Read Swim Again for Free Online Page B

climbed the narrow cement stairs to the third floor.  
    “This is—” I said, stepping into her apartment.
    “Small,” she said.  “I know but it’s cheaper and close.”
    With the knowledge that Mauri was dating Brayden, it surprised me for a moment to see that she had a little studio apartment.  Overall, it was cozy.  Her full size bed was in one corner. A couple of steps over her small couch sat across from a TV.
    “What?” she said when I didn’t say something back.  “You’re thinking about something.  Go ahead and say it.”
    Ask her what was she thinking when she began dating Brayden.  Tell her every story of his bragging that I had to endure.  Say how I would have thought that he made sure she had a larger apartment.  Tell her to come stay with me.  No.  
    “Well,” she said.
    “I have to go,” I said.  “I’ll be at the pool early in the morning.”
    “Right,” she said.
    I made my way back to the door and stopped.  “Mauri,” I said and turned around. 
    “Yeah,” she said, seeming to wait for me to say something profound. 
    “I’ll see you around.”
    “Wait,” she said and grabbed my hand, blocking me from reaching the door knob.  “Kaz, I hope you weren’t waiting for me to say that you can call me.  I miss you.  As a friend.”
    “Good because I didn’t have permission to call.”
    “Like that has stopped you before.  You really did change.  The last time I told you not to call me ever again you used my mom against me.  And you were sitting in my room when I got back home.”
    Kaz chuckled.  “I remember that.  I was sitting on your good sheets.”
    “I had finished washing them that morning.  I was so mad.”
    “But not for long.”  I smirked. 
    Mauri patted me on my shoulder.  “See you later Kaz.”
    “I’ll be at the aquatic center on Friday in Pinewood.  If you want, come by after your test for a few minutes.”
    “Don’t expect me.  I’m meeting with my boyfriend Friday.  I haven’t seen him in a while.”
    “Will he be that mad if you’re a little late?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Do you notice how you say ‘my boyfriend’ every time as if he doesn’t have a name?” 
    “If you must know, his name is Brayden.”
    “Aka Hometown,” I said.
    “How’d you know?”
    “Saw you with him.”
    “And you’re not upset.  I know you two don’t get along.”
    “For one, I wasn’t here to advise you.”
    Mauri chuckled.
    “And you know all about Dakota,” I said.  “You remember what I told you?  How she would lean in, slither around, make things uncomfortable when her husband wasn’t around.”
    “She’s not like that anymore.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I know.”
    “I still train with her husband, Mauri.  He tells me almost everything.  The incident brought us closer.”
    “OK, so did he tell you Brayden slept with her in the past few months?”
    “You know what you’re doing,” I said.  “All I can say is I don’t like it at all.  I don’t make decisions for you, so good luck.  And don’t be afraid to come cry on my shoulder.”  I pulled out a copy of my keys.  “For you.  I’ll text the address.”
    “You’re standing in my place remember?”
    “It’s for the times when you don’t want to go out but don’t want to be at home.  I have a huge kitchen area.  I use the microwave.  You can come by and use the extra space.”
    “Oh, so now you reveal your true motive,” Mauri said.  “You want home cooked meals.”
    I smiled, and looked into Mauri’s eyes.  She cleared her throat and shuffled around.  “You need to study,” I said.  “I’ll see you Friday.”
    “He really wants me to be there on time Kaz.”
    “And I know you’re not one to take orders from anyone but me.”
    “I would strangle you right now.”
    “Put me in a chokehold like you used to?  I’m going to let you know my little secret.  I allowed you to do that.  Every time, I volunteered.  I would have been out