Free Jealousy by Jessica Burkhart Page A

schedule and told Taylor which teachers to avoid if possible.
    â€œThanks, Laur,” Taylor said nearly an hour later. “I’m glad we got the chance to catch up.”
    â€œMe too.” I leaned over and gave him a quick, one-armed hug. “What are you doing the rest of the weekend?”
    â€œUnpacking,” Taylor said. “Then I’ve got a checklist of stuff I’m supposed to do that was in my welcome packet.”
    We stood and made our way down the bleachers.
    â€œIf you start to get overwhelmed, text me,” I said. “This place can be a little scary at first. But I’m sure you’ve got it.”
    I reached to open the door to go outside. Before I grasped the handle, the door swung in the opposite direction, and chilly air swept inside the humid pool area.
    â€œHi!” Raquel said. She was in flip-flops and a pink Puma tracksuit. A matching duffel bag was over one shoulder.
    â€œHey,” Taylor and I said.
    Raquel’s long black hair was in a French braid, and she shot a smile at us both, but really looking at Taylor.
    â€œWhat’re you guys doing?” Raquel asked. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything . . . .” She put down her bag on one of the lowest bleacher rungs and pulled out a green Canterwood Crest towel with the school’s name stitched in gold.
    â€œYou didn’t. I was giving Taylor a tour of campus,” I said. “He’s a swimmer, so—”
    â€œOmigod!” Raquel cut in. “You swim? Me too!” She unzipped her Puma jacket, revealing a yellow bathing suit.The light color made her darker skin stand out. “I’m on the girls’ swim team.”
    â€œThat’s awesome,” Taylor said, smiling. “I’ll definitely be trying out for the guys’ team.”
    â€œWe should totally practice together sometime,” Raquel said. She kicked off her flip-flops, and I noted the metallic lilac polish on her toes matched her fingernails. Raquel definitely looked pool perfect. She flashed Taylor a giant smile, her teeth white against her naturally berry-colored lips.
    â€œThat would be fun,” Taylor said. “I’ll see you around.”
    Raquel gave him another grin. “See ya.”
    This time Taylor held the door open for me, and the smell of chlorine disappeared when we walked a few steps away from the building.
    â€œI think you’re going to be just fine at Canterwood,” I said. “You’ve already got Lacey and Raquel almost begging you to ask them out. I bet Raquel looks up your e-mail in the student directory and there’s already a message in your in-box inviting you to swim with her.”
    Taylor turned to me, his eyes meeting mine. “Lacey and Raquel are nice, but neither of them are the girl that I’m interested in.”

LOVE TRIANGLE
    â€œHE SAID WHAT ?”
    â€œKhloe!” I said. “We might be in the woods, but I think everyone on campus heard that. And you may have just deafened a bunch of squirrels!”
    Khloe hunched a little in Ever’s saddle, making an oops face. “Sorry. You know that I get crazy-excited about this stuff. I cannot believe that Taylor said no to Lacey and Raquel to your face after you told him the night before that you were with Drew.”
    â€œI know!” My own comment came out louder than necessary too. We both giggled. “Please tell me this whole Taylor-slash-Drew thing isn’t going to be awkward forever,” I moaned.
    Khloe reached over and patted my knee with herleather-gloved hand. “Aw, LT. We’ll figure it out. Taylor just got here. I’m sure once he really sees that you and Drew are on your way to superstar coupledom, then he’ll back off.”
    Beneath me Whisper snorted as if she agreed with Khloe. Once I’d said good-bye to Taylor, I’d BBMed Khloe and asked if she was ready to ride. We’d rushed to tack up our horses