Karma Always Comes Due Chapter 2

Our roommate, Valerie, burst into the room, panting.

"Ladies! The swim finals are about to start! Why are you two still sitting in the dorm?"

I blinked, momentarily disoriented.

I had almost forgotten. This afternoon was the university swim championship. Last night, Valerie and our other roommate, Tessa, had spent hours planning a grand post-race confession for me to deliver to Beckett.

I looked over at Sienna, who was wearing a flawless face of makeup.

No wonder she had remained so uncharacteristically quiet during our brainstorming session last night.

"I'm not going," I said flatly.

"What? Why?" Valerie asked, pausing as she searched her bag.

Sienna’s expression shifted instantly. She grabbed my hand, her eyes pleading. "Iris, please. I want to surprise him today. You promised you'd be there when I finally met my online boyfriend. I'll be too nervous without you. Please come with me."

Before I could shake her off, Valerie grabbed my other arm. "Exactly! Let's go! Tessa has been saving a prime seat for you since early morning, making sure you're the very first person Beckett sees when he climbs out of the pool!"

The refusal died in my throat when I caught the smug, triumphant glint in Sienna’s eyes.

I had done nothing wrong.

If she wasn't afraid of a confrontation, why should I be?

Valerie was always impatient. Without waiting to see if Sienna could keep up in her platform heels, she dragged me out of the dorm and sprinted toward the natatorium.