Page 37 of In Too Deep

I exhale. “All right...”

“Athletes, please line up for your tickets,” an official calls.

I wipe my face as Caro smiles.

“Fake smiles.”

I take in a deep breath. “Fake smiles.”

They call the swimmers out in alphabetical order, so I take up my position in the queue as Caro heads out. I’m not far after her. When they call my name, I take a deep breath and steady my shoulders. Then I walk out into the main room, wearing my fake smile, and wave to the crowd. Strolling up to the official, I receive my enlarged plane ticket to Melbourne. I kinda wish my first Olympics were in another country like England or Brazil, but I’m happy to be going to the Olympics at all. I smile, shaking the official’s hand.

“Welcome to Melbourne, Lacy,” she chirps.

“Thank you so much,” I reply. Then I walk along to the line of previous Olympic swimmers and the families of the athletes who will be attending. I wander along the line, high-fiving them all as I go. It should be amazing. I should be empowered and euphoric. I’m going to the Olympics for the first time, so why do I want to run and hide in a corner? Getting to the end of the line, they call the next name, and I’m soon forgotten as I amble out to the back room to greet Caro. She smiles, waving her giant ticket in the air.

“We’re going to Melbourne,” she gushes.

My smile isn’t fake this time as she jumps up and down in front of me. “Yeah, we are! Four months and we’ll be at the Olympics. But maybe without a coach…” I drift off and take a deep breath as my shoulders slump. I shake my head in utter disappointment at how the end has gone.

The start of the week was great.

The end of the week should be amazing—I’m going to the Olympics—but now my coach and a boyfriend are both slipping away from me.

This is not how this week was supposed to play out.At all.

“We should find Tuck,” I murmur.

Caro frowns but quickly bows before we avoid the celebrations in the room and head out to the hall to search for our coach. We move into the meeting room and see him sitting there all on his own, just staring out the window into the dark blue hues of the night sky.

“Tuck?” I call.

He turns to face us and frowns. “Girls, you should be at the after-party. Why aren’t you off celebrating?” He stands to walk toward us, and we tread over to him with heavy feet. My eyes fill with tears at his sombre expression.

“What’s the verdict?” I ask.

“Well, I haven’t been sacked as a coach, but the matter is still under investigation.” “There’s a celebratory function on, and you two should most definitely go. You have earned a night of fun.”

I huff. “I might head home.”

Caro catches me frowning and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “If you’re sulking at home, I’m with you, sister.”

“I don’t want to upset you girls,” Tuck murmurs.

“I think Lace is a bit upset about Coby, too. It’s a buildup, and it’s been an emotional day for her. I think we need to go home and have some girl time.”

Tuck sighs. “I’m sorry, Lacy. I’m trying my best to sort everything out for you both.”

I nod as a tear falls down my cheek.

Tuck pulls me to him for a tight hug and leans down, kissing my head. Caro rushes in behind me. We have a group hug, making me chuckle slightly.

“Okay, head home and get some rest. Training’s going to be tough over the next four months,” Tuck advises.

“Take care of yourself. If you need us, we’re only a phone call away,” I tell him.

“Thank you, sweetheart. Now go… enjoy your night.” He turns me around and pushes me forward.

Chuckling, I start striding out with Caro next to me. As I walk out the door, I turn back to Tuck one last time. He’s back on the seat, staring out at the sky again. I hope he’s okay.

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