Chapter 3Breaking Their Precious Little Sister

He instinctively started to let go of Tinsley to come toward me.

But Tinsley gripped his arm tighter, laughing. "Sorry, Jade! Hudson’s mine for the afternoon. I called dibs."

Hudson hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I did promise her, Jade. Just hang out for a bit, okay?"

They splashed into the water, Tinsley clinging to his chest like a barnacle. I sat on the edge, watching calmly, until a guy from the varsity swim team approached me.

"Hey," he said, flashing a confident grin. "You look like you need a coach. Want some pointers?"

In the water, Hudson’s head snapped toward us. "She’s my girlfriend," he called out, his voice echoing off the tile. "She doesn't need your help."

The swimmer looked at Hudson, then at Tinsley, who was currently wrapped around Hudson’s waist. He gave a look of pure disgust. "Dude, you’ve got a girl in your arms and another on the hook? Learn some respect."

"She’s like my sister!" Hudson yelled, clearly stung.

"Yeah, 'sister.' Right." The swimmer rolled his eyes and looked back at me. "Beautiful, here’s my number. Give me a call when you realize you’re dating a clown."

He walked away, but not before Hudson’s ego was thoroughly bruised. Hudson swam to the edge, looking agitated. "Those guys are just trying to take advantage of you, Jade. Use your head."

I looked at him with big, watery eyes. "But I'm bored just sitting here. If you’re busy with Tinsley, maybe Jax or Bennett could help me? They’re your best friends, right? I’m sure I’d be safe with them."

Jax, who was sitting nearby, looked up. "I'm not going to 'take advantage' of you. I'm not that thirsty."

I gave him a sweet, challenging smile. "Then it’s settled. Teach me."

I practically forced them into the water. As they stood on either side of me, guiding me in, Tinsley’s voice turned sharp. "Hudson! Focus on me!"

I glanced over and caught Hudson’s eye. He wasn't looking at Tinsley anymore. He was watching Bennett’s hand on my waist as I lowered myself into the pool.

I blinked, then suddenly let out a small cry. I "cramped" up, my body going limp as I tumbled directly into Jax’s chest.

Jax froze like he’d been struck by lightning.

"My leg... it hurts so much," I whispered into Jax’s ear, my breath brushing his skin. I looked over his shoulder at Bennett with a look of pure, helpless distress. "I should have stretched. Can you help me?"

Bennett hesitated, then reached underwater to massage my calf.

"JAX!" Tinsley’s voice was almost a scream.

Jax flinched and reflexively shoved me away to turn toward her. Without his support, I slipped under the surface, purposefully inhaling a bit of water to make it real.

The panic of drowning is hard to fake. I clawed at the nearest body—Bennett—and as I broke the surface, coughing and gasping, I pressed my lips against his, desperately "searching for air."

Bennett’s pupils blown wide. He was paralyzed.

I scrambled out of the pool, looking like a drowned, beautiful wreck. Bennett stared at the water, his face unreadable, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

Tinsley stormed over to me, her face flushed with rage. "Jade! You’re Hudson’s girlfriend! How could you be so... disgusting? Kissing Bennett in front of everyone? Have you no shame?"