Page 23 of In Too Deep

Tears burn my cheeks as I pull off my caps. The crowd cheers. I’m having trouble keeping my emotions in check.

Goddammit! I nearly didn’t make it.

I calm my breathing as I try to stop myself from breaking down into full-on sobs. The emotion is a bit much for me right now. All the odds were stacked against me. I froze last time. My shoulder wasn’t at full strength this time. My family wasn’t here for support. Yet I proved everyone wrong and showed them that Icando this.

I am a fighter.

I’m on my way to Melbourne.

I’m going all the way.

All the way to the top.

Olympic glory!

I get out of the pool and wipe my face. As I walk toward the marshalling area, Rhada calls Katie and me over for a joint interview. I cringe, but I always knew there could be a possibility of this.

Moving over to Rhada, Katie passes me by. She doesn’t say anything but struts like she’s God’s gift to humanity.

“Ladies, well done on getting your tickets to Melbourne. Lacy, this will be your first Olympics. I can see by the tears you’re excited to go.” Rhada remarks. I berate myself for being unable to hold back my tears.

“I am. It was a tough race… I have a little niggle in my left shoulder tonight… so to pull through regardless of that… means so much to me.” I can’t help but dig a little at Katie as she stands by my side.

“Yeah, I’m so proud… to have made it through… with my good friend Lacy here… on the Australian Olympic Swimming team… we’re going to dominate the pool in August,” Katie states. I want to roll my eyes, but all of Australia is watching. So, instead, I smile and nod.

“This will be your second Olympics, Katie. Are you more excited about this one being in your home country?” Rhada asks.

“I sure am… I can’t wait until they unveil the mascot… and light the torch, one hundred and six days before the start… I’m pumped, Rhada, I’m pumped.”

I cringe at her over-enthusiasm but continue to keep smiling as the tears keep rolling down my face.

“Great swim, ladies. We’ll see you on the dais a little later for your presentations.”

“Thanks, Rhada,” we both sing in unison. Then, we walk off toward the marshalling area, waving to the crowd. Katie is smiling at me and laughing like she’s my best friend. I find it utterly disturbing. Once we step in behind the marshalling area, she scoffs and storms away from me.

“You can’t break me, Reynolds,” I call.

The bitch throws me the bird, then says, “Whatever! But I can keep trying,” she retorts as she heads to the change rooms.

Taking a deep breath, I wipe my cheeks again.

Caro and East rush to me.

“My God. I got to go, but we’re taking that bitch out,” Caro declares, leaning in to kiss my temple. “Oh, and congratulations. I knew you could do it!” She rushes off for her swim.

“Good luck, Caro. Smash it!”

“Hulk smash… got it,” she calls back.

I breathe deeply and sit down next to East.

“You should report Katie for what she did.”

“What good would it do?”

“Would show her she’s not the queen of fucking everything. How’s the shoulder?”

“Sore as fuck,” I huff. “Thank God all my swimming is done for a while. I’m going to need to go to the physio.”

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