Chapter 220: pool party X

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: pool party X

Anthony remained with his friends as the crowd began shifting toward the pool.

The announcement of the next game had drawn everyone’s attention, and students were already calling out to one another as they looked for partners.

Anthony barely listened.

His attention had returned to the pool.

More specifically—

To Damian.

His cousin was standing with Fred, George, and Tom, only a few paces away from Vivienne and her friends.

Close enough to see her.

Close enough to speak to her.

Anthony’s expression tightened.

Apparently, Damian had no intention of going very far.

He didn’t understand why that irritated him.

Perhaps it was simply his pride.

Perhaps it was the fact that Damian seemed completely unconcerned with how obvious he was being.

Or perhaps Anthony was simply tired of seeing his cousin appear at Vivienne’s side every time another opportunity presented itself.

He looked away.

Then back again.

Damian was laughing at something Fred had said, but his attention drifted toward Vivienne every now and then.

Anthony found himself watching again.

"Anthony?"

He turned.

Evelyn stood a short distance away, one hand lightly holding the edge of her robe.

She offered him a small smile.

"Sorry to interrupt."

"You haven’t."

Anthony glanced briefly toward his friends.

"Excuse me for a moment."

One of them waved him off.

"Go ahead."

Anthony stepped away from the group.

"Lady Sinclair."

She looked up at him.

And for a moment, she forgot what she had meant to say.

She had seen Anthony countless times.

But never quite like this.

He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of dark board shorts. His bare shoulders looked broader without the structure of a shirt or jacket, and the lines of his athletic build were impossible to miss.

He was completely dry. His blond hair was neatly in place, and his blue eyes looked as calm and composed as ever.

Evelyn’s gaze lingered for a second before she caught herself.

She looked back at his face.

She was suddenly more aware of her own appearance, too. Her chestnut hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and her green eyes looked brighter against her healthy, sun-warmed skin. Her beauty was softer, quieter—pretty without demanding attention.

Nothing like Vivienne’s.

Vivienne was glamorous.

Eye-catching.

The kind of beautiful people noticed immediately.

Evelyn was more understated.

She didn’t know why she was thinking about any of that now.

Perhaps because Anthony was standing so close.

Perhaps because she had never quite seen him this way before.

Evelyn gave herself a small mental shake.

She had approached him for a reason.

"Are you enjoying the party?"

"It’s been pleasant. And you?"

"Yes. It’s very new and interesting."

"That’s good to hear."

There was a brief pause.

Around them, the conservatory had grown louder again as students began making their way toward the pool.

Evelyn glanced in that direction.

"The next game looks interesting."

Anthony followed her gaze.

"Shoulder Wars."

She smiled.

"Yes."

She hesitated for a moment before looking back at him.

"I was hoping... since you’re already here, would you care to join me? It’d be more fun with someone I know."

Anthony’s expression shifted slightly.

His eyes moved toward the pool.

Even without hearing the full rules, he understood enough about the game to know what it involved.

One person would carry the other.

There would be considerable physical contact.

He looked back at Evelyn.

"I don’t think so."

Her smile faltered.

"Oh."

"It’s not that I don’t want to."

Anthony paused.

"I simply don’t think that particular game would be appropriate."

Evelyn understood.

"Of course."

"There will be other games."

"I hope so."

She glanced toward the platform.

The host was preparing to speak again, but the noise from the students around them made it difficult to hear.

"I can’t really hear from here," she said.

She gave a small laugh.

"Perhaps we should move closer."

Anthony looked toward the platform.

From where they stood, the host’s voice was already being swallowed by the crowd.

He also wanted a clearer view of the pool.

Damian was still there.

And, for reasons he didn’t examine too closely, Anthony wanted to know what his cousin intended to do next.

"All right."

They began walking together.

His friends remained behind, returning to their conversation.

As Anthony and Evelyn moved closer, his eyes naturally returned to the pool.

Vivienne was standing with Claire, Amelia, and Eleanor.

A few paces away, Damian was still with Fred, George, and Tom.

Anthony watched him briefly.

Damian was laughing at something Fred had said, but his attention seemed to drift toward Vivienne every now and then.

Anthony looked away.

It shouldn’t matter.

The engagement was over.

Damian was free to speak to Vivienne.

Vivienne was free to speak to Damian.

There was nothing unusual about it.

And yet, a moment later, Anthony found himself looking back.

Beside him, Evelyn followed his gaze.

She saw Damian.

Then she looked at Anthony.

He was watching.

Again.

A small ache settled in her chest.

She was already walking with Anthony.

Yet, his attention kept returning to Vivienne.

Evelyn looked toward the other girl.

Vivienne was standing with Claire and Amelia, laughing.

Damian was only a few paces away.

Of course.

Another man.

Another display of attention.

Evelyn’s lips pressed together.

She knew it was petty, but a small part of her wanted Vivienne to look over.

To see Anthony standing beside her.

To see that Anthony wasn’t alone.

That there were other people who wanted to be beside him.

Perhaps she simply wanted Vivienne to understand that she wasn’t the only woman who could occupy his attention.

Or perhaps—

Evelyn didn’t want to admit how much of it was jealousy.

Either way, she remained beside Anthony.

Anthony, meanwhile, was watching Damian.

His cousin was still talking with Fred, George, and Tom, but his attention seemed increasingly fixed on Vivienne.

Anthony found himself wondering what would happen when Damian and Vivienne finally saw him.

Perhaps Vivienne would look at him and acknowledge him properly for the first time today.

Perhaps Damian would finally exercise some restraint.

Perhaps the two of them would remember that there were still people watching.

It was the reasonable thing to expect.

After all, they were at Saint Albion.

People talked.

Anthony knew that better than anyone now.

He told himself that was all he wanted.

A little restraint.

A little awareness of propriety.

Nothing more.

The host raised his microphone.

"All right, everyone! If you’ve found your partner, listen up!"

The conversations around the pool gradually quieted.

Students turned toward the platform.

Anthony and Evelyn stopped with the rest of the crowd.

"Here’s how Shoulder Wars works!"

A cheer went through the conservatory.

"Sixteen pairs will compete. One guy and one girl per pair!"

Several students laughed and called out to their friends.

"The guy carries his partner on his shoulders. Four pairs will compete in each section, and the winning pair from each section will advance to the final!"

Assistants moved around the pool, finishing the markings for each section.

"Your goal is simple—knock the opposing riders into the water!"

The crowd erupted.

"Once the rider falls, that pair is eliminated. Carriers cannot deliberately drop their partners, and no grabbing, pulling, or dunking!"

The host pointed toward the water.

"Keep it competitive!"

Another wave of laughter rolled through the conservatory.

"First-round participants, get ready!"

The crowd erupted again.

Students began moving toward their assigned sections.

Anthony straightened.

Evelyn looked toward the pool.

Across the gathering crowd, Damian finally left Fred, George, and Tom.

He crossed the few paces separating him from Vivienne.

Anthony’s attention sharpened.

Damian stopped in front of her and said something.

Vivienne looked up at him.

Anthony couldn’t hear what he said over the noise.

Damian gestured toward the pool.

Vivienne glanced toward the marked section before looking back at him.

A moment passed.

Then she smiled.

She nodded.

Damian held out his hand.

Vivienne looked at it for the briefest moment before placing her hand in his.

He helped her move around the other participants, and the two of them began walking toward their assigned section together.

Vivienne said something along the way.

Damian leaned slightly closer to hear her over the noise.

She laughed.

He smiled.

Anthony watched them go.

He told himself it was nothing.

It was only a game.

Nothing more.

Yet his eyes remained on them until they reached the pool.