Page 71 of In Too Deep

I slump and soften my gaze on him. “Coby… I love you for caring, but I didn’t even swallow any water before someone pulled me out. Australia needs to kick Marta’s arse, and I want to help do that.”

“What if it happens again?”

“She’d be stupid to try it twice. Plus, she did it so I would bow out. If I don’t race, I give her what she wants. Shewillwin.”

“She’s right, Cobes,” Katie chimes in from behind me.

“Shit!” Coby huffs.

“So, how long can they delay the race for Tuck?” Coby asks.

“They’re thinking of re-running it after yours.”

Coby winces. “Okay, but you stay by my side until then. Katie, while I’m out racing, don’t let her out of your sight!”

“Agreed,” Katie replies.

“Let’s get you off the floor,” Tuck advises.

I nod as Coby stands up, taking me with him in his arms. I stumble slightly, but he catches me as I take in a deep breath, and the crowd cheers. I wave to them. Coby wraps his arm around my waist and walks with me, Katie, and Tuck to the marshalling area. I sit with Katie while Coby gets ready for his relay race, and we watch on the screen as I try to get my breathing back to normal.

Coby swims last for the relay team and brings home a silver for Australia, being narrowly beaten by the Americans.

I’m super happy for him, though.

By now, I’m much better.

Tuck walks up and squats down in front of me. “Are you okay to race? It’s fine if you’re not, we can withdraw and no one—”

“No way, we are racing. I’m good to go. I promise, Tuck. I’m fine, nothing but a little bump to the nose. Let’s do this.” Standing up, I move over to the lineup. I spot Marta and raise my eyebrow in a gesture of ‘you can’t beat me.’ She grunts. Then I face Katie, who bumps my shoulder. We walk out, taking our positions again, and I must admit I’m nervous. I’m not up to my full potential, and it could be critical to the team. But I am going to power through, and if I struggle, hopefully, Katie can pick up my slack.

The buzzer sounds, and Laura steps up to the block, and she jumps into the pool.

My nose hurts.

I’m still a little dazed, but I hope I’ll be fine.

And I’m not putting it past Marta to try something else. She’s obviously so threatened by us that she’s willing to attempt anything to get us out of the way rather than win on her own merits.

What a loser!

Laura pulls up as she takes her mark, and then the starting signal fires. A sense of thrill and excitement fills the air as the crowd cheers and stomps their feet. It’s hardly ever that a race is run twice. So, this is a rare occurrence.

Laura launches herself into the water. I smile. Hopefully, we can pull through at our second chance at Gold. This time without that idiot interfering. She’d be stupid to try it twice. Katie and I huddle together as Hayley takes her place and Laura swims solid and fast. She pushes hard, and we are second behind England at the moment, with America quickly catching up behind us.

Laura slams against the wall, and Hayley dives in. My muscles tense up slightly at the thought of being next and of what Marta could have planned, but Katie grabs me, turning me to face her.

“Don’t think, just swim.”

I smile and take a deep breath. “I can do this.”

“Yes, you can, now go.” Katie turns me and slaps my arse as I walk up to the starting block.

Marta turns to me and grins maniacally, which unsettles me slightly, but I push all my fears aside as I take my mark.

My stomach flutters as I take a calming breath. “From the heart,” I murmur as Hayley hits the wall, and I jump in. The water soothes me. Although I struggle, I push through. I come up for a breath and throw my arms over my body, slamming into the water slower than usual, but I continue my strokes as powerfully as I can.

In the words of Dory,‘Just keep swimming.’

---