Fat Cat by Robin Brande Page B

curious. I had to watch.
    The IM was my event, too. One lap of each--butter, back, breast, and free. All out, full power, showing what you can do in every stroke. Matt and I used to race each other in that all the time. I even used to beat him when we were little.
    I didn't realize until that moment how much I actually miss it--that feeling of freedom and power and strength in the water. I have these big arms and shoulders, and I always loved the way they felt during a good long workout or race. Some girls are made for running, with their skinny little bodies and total lack of boobage, but I alwaysknew I was made for swimming. There has to be an evolutionary reason for these shoulders.
    But that was then, this is now. I can't even imagine what I'd look like in a bathing suit anymore. I was already starting to chunk out too much the last time I wore one--I just didn't want to admit it until someone else pointed it out.
    The swimmers sprinted the last length of the pool. And Matt won, of course. Jordan came in a close second. Jordan shook Matt's hand and then got out of the pool to go talk to some other guy wearing the team swimsuit.
    I saw Jordan point over at us. I figured he was showing off his girlfriend.
    Wrong. The two of them came over, and Jordan said, "Cat, this is Greg. Greg, Cat."
    Greg leaned over, dripping on me, and shook my hand. I sort of looked away, since he was wearing just his Speedo.
    Wait a minute, I thought. Greg?
    Amanda realized it, too. She passed me a look. This was the guy Jordan had wanted to invite on that surprise double date back at the start of school.
    I could see why he thought Greg might be my type. The guy is big . Not entirely muscular big--there's some definite flab going on. Not that I should talk, but I noticed it.
    I acted appropriately cool. "Amanda, I really need to get back. I have a lot of homework today."
    "Yeah," Greg said, "Jordan says you're a real brain."
    I smiled in what I thought was a polite but uninterested way. "Not really. I have to work at it."
    Greg folded his big arms over his big chest. "I heard you're really good at math."
    "Sort of."
    "Come on, Cat," Jordan said. "Stop acting so modest. She's at the top of our class--math, science--"
    I noticed Matt out of the corner of my eye, watching us.
    "Speaking of math," I said, "I've got about twenty curve sketches to do for Calc. I really have to go."
    But that Greg guy couldn't take a hint. "Hey, I heard you used to swim."
    I shot Jordan a look. He shrugged innocently. I looked past him to Matt, who was now talking to their coach.
    "Bet you were killer," Greg said. "What was your stroke?" "Butter," I mumbled.
    Greg grinned. "Hey, me too. Why'd you stop?"
    As if that were any of his business! I cleared my throat and subtly pressed my leg against Amanda's.
    She understood perfectly. "Sweetie, we should probably get going," she told Jordan. "I promised Cat I'd get her back."
    "Okay, I'm just going to rinse off and change," he said.
    Greg felt compelled to shake my hand again--what is it with guys? "It was really nice meeting you."
    "Yeah," I lied. "You too." I just wanted him to go away. Matt wasn't staring at us anymore, but the whole thing still made me feel really uncomfortable.
    "What's going on?" I demanded as soon as Amanda and I were alone. "Was this a trick to make me meet that guy?"
    Amanda held up her hand. "I swear. No tricks." She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. "But ... what did you think of him?"
    "Not much."
    "Not too bad-looking," Amanda said.
    "Not interested," I answered firmly.
    Matt passed in front of us, still in his Speedo. He didn't look at me, I didn't look at him. He crossed to the far end of the pool and retrieved his towel. Then he passed in front of me again, but this time turned his head just enough to make eye contact.
    Which proved I was watching him. Which I instantly fixed by looking away.
    I know I was supposed to say, "Good race, Matt," or, "Congratulations," but forget it. I'm sure