Page 6 of In Too Deep

Trinny shakes her head and giggles. “Oh shit! Right, I forgot. They are just health supplements. I’ll take them away, but drink your kale smoothies.”

“What’s in them?” Caro asks.

“Kale and water.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep.”

I cringe.

Caro catches me and sticks out her tongue. “Sounds delicious.”

“Caro… are you being sarcastic?”

We all chuckle.

“Yes, Mum.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Trinny chides.

Harry starts the van.

It’s not a long drive, but it’s loud and chaotic, as usual. When we arrive at the unit, everyone files out into our small, familiar space.

I make a beeline for the refrigerator, spotting the jug of kale smoothie. Grimacing, I take a sip—because why not?

Noise fills the room, laughter and chatter bouncing off the walls.

Then Trinny walks in. She smiles at me, but I know that look. The tilt of her head, the hand on her hip—it’s a dead giveaway. A heart-to-heart is coming.

I freeze mid-sip, then gulp and flop back against the kitchen counter, bracing myself.

“Lacy, I’ve known you going on what… six years now?”

“Yeah, about that—”

“You’re nervous, sweetheart. I understand how big tomorrow is for you. Just because you didn’t make the teamlast timedoesn’t mean you won’tthis time.”

I slump into the bench. “I’m working harder than ever before, but what if I choke again? What if I freeze?”

She takes my hands gently in hers. “Lacy LaBelle, you’re a strong, confident, brave young woman. Ever since those trials, you haven’t frozen. It’snotgoing to happen tomorrow. Don’t let your head get in the way. Swim from the heart.”

Nodding, I smile. “It would be nice if Mum, Dad, and Stacy supported me. But knowing you guys will be there, you’re all the family I need.”

“Oh, honey, your family is, well, different to ours. But you are a part ofourfamily. We’re there just as much for you as we are for Caro. You’re my second daughter.”

My eyes mist.

She clears her throat. “No tears, not tonight. We save them for celebratory ones tomorrow, okay?”

I giggle. “Deal.”

“Let’s have some dinner and then get you girls to bed.”

“Thanks so much. I’d be lost without you.”

“Family is here for each other… blood or not,” Trinny says softly, leaning in to kiss my forehead.

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