Page 5 of In Too Deep

I turn to Caro, who takes off her cap and says, “You ready for tomorrow?”

With a shake of my head, I purse my lips. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. Olympic trials? That’s huge. Tomorrow could be the start of something massive for us, Caro.”

She tilts her head. “Just because we’re small-time girls from South Australia doesn’t mean we can’t whip everyone’s butts and make the Australian Olympic team. We’re just as good as everyone else. Don’t forget that.”

I take off my cap, letting my shoulder-length blonde hair fall down my back. Then I hoist myself out of the pool. I’m only twenty, so I’m still young to be chosen for the Olympic team. This is my second time trying out—the last time didn’t go so well, so I’m apprehensive about tomorrow.

“Let’s go get changed, I need some food.”

Caro laughs and gestures. “Yes, burgers and curly fries.”

“I wish,” I scoff.

We head to the foyer, where Caro’s parents, Trinny and Harry, wait alongside her three older brothers—Ryan, Logan, and Joshua. They’re here for both of us like they always are. The Hughes family is my surrogate family, the support I never got at home.

My mum, dad, and sister, Stacy, see my swimming dreams as just that—dreams.To them, I’ll never get anywhere, not after failing last time. They don’t believe in me, but luckily, the Hughes family does. So does my coach, Don Tucker. Their unwavering encouragement and guidance keep me grounded, focused, and pushing forward.

“Hey, hey,” Logan calls. “It’s the next two Australian Olympians coming right up.”

“Shut up, idiot! You’ll jinx us,” Caro hisses.

“It’s not jinxing. It’s called good juju. I’m making good karma.”

“Yeah, Nah. You’re just a dick,” Caro chides, rushing up to Logan and pushing his chest.

He steps back and chuckles. “You love me!”

“No… I don’t.” She smirks while he pulls her into a headlock.

She giggles as he gives her head a scruff.

“Scrag.”

“Tiny dick.”

“Okay, okay… enough, you two.” Trinny chuckles, pulling Caro from Logan’s grip into a hug. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”

“So am I,” her father, Harry, chimes in. “We’re proud of you too, Lacy. You got a personal best today. Well done you!”

“Thanks, Harry. Hopefully, I can keep up the good times tomorrow.”

“You will, sweetheart. You two are going to do amazing things. But for now, let’s get you both home, hey?”

We bob our heads.

Josh rushes to my side and links his arm with mine. “Great swim today, Lace. As always, you’re so beautiful in the water.”

I smile and lean my head on his shoulder. “Thanks, Josh. Let’s hope I can do these times tomorrow.”

“You’re gonna nail it.”

He leans his head against mine as we walk to their minivan.

“I made you girls kale smoothies. They’re in your fridge when you get home,” Trinny calls as we arrive at the van. “Oh, and I provided a tub of supplements on the counter to help.”

We all file inside the van.

“We can’t take supplements that aren’t approved, Mum. We can get done for that.” Caro chuckles.

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