Page 24 of In Too Deep

He curls his lip. “Fucking bitch. Wait till Coby hears about this. He’ll want to issue a complaint to the board.”

I let out a sigh. “There’s no need. She didn’t succeed. I still got my ticket.”

“Well, if you want me to swap her moisturizer for toothpaste, just give me the signal, and it’ll be done… no questions asked. Oh, and her mouthwash for coolant, that can be arranged, too. There’s no end to my trickery.”

Snickering, I shake my head. “I bet there’s not. Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

He cackles as the starting signal fires, and I immediately face the screen.

Caro dives into the water and races in front. She bobs up and down at an even tempo. Natalia is right on her. I’m holding my breath as she hits the wall and turns for their final fifty. Natalia and Caro are stroke for stroke. East and I stare at the screen. My legs bob up and down as they race each other with precision and skill. It’s close—I have no idea who’s in front—it’s that close.

“C’mon, Caro,” I murmur.

East chews his bottom lip.

They both duck to hit the wall.

I catch my breath as they dive at the same time.

They slam the tiles.

I study the scoreboard, but nothing lights up.

“East?”

He gestures nonchalantly as my heart races.

Then the board lights up. I gasp. The crowd erupts.

East chuckles. “Well, fuck me.”

It’s a dead heat.

Natalia and Caro hit the wall at the exact same time.

That doesn’t happen often.

We both shake our heads in amazement. “At least she’s through to her final.”

East slumps. “Thank fuck for that.”

“Your turn, big man. Think you can smash this out?”

“Hell, yeah! I got this in the bag. I’m the up-and-coming Australian backstroker of the year.”

I furrow my brows and purse my lips. “Hmm… didn’t get the memo.”

“Well, wait and see, lady.”

Chuckling, I slap his shoulder. “Go get ’em!”

He walks off to prepare as Caro comes in. I beam as I hop on the spot, waiting for her. A slight twinge rolls down my arm, but I ignore it. She jumps on me and squeals as we embrace. “I got this!”

“Don’t jinx it!” I berate.

“Shit! Yeah, okay… but I do, though, right?”

“Yeah, girl, you got this!” I lean in, embracing her.

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