping my expression calm.

“Let me guess,” Finley said, gesturing toward the driveway as he turned slightly. “Heading to William Woollett.”

My eyes narrowed as I looked at him.

He scoffed lightly, looking away with a bright smile before turning back to me. “I am a fan,” he said. “You are a good swimmer. Second place is not bad, but I believe you can make first place.”

“Why say so,” I asked, searching his eyes.

“Because you are always this close,” he said, lifting his hand and holding his index finger and thumb almost together, smiling as he demonstrated it.

My eyes dropped to the key still in his hand, then lifted to meet his gaze again, a small smile playing on my lips.

“See you some other time,” I said, lightly punching him in the right side of his chest. “Fan."

His shoulder shifted back slightly from the contact, and he looked at me with a smile that lingered as I moved to my car.

I climbed into the car and shut the door. I started the engine and stopped, my chest tightening as I looked through the windshield at him before I reversed slowly to the gate.

******

✦THREE DAYS LATER✦

◈WILLIAM WOOLLETT JR. AQUATICS◈

I rose from the water with a smooth, practiced pull, droplets sliding down my shoulders as I pushed my goggles up and reached for the green cap that had hidden most of my face during the set. My body felt warm, still buzzing from the sprint, my breathing hadn’t settled yet.

As I climbed out, I noticed a guy standing in the hallway. He wore baggy trousers and a green oversized polo that hung loose on his frame. His cap was pulled low, the brim shading half his face. For a second my attention lingered, curiosity sparking, then I looked away and grabbed my towel. I fell into step with Marco as we headed toward the coach.

Coach Harry looked up from his record book, pen pausing mid line as his gaze moved between us. He tapped the page with the tip of the pen and shook his head slightly.

“Alex,” he said, voice firm but familiar, “Marco keeps beating you all the way round in the hundred. Every lap. The competition is four days away, so both of you need to brace up. I expect medals from you, both of you, and not just participation.”

He closed the book with a soft thud and straightened. “Each of you will return with a medal. I believe you both can do it.”

I nodded, chest still hurting from the exercise, eyes steady as I listened.

My gaze swept to the guy, and then I realized it was Finley. He looked up and smiled, his cap pulled low in his hand.

“See you both on Monday,” Coach Harry continued, already turning back to his notes. “Last day of practice. One hour only.”

“Thanks, Coach,” Marco said with an easy smile.

“Thank you, Coach,” I echoed, already stepping away as Marco turned toward me, smiling, while my attention stayed fixed on Finley.