Chapter 25

His need to protect me from the ball grew tiresome. Even his friends told him to give it a rest. But when his role-playing as big brother continued, Parker dragged me under the net to join his team. Just before I'd switched sides, a massive hand wrapped around my ankle, tugging backward, and my body became a rope in a game of tug-o-war. What neither side seemed to realize was in the midst of their back and forth, I wasn't getting air, and water filled my mouth faster than I could get rid of it.

My feet and arms flailed in an effort to escape, and when my foot made contact with something hard, Collier's hold on my leg released. I jerked out of Parker's hands and coughed my way over to the side of the pool. I hoisted myself out and sat by the side, trying to catch a full breath, but I was pissed. This whole thing had been a bad idea, and I should have stayed home.

I ignored the guys in the pool and told them I was fine before stomping over to my friends and plopping down in the cha