CHAPTER FIFTY The girls stepped out of the Aquatic Center. Laughter bubbled from them like soda fizz, sharp and sparkling against the quiet hum of the settling day. Annalise, Monica, Beyoncé, and Miranda walked side by side, their eyes gleaming with an uncontainable kind of joy. Beyoncé threw her head back in laughter. “Coach Humphrey’s face? Priceless! He looked like he walked in on aliens doing synchronized swimming!” “That was so embarrassing,” Monica laughed, covering her face. “I couldn’t even meet his eyes!” “The sports director didn’t even say anything!” Miranda added, giggling. “Just stared like he walked into the wrong dimension.” Monica nodded. “Honestly? I think the only thing on his mind was, ‘What kind of mood swing is this?’” Their laughter rang out, loud and carefree

