Free Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg

into perfect place, she might still feel this antsy, restless discontent. The kind that hinted at a purpose she couldn’t see. Something bigger than herself.
    Or she was just overanalyzing everything.
    Ava moved away from the hallway wall and tugged open the door to the pool. Raegan was apparently lifeguarding inside today, since the outdoor pool was closed. The second she stepped inside, moist air steamed around her. Laughter rose from the pool, the sound of kicks and splashes against aquamarine water. Narrow windows along the opposite wall offered a view of the rain still falling in steady sheets.
    “Look, I didn’t call to make you upset.”
    Ava blinked. Right, Autumn, still on the phone. She balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder so she could nudge up the sleeves of her jacket. “I know you didn’t.”
    “I’m only nagging you because I care.”
    “I know that, too.” She scanned the room for Raegan and spotted her standing at the corner of the pool, twirling a red-and-white-striped flotation device around her arm like a Hula-Hoop.
    “I originally called because Blake has been begging me to tell you about a new city job here. We need a rec center director. He thinks you’d be perfect.”
    “That’s funny, I happen to be in a rec center right now.” She rounded the pool toward Rae.
    “I wasn’t sure if I should say anything, considering Seth and all, but now . . .”
    Raegan waved as she approached.
    “Just a sec, sis, I need to deliver a message.” Ava moved her phone away from her ear.
    “Hey, whatcha doing here?” Raegan stuck the life preserver under her arm.
    “Message from Seth. Maddie’s in town, and there’s dinner tonight at your dad’s. He wants to make sure you can be there.”
    Raegan looked past her. “Joshua, no diving in the shallow end.” Her voice echoed off the walls, and she turned back to Ava. “Man,Seth has you filling in at the restaurant, fixing up his apartment, and now you’re his carrier pigeon?”
    “I’m overly helpful. What can I say?”
    Raegan studied her for seconds that stretched too long.
    Ava held up her cell. “Uh, so I’m on the phone with my sister—”
    “Oh, right. Sure, I’ll be at dinner.” She lifted her whistle and blew. “Joshua, what did I just say?”
    Ava gave a quick wave and turned away, replacing her phone at her ear. “Message delivered.”
    “So what’s Maddie like?”
    “Haven’t met her yet. But I will tonight.”
    “At the dinner you just mentioned?”
    Autumn must’ve heard the conversation. Had she recognized the awkward tinge to the exchange, too?
    A hush fell over the room then, and Ava paused on her way to the exit. She followed the focus of everybody in and around the pool. A little boy, probably not older than five or six, padding his way to the edge of a low diving board.
    And a man in the pool. “It’s all right, buddy. Just plug your nose and jump, and I’ll catch you.”
    The boy stopped at the edge of the board.
    “Have you thought of just coming out and telling Seth how you feel? You may regret it if you don’t,” Autumn said.
    The man in the pool stretched out his arms. “Jump whenever you’re ready, Sam.”
    “What’s the point in telling him? We’ve been over this. Maddie is here. He’s going to propose.”
    “Yeah, but if you love him—”
    “I don’t love him!” The words burst from her, bouncing off the cement and tile that wrapped around the room before thudding into silence. And suddenly it wasn’t the kid standing on the diving board at the center of attention—it was Ava, with her water-splotched clothes and humidity-flattened hair and the echo of her stubborn declaration clinging around her.
    Oh man, had Rae heard that?
    “Ava?” Autumn’s voice lowered.
    Just get out of here. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I’ll call you later.” She dropped her phone into her bag and started forward, the bright red EXIT sign up ahead her salvation.
    She angled around a