Mind the Gap (In Too Deep) by Casey McMillin Read Free Book Online

face, but had to remind myself how much of an arrogant ass he was.
    Rachel and Gretchen both asked me at separate times if everything was okay, and I assured them that I was just tired. They were kind enough to know not to push it any further. They'd both taken a picture of me when I was on stage, and I asked them if they would forward the photos so I could upload them to Instagram. Rachel's came out better since she had an eye for making things look like an ad, but I liked the face I was making in Gretchen's, and I was glad to have them both.
    Collin and Ethan had to be getting back to their hotel so they could rest up for the next day. Everyone would be headed to the same hotel except for Trevor and I since we were staying at The Loft. The group offered to escort us so we wouldn't have to go alone, but it was close by and we assured them we'd make it fine. I told Rachel we'd meet them at the swim meet at ten in the morning. I saw Josh watching the whole exchange, but his expression was totally unreadable and he didn't say a word.

 
    Chapter 6
    Josh
     
     
    Brit's little friend thought he was the man for getting them a free hotel room at the place they were staying. From what I gathered, they were staying in the same room, which was a mystery to me. Supposedly, they weren't together, and if that were the case, then what were they doing sharing a room? I didn't know why I was wasting my time thinking about that anyway. I couldn't care less who she shared a room with.
    "What's your problem, Josh?" Rachel asked as we walked to our hotel. I'd never heard Rachel talk to anyone like that except Collin, so her tone took me off guard.
    "Nothing," I said with a shrug.
    "I can understand if you guys aren’t gonna be best friends," Rachel continued, oblivious to the fact that we weren't the only two who could hear the conversation, "but Brit's like a sister to me, and I'd love it if you just gave her a chance."
    "I don't ha ve a problem with her," I said, shrugging like I had no idea where her concern was coming from.
    "Okay," Rachel said reluctantl y. "It's just that she's thinking about moving to L.A., and I'm sure you guys would be forced to be in the same room sometimes."
    "Starting tomorrow I guess," I said, smiling and trying to lighten the mood.
    "Starting tomorrow," she agreed with a hopeful smile. We all rode the elevator to the twelfth floor.
    Ethan and I were sharing a room, and we watched two episodes of a reality show where these guys build outrageous fish tanks before we turned off the lights. It was pitch black in the room, and Ethan had on his headphones, so I was alone with my thoughts. I remembered the day's events, seeing the races in my mind's eye, but I only had a few scattered thoughts about my friends and the fact that I was there to watch them swim.
    Mostly I thought about Britney and, let's not beat around the bush, her amazing, come from out of nowhere, voice. Her sweet, raspy voice had a vulnerability to it that made me want to do whatever it took to take care of her. I smiled into the darkness as I considered the possibility that her song did indeed put some sort of a spell on me. I seemed to remember having a blatant distaste for her up until the point where she sang. God, that song. Part of me wanted to make it my life's mission to hear the sound of her voice again, and the other part of me wanted to avoid hearing it at any cost. I pictured her face, imagined her voice, and relived our kiss over and over again until I drifted off to sleep.
    ****
    The next day went by really fast. The group of people I was with in the stands took up the same seating arrangements we had the day before, so I didn't have much contact with Brit. Although I couldn't make out the words they were saying most of the time, I could hear the tones of the conversation and laughter. Now that I knew what her singing voice sounded like, I could hear it in her speaking voice. It was unnerving to say the least, and several times, I made